Vertical machining center, also called VMC, refers to a machining center with the axis of the main shaft and the worktable set perpendicular to it. It is mainly suitable for processing complex parts such as plates, discs, molds and small shells.

What are the advantages of vertical machining?

The vertical machining center can complete the processes of milling, boring, drilling, tapping and thread cutting. Moreover, it is at least three-axis and two-linkage, and generally can realize three-axis and three-linkage. Some can carry out five-axis, six-axis control. The fly in the ointment is that its column height is limited, and the processing range of box-type workpieces should be reduced.

Moreover, the workpiece clamping and positioning of the vertical machining center are convenient; the movement trajectory of the cutting tool is easy to observe, the debugging program is convenient to check and measure, and the problem can be found in time, and the shutdown processing or modification can be carried out; the cooling condition is easy to establish, and the cutting fluid can directly reach the cutting tool and the machined surface; The three coordinate axes are consistent with the Cartesian coordinate system, and the intuitive feeling is consistent with the viewing angle of the pattern, and the chips are easy to remove and fall, so as to avoid scratching the processed surface. Compared with the corresponding horizontal machining center, the structure is simple, the floor area is small, and the price is lower.

After the workpiece is clamped once on the machining center, the digital control system can control the machine tool to automatically select and replace the tool according to different processes, and automatically change the machine tool spindle speed, feed rate, and the movement path of the tool relative to the workpiece and other auxiliary functions. Multi-process machining on several sides of the workpiece. And there are a variety of tool change or tool selection functions, so that the production efficiency is greatly improved.

What are the characteristics of vertical machining centers?

✔️Automatic tool change

The structure of the vertical machining center and the CNC milling machine are basically the same, and the processing technology is basically similar, but the biggest difference between the two is that the machining center replaces the automatic tool changer and tool magazine, and the CNC milling machine does not have this function. The vertical machining center with automatic tool changer and tool magazine has an automatic tool change function, which can be replaced according to the tools used in processing. In general, the vertical machining center can change the tool at will to process different processes of the workpiece.

✔️One workpiece clamping can process multiple processes

From the previous function point, the vertical machining center has an automatic tool change function. With this function, it can perform multi-process processing in one clamping process, such as boring, drilling, milling, tapping and tapping.

✔️Expand the number of axes

Since the conventional three-axis machining center cannot meet the requirements of customer product processing, such as: machining impellers, blades, shafts, propellers and other complex surface workpieces that cannot be processed by three-axis vertical machining centers, the four-axis machining center or five-axis is expanded according to customer product requirements.

From the above, we know that the vertical machining center has the function of expanding the number of axes, and can expand the functions of four axes, five axes and multiple axes.

✔️Multiple machining surfaces can be machined in one workpiece clamping

From the above, it is known that the vertical machining center can expand the number of axes, so after the vertical machining center expands the number of axes, the workpiece can be clamped to process multiple machining surfaces at one time. It avoids the accuracy error of multiple clamping, and also saves the time for manual clamping of workpieces.

Classification of vertical machining centers:

✔️Classification by rail

According to the form of the guide rail of each axis of the vertical machining center, it can be divided into hard rail and linear rail. The hard rail is suitable for heavy cutting, and the linear rail movement is more sensitive.

✔️Classification by speed

The spindle speed of vertical machining center is 6000-15000rpm for low-speed type, and above 18000rpm is for high-speed type.

✔️Classification by structure

According to the bed structure of the vertical machining center, it can be divided into C type and gantry type.

What are the applications of vertical machining centers?

Vertical machining centers are suitable for various machinery manufacturing industries such as aviation, automobiles, molds, shipbuilding, electromechanical, machine tools, printing, and light textiles. It is mainly used for the processing of small and medium-sized parts, molds and other varieties.

After the workpiece is clamped once, it can automatically complete the multi-side and multi-process processing of milling, drilling, boring, reaming, etc. automatically, efficiently and with high precision, and the processing can be programmed. The production cycle is shortened, so that users can obtain good economic benefits.

From the above, we know that vertical machining centers are widely used in the machinery manufacturing industry. Its various models, such as vmc 500, vmc800, vmc600, are also highly favored by the market. We are a company that sells vertical machining center equipment, please feel free to contact us if you have any requirements.