Purpose Built CNC Machine Spindles Engineered for Precision and Performance

Spindles for Machine Builders, Integrators, and OEM Engineers

In precision manufacturing, the spindle is where design becomes reality. It determines your machine's performance, throughput, and competitive advantage. When your spindle performs flawlessly, your customers see the difference—and their downtime disappears.

Gilman delivers engineered spindle solutions with measurable results: reduced vibration, tighter tolerances, faster cycle times, and extended service life. These aren't marketing promises—they're the performance attributes that define success for machine builders, automation engineers, and OEM integrators.

+ Talk to an Engineer + Request Quote

+ Download the Spindle Catalog

Purpose Built CNC Machine Spindles Engineered for Precision and Performance

Spindles for Machine Builders, Integrators, and OEM Engineers

In precision manufacturing, the spindle is where design becomes reality. It determines your machine's performance, throughput, and competitive advantage. When your spindle performs flawlessly, your customers see the difference—and their downtime disappears.

Gilman delivers engineered spindle solutions with measurable results: reduced vibration, tighter tolerances, faster cycle times, and extended service life. These aren't marketing promises—they're the performance attributes that define success for machine builders, automation engineers, and OEM integrators.

+ Talk to an Engineer + Request Quote

+ Download the Spindle Catalog

Spindles Engineered to Your Exact Requirements

Every project starts with a goal: higher throughput, tighter accuracy, faster integration, or a unique specification that no catalog part can match. At Gilman, we don't force you to compromise by adapting your needs to a standard model.

Each spindle system is configured for your specific application—whether milling, grinding, boring, testing, or specialized automation. Our Wisconsin-based engineering team works with you to build better machines with faster commissioning and longer operational life.

The Gilman Advantage:

  • Reduce Design Risk – Spindles precisely matched to your duty cycle, performance requirements, and tolerance specifications
  • Accelerate Your Build – Pre-validated CAD files, clear specifications, and direct engineering support for your design challenges
  • Extend Equipment Life – Purpose-built systems engineered for longevity, not just initial performance

Spindle Solutions for 

Every Application

Gilman manufactures precision spindles for a diverse range of rotational applications. Our engineering expertise spans traditional machining to advanced automation systems.

Milling Spindles

Speed, torque, and rigidity delivered exactly where you need them. Gilman milling spindles integrate seamlessly into vertical, horizontal, and robotic CNC platforms with minimal modification.

Designed for optimal speed and dynamic balance, our milling spindles maintain tight tolerances over extended production runs, maximizing tool life and minimizing scrap rates. Whether you're building production machining centers or custom automation cells, our spindles provide the performance foundation your customers demand.

Grinding Spindles

Surface finish and roundness depend on spindle precision. Built with high-accuracy bearings and precisely manufactured components, Gilman grinding spindles ensure vibration-free operation even under continuous heavy-duty cycles.

The result is consistent part quality, smoother finishes, and fewer secondary operations. Our grinding spindles deliver the rigidity and thermal stability required for critical surface grinding, centerless grinding, and precision finishing applications.

Boring & Turning Spindles

Large-diameter and deep-hole applications demand exceptional rigidity and repeatability. Gilman boring and turning spindles feature heavy-duty housings, high-torque drive options, and robust bearing preload configurations that deliver performance where stability matters most.

From horizontal boring mills to precision turning centers, our spindles provide the strength and accuracy needed for demanding metal removal operations.

Testing, Balancing & Automation Spindles

When your application extends beyond traditional CNC machining into automation, medical devices, testing equipment, or emerging technologies, Gilman provides high-value engineered solutions as part of your design process.

While these applications may not face the same mechanical demands as grinding or heavy boring, their specifications can be even more stringent—requiring precise speed ranges, automated tool changeover capability, cleanroom compatibility, or sterilization readiness.

Gilman Spindles

Quality to exceed your expectations.

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From Concept to Production: Our Engineering Process

Behind every Gilman spindle is a disciplined process that eliminates uncertainty and reduces your engineering workload.

1. Define Requirements

Our application engineers work with you to align spindle mechanical and performance specifications with your machine's load profile, cycle time, and environmental conditions. We document your requirements clearly to ensure nothing is overlooked.

2. Design Collaboration

CAD models, simulations, and design reviews are shared early in the process, allowing your team to finalize fit and functionality before manufacturing begins. This collaborative approach prevents costly revisions and keeps projects on schedule.

3. Precision Manufacturing

Every component is produced at our Grafton, Wisconsin facility under strict process controls. Each spindle undergoes comprehensive testing including dynamic balancing and vibration analysis. Your spindle arrives ready to install and perform—100% of the time.

4. Validation & Delivery

Before shipment, every spindle is verified for concentricity, vibration, and thermal consistency under simulated load conditions. We test at your operating specifications to ensure the unit performs correctly the moment it's installed.

The Result: A spindle that installs smoothly, performs as designed immediately, and keeps your project on schedule.

