Choosing Vertical Machining Centers

VMCs with high accuracy and efficiency are essential to machining complex parts. These components have curved surfaces that are difficult to create with traditional used machinery tools.

A variety of VMCs are available from a number of machine tool builders. Popular manufacturers include Haas, Mazak, and Okuma. Each provides multiple types of vertical mills that are perfect for shops focused on lights-out production.

Precision

VMCs are a cornerstone of machine-based manufacturing, the current industrial revolution known as Industry 4.0. Their precision allows them to accurately cut complex-shaped components for a range of applications and industries.

These tools perform a number of mechanical operations, including milling, drilling, tapping and threading. Their accuracy ensures that parts meet all application and industry specifications.In addition to machining, a VMC is capable of grinding and reaming. Grinding creates fine surface finishes and tight tolerances on a workpiece, while reaming helps to fine-tune the size of drilled holes.

VMCs are also highly flexible and can accommodate a variety of fixture sizes, allowing manufacturers to use them for a number of machining processes. Their ability to handle multiple setups in a single run is particularly beneficial when producing short runs of small parts. This capability also increases productivity, lowering production costs.

Versatility

VMCs are used to create a wide range of parts for several industries, including aerospace, automotive and defense. These machines are also often used for machining nonferrous materials such as plastic and high-density foam.

VMCs offer a variety of machine configurations to suit your application. Many offer multiple axes of movement, which expands the machine’s capabilities. Additionally, they can be equipped with a tool changer to help increase productivity.

The vertical spindle orientation also allows operators and machinists to see the workpiece during the machining process. This enables real-time monitoring and helps reduce downtime.VMCs can be utilized to fabricate components with complex curved surfaces. Examples include propellers, cams and integral impellers for engines. These structures are difficult to produce using traditional machine tools because they lack the required machining accuracy. However, a multi-axis vertical milling center can achieve the desired results efficiently and effectively. This enables the production of these components within a short time frame.

Efficiency

When choosing a VMC, you want one that can handle large workpieces with a high cutting capability. That’s because productivity is directly related to the amount of material that can be cut in a single machine cycle.A VMC’s metal-cutting capability is determined by its spindle power, which can be boosted with automation integration. This decouples setup procedures from the machining process and increases spindle utilization for unattended processing.

Using a vertical machining center with a tool changer also improves efficiency by allowing tool changes to be made without interrupting the machining cycle. This removes parasitic non-cutting time—minutes that would otherwise be spent inserting or removing a tool, cleaning the table and working area, and restarting the program—and adds thousands of dollars in annual savings for any shop.Another factor that influences a machine’s productivity is its ability to maintain high horsepower throughout its speed range. Don’t be fooled by the fanciful HP numbers on some machines; what matters is how consistently and reliably a machine can deliver its full-rated HP across its entire range of speeds.