Mumbai University > Mechanical Engineering > Sem 7 > CAD/CAM/CAE

Marks: 6M,7M,13M

Year: May12, Dec12, May 13,

A machining center can be defined as a sophisticated CNC machine tool controlled by a computer running programs driven by numerical data, which can perform multiple machining operations like milling, drilling, tapping and boring operations at the same location control by making use of several area and a variety of tools with Automatic Tool Changer (ATC) unit:

The CNC machining centers can be broadly categorized into two varieties.

a) Vertical machining centers (VMC)

b) Horizontal machining centers (HMC)

a) Vertical machining centers (VMC)

Vertical Machining centers are mainly used for flat type of work, such as plates, where the Majority of machining is done on only one face of the part in a single setup. Most of the general VMC comes with 3 axes. However there are some versions of vertical CNC machining center with an optional forth axis, usually a rotary head mounted on the main table. The rotary head can be mounted either vertically or horizontally depending on the desired results and the model type. This fourth axis can be used either for indexing or a pull rotary motion.

b. Horizontal Machining Centers (HMC)

Horizontal CNC machining centers are categorized as multi-tool and versatile machines, and are used for heavy rectangular black Paris, where the majority of machining has to be done on more than one face in a single setup. There are many applications in this area. Common examples are zarge Paris, such as Pump housing, gear cases, manifolds, engine blocks and so on. Since there machines provides for heavier metal removal rates, the cutting tools used are normally big. As a result, the tool magazine has to provide. For Zorger place for each tool. This results in the tool magazines for HMC being heavier. Because of their Flexibility and Complexity, CNC HMC’s are priced significantly higher than VMC’s.

Typical Specifications:

A typical specification of a CNC vertical machining center and CNC horizontal Machining center is given below.