+ View our product configurator

Why Engineering Teams Choose Gilman

Machine builders choose Gilman because projects stay on track, documentation meets specifications, and performance matches promises. But these same advantages extend to automation integrators, maintenance managers, and sourcing specialists who depend on reliable spindle systems and transparent communication.

For Design Engineers:
 Fast access to CAD files, real test data, and direct engineering support gives you confidence in design outcomes.

For Category Managers:
 Complete traceability, supplier documentation, and quality certifications keep you audit-ready and compliant.

For Operations Leaders:
 Spindles designed for predictable maintenance intervals minimize downtime and reduce total cost of ownership.

When precision is non-negotiable and project stakes are high, Gilman is the first call for spindle engineering support.

Why Engineering Teams Choose Gilman

Machine builders choose Gilman because projects stay on track, documentation meets specifications, and performance matches promises. But these same advantages extend to automation integrators, maintenance managers, and sourcing specialists who depend on reliable spindle systems and transparent communication.

For Design Engineers:
 Fast access to CAD files, real test data, and direct engineering support gives you confidence in design outcomes.

For Category Managers:
 Complete traceability, supplier documentation, and quality certifications keep you audit-ready and compliant.

For Operations Leaders:
 Spindles designed for predictable maintenance intervals minimize downtime and reduce total cost of ownership.

When precision is non-negotiable and project stakes are high, Gilman is the first call for spindle engineering support.

Industries We Serve

Machine Tool Builders

CNC milling, turning, and grinding machines depend on spindles that deliver accuracy day after day. Gilman's designs help machine tool builders enhance machining performance, reduce vibration, and deliver systems their customers can trust for years.

Our spindles power everything from compact benchtop mills to large-format machining centers, providing the performance foundation that differentiates your equipment in competitive markets.

Automation & Robotics

Automation systems demand compact, high-performance spindle assemblies that integrate seamlessly into robotic arms or multi-axis configurations. Gilman's custom spindle systems enable integrators to expand into new applications—robotic drilling, high-speed trimming, deburring, or precision finishing—with plug-and-play reliability.

We understand the unique challenges of automated environments: space constraints, integration complexity, and the need for consistent performance across thousands of cycles.

Medical Device Manufacturing

In medical and life-science production, consistency, cleanliness, and sterilization capability matter as much as speed and precision. Gilman's spindles support FDA-regulated manufacturers who need verified documentation, high-performance components, and reliable, quiet operation in cleanroom or imaging environments.

Our medical-grade spindles are designed for easy cleaning, material compatibility with sterilization processes, and the repeatability required for surgical instruments, implants, and diagnostic equipment.

Defense & Aerospace

With company origins in U.S. Navy applications, Gilman continues to serve defense and aerospace manufacturers who rely on Made-in-the-USA motion systems for mission-critical machining and robotics.

Our spindles are engineered for longevity and precision under the most demanding conditions, with full documentation and traceability. We keep production onshore and performance uncompromised—meeting the stringent requirements of ITAR-controlled and defense-sector projects.

Packaging & Industrial Equipment

High-volume material handling and packaging equipment requires spindles that withstand long duty cycles, high speeds, and sometimes unbalanced loads. Gilman's robust housings, precision-fit bearings, and balanced rotors ensure maximum uptime and operational consistency for continuous production environments.

From filling and capping equipment to automated assembly systems, our spindles deliver the reliability that keeps high-speed lines running.

Engineering Resources and Case Studies

Gilman’s resource library offers the tools and insights engineers need to make confident design decisions.

  • CAD Configurator: Generate and download 3D models to integrate directly into your assemblies.
  • Technical Guides: Learn how to select bearings, explore power options, and properly size your spindle.
  • Case Studies: Explore real-world results from Gilman Idea Bulletins, like the unit designed for tire balancing where a spindle assembly was designed for balancing tires that also provided a way to deliver compressed air through the shaft without a typical rotary union.

Each resource is designed to shorten the engineering learning curve and ensure project success from prototype to production.

A Legacy of U.S. Made Precision

Gilman’s story began with founder Russell Gilman’s desire to support the U.S. Navy through better machine tools. That same mission endures today. When others moved offshore, Gilman’s leadership chose to keep production in Wisconsin, preserving American craftsmanship and ensuring unmatched quality control.

Every spindle reflects that commitment to integrity, durability, and engineering excellence; values that continue to drive our work as a modern manufacturer in North America.

Your Partner in Precision

Whether designing a new CNC platform, upgrading an automation system, or integrating a next-generation medical motion solution, partnering with Gilman means fewer unknowns, faster progress, and measurable results. 

Ready to build the spindle that powers your next breakthrough?

+ Talk to an Engineer+ Request a Quote

+ Download CAD Files

Your Partner in Precision

Whether designing a new CNC platform, upgrading an automation system, or integrating a next-generation medical motion solution, partnering with Gilman means fewer unknowns, faster progress, and measurable results. 

Ready to build the spindle that powers your next breakthrough?

+ Talk to an Engineer+ Request a Quote

+ Download CAD Files

Request a Quote