- Comparison of machine tool layout between inclined bed CNC lathes and flat bed CNC lathes:
The plane where the two guide rails of the flat bed CNC lathe are located is parallel to the ground plane. The plane where the two guide rails of the inclined bed CNC lathe are located intersects with the ground plane, forming an inclined plane with angles of 30°, 45°, 60°, and 75°. From the side of the machine tool, the bed of the flat bed CNC lathe is square, and the bed of the inclined bed CNC lathe is a right triangle. Obviously, under the same guide rail width, the X-direction slide of the inclined bed is longer than that of the flat bed. The practical significance of its application in the lathe is that more tool positions can be arranged.
- Comparison of cutting rigidity of inclined bed CNC lathes and flat bed CNC lathes:
The cross-sectional area of the inclined bed CNC lathe is larger than that of the flat bed of the same specification, that is, it has stronger bending and torsion resistance. The tool of the inclined bed CNC lathe cuts downward from the oblique upper part of the workpiece. The cutting force is basically consistent with the gravity direction of the workpiece, so the spindle runs relatively smoothly and is not easy to cause cutting vibration. When the flat bed CNC lathe is cutting, the cutting force generated by the tool and the workpiece is 90° to the gravity of the workpiece, which is easy to cause vibration.
- Comparison of machining accuracy between inclined bed CNC lathe and flat bed CNC lathe:
The transmission screw of the CNC lathe is a high-precision ball screw. The transmission gap between the screw and the nut is very small, but it does not mean that there is no gap. As long as there is a gap, when the screw moves in one direction and then drives in the reverse direction, it is inevitable that a reverse gap will be generated. The reverse gap will affect the repeated positioning accuracy of the CNC lathe, thereby affecting the machining accuracy. The layout of the inclined bed CNC lathe can directly affect the gap of the ball screw in the X direction. The gravity directly acts on the axial direction of the screw, making the reverse gap during transmission almost zero. The X-direction screw of the flat bed CNC lathe is not affected by axial gravity, and the gap cannot be directly eliminated. This is the inherent precision advantage that the design brings to the inclined bed CNC lathe.
- Comparison of chip removal capabilities of inclined bed CNC lathes and flat bed CNC lathes:
Due to gravity, inclined bed CNC lathes are not prone to entanglement of tools, which is conducive to chip removal; at the same time, with the central screw and guide rail protection sheet metal, chips can be prevented from accumulating on the screw and guide rail. Inclined bed CNC lathes are generally equipped with automatic chip conveyors, which can automatically cut chips and increase the effective working time of workers. The structure of the flat bed is difficult to add an automatic chip conveyor.
- Comparison of automatic production of inclined bed CNC lathes and flat bed CNC lathes:
The increase in the number of tool positions of machine tools and the configuration of automatic chip conveyors are actually laying the foundation for automated production. One person guarding multiple machine tools has always been the direction of machine tool development. The inclined bed CNC lathe is equipped with a milling power head, an automatic feeding machine or a manipulator, automatic loading, one-time clamping to complete all chip cutting processes, automatic unloading, and automatic chip removal, which makes it an automatic CNC lathe with high work efficiency. The structure of the flat bed CNC lathe is at a disadvantage in terms of automated production. Although the inclined bed CNC lathe is more advanced than the flat bed CNC lathe, its market share is far behind. The flat bed CNC lathe has the advantages of easy production and occupies more than 90% of the market share of CNC lathes.
