Maximize Flexibility and Throughput with a Custom Trunnion Table Build from Martin Trunnion Tables

When a customer approached us looking to upgrade their Okuma vertical machining center, they had two main goals: boost volume and increase flexibility. What we delivered was a fully integrated trunnion table and custom workholding solution—built for speed, modularity, and accuracy.

Let’s walk through this setup and what makes it such a powerful tool for any high-mix, high-output CNC environment.

​Built Around the Lyndex-Nikken CNC180 Rotary Table

At the heart of this system is the Lyndex-Nikken CNC180 rotary table, a high-precision, low-profile unit that we’ve come to trust on a wide range of trunnion table installations. Its rigidity and accuracy make it the perfect platform for building out high-performance workholding systems, and it integrates seamlessly with Akuma machining centers.

Modular Flexibility with 5th Axis RockLock

To meet the customer's demand for flexibility, we equipped this custom trunnion table with the 5th Axis RockLock quick change system—specifically, the 52mm platform. This system allows for a variety of vises and jaws to be mounted and reoriented in seconds, giving manufacturers the modularity they need for custom workholding applications.

Examples on this build:

5th Axis V75100X vise with custom jaws

Jergens vise with serrated grippers

V75100X vises with dovetail jaws and serrations

Shunck KSC3 vise with 3D-printed sample jaws

Additional Jergens units with modular jaw set

Whether you're running round forgings, odd-shaped castings, or flat stock, this setup can adapt quickly, perfect for high-mix workholding setups.

Fast Reorientation for Every Job

What really makes this trunnion workholding system shine is the ability to rotate and reposition any tool or vise without re-indicating. Whether you need a vise aligned with the lead screw or rotated 90 degrees, RockLock makes it simple. A quick actuation of the locking mechanism, and you’re ready to go in a new direction—saving hours on setup time.

Four-Sided Trunnion = More Parts Per Cycle

This build features a four-sided trunnion table, giving the customer ample real estate for multiple part setups. It’s the best of both worlds:

• High volume production

• High mix capability

You can run different parts on every face if needed, or clone the same setup across all four for lights-out machining. That’s the kind of throughput only a well-designed trunnion workholding system can offer.

Hydraulic Braking with the TS1200 System

To ensure rigidity during aggressive machining, especially farther from the rotary faceplate, we integrated our TS1200 hydraulic braking system. Powered through the tailstock port of the CNC180, this dual-clamping solution minimizes deflection and maintains stiffness in the setup—critical when running extended trunnion table workholding setups under load.

Precision Riser Block for 360-Degree Swing

One question we often get with low-profile rotary tables is: “Will my parts swing 360 degrees without interference?”

The answer here is a precision-ground riser block, custom-fitted to elevate the setup and give the clearance needed for complete rotation—without sacrificing the low center of gravity that makes the CNC180 ideal for trunnion applications.

Base Plate for Fast Changeover

Finally, the entire trunnion table fixture is mounted on a precision-machined base plate. This allows the customer to pull the setup in and out of their Akuma VMC with ease. When they need to switch back to standard 3-axis machining, they can do it quickly and repeatably, without losing time to re-tramming.

Ready to Level Up Your Workholding?

This system is on its way to the customer now, and we’re confident it’ll transform their shop’s throughput and flexibility. If you’re looking for a trunnion table or custom workholding solution tailored to your exact needs, Martin Trunnion Tables is ready to help.