Method and apparatus for manufacturing an axle for a vehicle

Abstract

A datum is created in an axle housing. A finished brake flange is welded to the axle housing with reference to the datum to make an axle sub-assembly. The axle sub-assembly is fixed to a first part of a machine. A finished spindle is supplied to a second part of the machine. The spindle is welded to the axle sub-assembly with reference to the datum. A dial indexing table is rotated to a first position. An axle is placed on the dial indexing table with its longitudinal axis oriented vertically. The dial indexing table is rotated to a second position, wherein the axle aligned with a CNC machine. A machining operation is performed on the axle with the CNC machine. The dial indexing table is rotated to a third position. The axle is removed from the dial indexing table. An axle and an apparatus for manufacturing an axle are described.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.