With the continuous development of industrial machinery, the application of CNC machine tools and machining centers has made mechanical processing simpler and more convenient. So, what are the differences between CNC machine tools and machining centers? I believe that users asking this question must not have a clear understanding of CNC machine tools and machining centers. Below, Hongmo UG programming will introduce them to everyone.
CNC Machine Tools:
Turning, milling, planing, grinding, boring, drilling, electrical discharge machining, shearing, bending, laser cutting, and so on are all mechanical processing methods. Mechanical processing refers to shaping metal blanks into the required shapes, including dimensional accuracy and geometric accuracy. Equipment that can perform the above functions is called a machine tool, and CNC machine tools have evolved from conventional machine tools. The term CNC stands for computer numerical control.
When a CNC system is installed on a machine tool, it becomes a CNC machine tool. Of course, the evolution from conventional machine tools to CNC machine tools is not just about adding a system. For example, the transition from milling machines to machining centers involves changes in the machine tool structure, with the main addition being a tool magazine, significantly improving precision. The main function of a machining center is milling, boring, and drilling.
When we talk about CNC equipment in general, we mainly refer to CNC machine tools and machining centers.
A machining center is equipped with a tool magazine and features automatic tool changing. It is a CNC machine tool that can perform multiple processes on a workpiece after being clamped once. Machining centers are highly integrated electromechanical products. After clamping the workpiece, the CNC system can control the machine tool to automatically select and change tools for different processes, automatically measure tools, change spindle speeds, feed rates, etc., and can continuously complete drilling, boring, milling, tapping, and other processes. This significantly reduces workpiece clamping time, measurement, machine tool adjustment, and other auxiliary process times, providing good economic benefits for parts with complex shapes, high precision requirements, and frequent changes in variety.
Machining centers are typically classified based on the relative position of the spindle and the worktable into horizontal, vertical, and universal machining centers.
(1) Horizontal Machining Center: The spindle axis is set parallel to the worktable and is mainly suitable for machining box-type parts.
(2) Vertical Machining Center: The spindle axis is set perpendicular to the worktable and is mainly suitable for machining plate-type, disk-type, mold, and small shell-type complex parts.
(3) Universal Machining Center (also known as multi-axis linkage machining center): This type of machining center can control the angle between the machining spindle axis and the worktable rotation axis to achieve complex spatial surface machining.
