A horizontal machining center is a machine tool in which the spindle axis is set parallel to the worktable. It can process larger parts and can perform indexing and rotary machining. It is best suited for multi-process machining of parts with multiple working surfaces, such as milling, drilling, boring, reaming, tapping, and two-dimensional and three-dimensional curved surfaces. It has the excellent performance of completing the machining of box-shaped holes and planes in one clamping. It is also particularly suitable for turning and boring of box-shaped holes. It is widely used in the automotive, internal combustion engine, aerospace, home appliance, and general machinery industries.
Horizontal machining centers are classified into fixed-column and moving-column types based on whether the column moves. I. Fixed-column type
- The worktable moves in a cross motion, with X and Z axes, and the spindle head moves in the Y axis. The spindle head can be mounted on the column in either a front or side configuration. Suitable for multi-process machining such as boring and milling of medium-sized complex parts.
- The spindle head moves in a cross motion, with X and Z axes, and the worktable moves in the Y axis. Suitable for multi-process machining such as boring and milling of small to medium-sized parts.
- The spindle head is side-mounted to the column, and the spindle head moves in the Y and Z axes. This layout is similar to a planer-type horizontal milling and boring machine, with the worktable moving in the X axis. Suitable for multi-process machining such as boring and milling of medium-sized parts.
II. Moving-column type
- Planer-type: The bed is T-shaped, the worktable moves in the X axis on the front bed, and the column moves in the Z axis on the rear bed. 1. Spindle Headset with Column Mounting: This type has two mounting configurations on the column: upright and side-mounted, with Y-axis movement. Suitable for medium to large parts, especially long parts, requiring multiple machining operations such as boring and milling.
- Column Cross Motion Type: The column moves Z and U (parallel to the X-axis), the spindle headset moves Y-axis on the column, and the worktable moves X-axis on the front bed. Suitable for medium-sized complex parts requiring multiple machining operations such as boring and milling.
- Spindle Ram Feed Type: The spindle headset moves Y-axis on the column, the spindle ram moves Z-axis, and the column moves X-axis. The worktable is fixed or equipped with a rotary table. Multiple worktables can be configured, suitable for machining multiple small to medium-sized parts, where workpiece loading/unloading and cutting times can overlap.
