Vertical Machining Centers (VMC) are most probably the most common metalworking machine found in every workshop around the world. Their operating principle is based on a rotating milling head that is placed on the top while the workpiece is mounted on an adjustable table at a plane that is parallel to the ground.
There are basically two types of vertical machining mills that offer a different scope of possibilities. The first one is the "bed mill" where the workpiece table can move perpendicular to the spindle's axis. The second type is called "turret mill" and it allows the table a movement along both the perpendicular and parallel to the cutting tool spindle axis.
Advantages over Horizontal Centers
Vertical machining mills may not be as versatile and as rigid the horizontal ones, but they can be very handy when simple processing of small parts is required. They are easier and faster to set up and get the work started and machinists can work in very tight tolerances compared to the larger, horizontal mills. They also take much less space and cost way less. Last but not least, vertical mills feature a retractable quill that can be used for accurate milling and especially boring processes.
Typical Uses
Vertical Machining Centers can be used in a wide scope of metal processing tasks depending on the expertise and different cutting heads, rotary tables or offset boring heads that may be available. Here is a list with the most common uses for this type of machine tool:
1. The most standard type of milling done with the vertical machine is face or slab milling. This is basically the milling of flat surfaces with the workpiece being mounted parallel to the working table. Using this simple technique, machinists can create indentations, flattening, and leveling.
2. If the workpiece is mounted in an inclination, the face milling process will produce angular cutting. This angular milling is very helpful for milling jointing dovetails.
3. Then there is the option of the straddle milling that utilized two milling cutters arranged parallelly, mounted on the same spinning axle. This technique allows for the simultaneous cutting of two points separated by a certain preset spacing. The most usual process that is done this way is the milling of hexagons on bolt heads.
4. Vertical Machining Centers are also very useful for forming the rough edges using convex cutters. These cutters can achieve high fidelity grooves, concaves and corner rounding.
5. Another popular use is cutting square-end or round-end keyways along the axis of shafts. This is achieved by using special key slot milling cutters that have the proper diameter and width for milling a keyway that fits the corresponding key.
6. Using the straddle technique, VMM can realize complex mechanical objects like gears and splines. This process may be also complemented by angular cutting.
7. Last, there is the obvious ability to drill holes using a vertical milling machine. The retractable quill offers tremendous help in this endeavor as it serves for the setting of the boring center.
No matter what type of CNC machine you're looking for, Absolute Machine Tools, Inc. can help. Click here to learn more today.
There are basically two types of vertical machining mills that offer a different scope of possibilities. The first one is the "bed mill" where the workpiece table can move perpendicular to the spindle's axis. The second type is called "turret mill" and it allows the table a movement along both the perpendicular and parallel to the cutting tool spindle axis.
Advantages over Horizontal Centers
Vertical machining mills may not be as versatile and as rigid the horizontal ones, but they can be very handy when simple processing of small parts is required. They are easier and faster to set up and get the work started and machinists can work in very tight tolerances compared to the larger, horizontal mills. They also take much less space and cost way less. Last but not least, vertical mills feature a retractable quill that can be used for accurate milling and especially boring processes.
Typical Uses
Vertical Machining Centers can be used in a wide scope of metal processing tasks depending on the expertise and different cutting heads, rotary tables or offset boring heads that may be available. Here is a list with the most common uses for this type of machine tool:
1. The most standard type of milling done with the vertical machine is face or slab milling. This is basically the milling of flat surfaces with the workpiece being mounted parallel to the working table. Using this simple technique, machinists can create indentations, flattening, and leveling.
2. If the workpiece is mounted in an inclination, the face milling process will produce angular cutting. This angular milling is very helpful for milling jointing dovetails.
3. Then there is the option of the straddle milling that utilized two milling cutters arranged parallelly, mounted on the same spinning axle. This technique allows for the simultaneous cutting of two points separated by a certain preset spacing. The most usual process that is done this way is the milling of hexagons on bolt heads.
4. Vertical Machining Centers are also very useful for forming the rough edges using convex cutters. These cutters can achieve high fidelity grooves, concaves and corner rounding.
5. Another popular use is cutting square-end or round-end keyways along the axis of shafts. This is achieved by using special key slot milling cutters that have the proper diameter and width for milling a keyway that fits the corresponding key.
6. Using the straddle technique, VMM can realize complex mechanical objects like gears and splines. This process may be also complemented by angular cutting.
7. Last, there is the obvious ability to drill holes using a vertical milling machine. The retractable quill offers tremendous help in this endeavor as it serves for the setting of the boring center.
No matter what type of CNC machine you're looking for, Absolute Machine Tools, Inc. can help. Click here to learn more today.