What is a gantry milling machine

What is a gantry milling machine? A gantry milling machine, referred to as gantry milling, is a milling machine with a gantry frame and a horizontal long bed. It consists of a gantry frame, bed table, and electrical control system. It is divided into gantry fixed table moving type and gantry moving type according to the form and divided into two types of moving beam type and fixed beam type according to whether the cross beam moves on the column or not, which has the characteristics of sufficient rigidity, high efficiency, and comprehensive performance. So what is the difference between a milling machine and a lathe? Let's take a look below.

Classification of gantry milling machine

• Divided by form: according to whether the gantry frame moves, it is divided into gantry fixed table moving type and gantry moving type; according to whether the beam moves on the column, it is divided into two types of moving beam type and fixed beam type; the beam moves on the elevated bed is called elevated type.

• Divided by system: divided into ordinary type and numerical control type.

• Divided by capacity: divided into light, medium and heavy (super heavy) gantry milling.

How is the gantry 5 axis cnc machine center processed?

Most of the gantry machining center milling is done with the reverse milling method. However, smooth milling should be used as much as possible, which will achieve better processing results. When milling with the gantry milling machine, the milling width should be made approximately equal to 2/3 of the milling cutter diameter, which ensures that the cutter edge will cut into the workpiece immediately at the beginning with almost no friction. If it is less than 1/2 milling cutter diameter, the insert will start to rub the workpiece again, because the cutting thickness becomes smaller when cutting in, and the feed per tooth will be reduced by the narrowing of the radial cutting width.

The result of friction makes the tool life shorten, for carbide tools, it is more advantageous to increase the feed per tooth and reduce the depth of cut. Therefore, when rough milling, if the radial cutting width is smaller than the radius of the milling cutter, increase the amount of travel, the tool life will be improved, and the machining time of the gantry milling machine will be shortened.

Of course, finish milling needs the surface of the workpiece to be smooth, so the amount of tool travel should be limited.

What is the difference between milling machine and lathe?

• The lathe is a machine tool that mainly uses the turning tool to turn the rotating workpiece. In the lathe also available drill, reaming drill, reamer, tap, plate and knurling tool for corresponding processing. Lathe is mainly used for processing shafts, discs, sleeves and other workpieces with rotary surfaces.

• Milling machine and drilling machine and other rotary processing machinery are derived from lathe. Milling machine is a milling machine with a milling cutter to the workpiece for milling processing. Usually the main movement is the rotating movement of the milling cutter, and the movement of the workpiece and milling cutter is the feed movement. Milling machine in addition to milling planes, grooves, gear teeth, threads and spline shafts, but also more complex surface processing, high efficiency than the planer, in mechanical manufacturing and repair departments are widely used. In addition, it can also be used for machining rotary surfaces and bores and for cutting off work.

Conclusion

In general, the gantry milling machine has sufficient rigidity, high efficiency, easy operation, simple structure, comprehensive performance and other characteristics, and is very widely used in the machinery manufacturing industry.

For more information about gantry 5 axis cnc machine, gantry cnc machining center, gantry machining center, we are glad to answer for you.