Programming counter-spindles in G-code

Standard lathes have a spindle into which the workpiece is chucked and then machined with turning or milling tools. To allow the workpiece to be completely machined (including the “back” side) it must be rechucked by hand – a process in which errors can often be made at the expense of the precision of the workpiece. By using machines with counter-spindles, this process is automated, allowing a much higher level of precision to be achieved. These counter-spindles pick off the workpiece from the main spindle with positional accuracy so that it can be completely machined on one machine. The operator can simply program takeover of the workpiece with ShopTurn in one cycle. If ShopTurn is not available, synchronization must be programmed via G-code.