Vertical Machining Center
Horizontal Machining Center
Gantry Machining Center
5-Axis Machining Center
CNC Milling Machine
Tapping Center
CNC lathes
High-Speed Machining Center
Profile Machining Center
Graphite Machining Center
What are the CNC machining center？ The CNC machining center is a type of CNC machine, and it is the type with the strongest comprehensive performance among CNC machines. They are the “industrial mother machines” of today’s world, and they are the only type of machinery capable of replicating themselves. By controlling the machining path via computer numerical control（CNC）, they remove excess sections from a block of material to produce components with specific shapes, dimensions, and precision. This process is also known as subtractive manufacturing. This article will popularize some basic knowledge about machining center, Taking you to understand CNC machines from the perspective of a machine tool manufacturer.
CNC Machining Center structure
Machine bed casting
The machine bed casting is the skeleton of the CNC machine. All components of the CNC are installed on the bed, and it determines the physical upper limit of a machine.
Worktable
The worktable is the place where workpieces are placed. It can carry workpieces to perform X/Y-axis movements, cooperating with the Z-axis spindle to perform cutting.
Spindle
The spindle is the core power component of the CNC machine, and it carries tools to perform cutting on workpieces.
Tool Magazine
The tool magazine can carry multiple tools and assumes the automatic tool change function. Different tools have different uses.
CNC Controller
The control system is used to control the omnidirectional cutting movements of the CNC machine tool.
Piping & Wiring Systems
The piping and wiring systems of CNC machine tools are roughly divided into oil circuits, water circuits, and electrical circuits.
Machine enclosure
The enclosure is usually crafted from high-end sheet metal, which is corrosion-resistant and impact-resistant, protecting the operation of the CNC machine.
Working Principle of CNC Machining Center
The most simplified way to describe the working principle of CNC machine tool is as follows:
- Use professional computer software to set the motion trajectory, typically (CAD/CAM).
- Input the motion trajectory into the control system of the machine, typically Mitsubishi, FANUC, Siemens, Socay, etc.
- The control system controls the machine’s worktable motor through the drive, and the motor drives the worktable and spindle to complete the cutting of the workpiece.
Main types of CNC Machining Center
If CNC machining center are classified by application, the number would be vast; however, if classified by structure, there are only the following machines:
Vertical Machining Center
The spindle of a machine with a vertical structure is vertical to the ground, which is more suitable for heavy cutting under the same weight and has a wide range of applications.
Horizontal Machining Center
The spindle of a machine with a horizontal structure is parallel to the ground, which is more convenient for fast feeding while having a large machining range.
Gantry (double column) Machining Center
The double column structure is solely for larger machining dimensions and is currently the only structure under large-dimension heavy cutting solutions.
Single column Machining Center
The single column can actually be considered a type of vertical structure, retaining a large X-axis machining travel while reducing costs.
To learn more about different CNC machines and how to choose, click to view more.
The Present and Future of CNC Machining Center
The essence of CNC Machining Center is subtractive manufacturing, and the development of subtractive manufacturing depends on the development of basic science. Currently, the progress of basic science is slow; therefore, before the arrival of the next scientific explosion, there will not be significant changes in the structure of CNC machines. The CNC machines from Socay Industry are all based on reinforcements of traditional structures, making the machines increasingly durable, the configurations increasingly higher, and the precision retention increasingly better.
