Features of TSINFA CNC Machining Center
- Equipping with ATC system to achieve multiple machining processes for a single setup, maintaining continuous and efficient operation;
- CNC machining center offers high machining precision thanks to its high-rigidity structure, advanced control system, and compensation system;
- Extremely high automation level ensures high production capacity;
- Supporting multi-axis coordination function, and expandable to 4 axis or 5 axis;
- The production efficiency of CNC machining centers is increased by 2- 5 times or more;
- TSINFA’s CNC machining center has passed international certifications, including CE and ISO.
Types of CNC Machine Center
The CNC machining center can be classified into various types based on the location of the spindle and other functional characteristics. Each type has its unique advantages and scope of application. The following are four common types:
The spindle of horizontal machining centers(HMC) is parallel to its bed. The structure of HMC is robust and has high rigidity, so it is suitable to be used to machine large and heavy workpieces. HMC is typically equipped with a rotary table to achieve machining 4 surfaces with a single setup. It is efficient to complete mass production or continuous work. Due to the parallel spindle design, metal chips generated in the machine process can fall away naturally without accumulation, keeping a clean operation environment.
The spindle of the vertical machining center(VMC) is positioned vertically relative to the bed. Its structure is simple and tight, occupying smaller space than a horizontal machining center. The operation process of the VMC is convenient, which supports automatic tools change and loading or unloading to reduce manual cost for you. Its vertical spindle design is easy to accumulate metal chips, which requires regular cleanliness and maintenance. The VMC is generally equipped with a 3 or 4 axis design, and is one of the most widely used machining centers.
The biggest feature of the gantry machining center is the design of a gantry frame, which consists of two vertical columns and a horizontal beam. The spindle is installed into the gantry frame with high rigidity, moving along multiple axes to cut materials. The gantry machining center is specifically designed to machine large and heavy workpieces, such as components of aerospace, automotive, and shipbuilding industries.
5 axis machining centers add two rotating axes based on the traditional 3 axis machining center, enhancing the production efficiency and precision. The additional rotating axis makes tools maintain optimal tilt angles to move along various axes, thereby improving the surface finish of workpieces. The 5 axis machining center is widely used to machine components with irregular shapes. It just needs a single setup to achieve machining complex structure, significantly reducing production cycles.
CNC Machine Center Applications
Components of the aerospace industry have high machining demands and are typically made of materials that are difficult to machine, such as titanium alloys, aluminum alloys, and other composite materials. The CNC machining center has strong cutting power to meet the requirements of high-strength materials. The 5 axis machining center is suitable to machine complex curved surfaces and deep cavities. It has high reliability and precision, and is widely used in aircraft components including engine blades, landing gear, and fuselage components.
The CNC machining center is also widely used in the automotive industry, including engine blocks, transmission housings, gears, and vehicle frames. It can achieve high efficiency and mass production of automotive components, and also maintain high precision and dimensional consistency. The CNC machining center provides superior repeatability to ensure the interchangeability of components when the vehicle fails. Additionally, the CNC machining center offers high reliability for workpieces to improve the safety and performance of the automotive.
The medical industry generally uses biocompatible materials such as titanium alloys, cobalt-chromium-molybdenum alloys, and medical-grade stainless steel. The CNC machining center offers flexible machining capacity to handle these materials. Implants like artificial joints, dental implants, and bone plates are mainly customized products, while the CNC machining center is suitable for small batches of production. It can also improve the precision and surface finish of workpieces, making the components integrate seamlessly with human tissue. The CNC machining center can be also used to machine precise medical tools, such as surgical scalpels and endoscope components.
Injection molds, die-casting molds, blow molds, and other types of molds are generally difficult to machine due to their complex curved faces and high requirements on surface. The multi-axis coordination of the CNC machining center allows machining at various angles to handle the complex three-dimensional surfaces of the mold. It can also improve the production efficiency and surface finish by milling with high speed. If your project also has a complex structure, the CNC machining center may meet the demands.
What is CNC Machine Center
CNC machining center is a type of multifunctional machine that is controlled by a smart computer system. Differ to a traditional machine with a single function, the CNC machining center completes various process methods on the one machine, such as milling, trilling, and threading. It can also machine workpieces with different types and dimensions, offering flexible processing functions. If you are seeking for a highly efficient machine, the TSINFA CNC machining center is an ideal choice.
Main Components of CNC Machine Center
Bed: Bed of the CNC machining center determines the maximum weight and size of the workpieces. It is typically made of cast iron or welding steel with high strength, providing strong rigidity and support for the entire machine to ensure stable setup.
Spindle: The spindle consists of a spindle head and a motor, which is the core actuator. It is used to fix the tools and make them rotate with high speed. It also requires oil-cooled or water-cooled to keep thermal stability. The rotation speed and rigidity of the spindle directly determines the production efficiency and precision.
Taper Feed Mechanism: The taper feed mechanism of CNC machining centers is mainly composed of guideway, lead screw, and a servo motor. It is generally used to control the movement of the worktable or spindle to ensure the safety and stability of the cutting process. According to the CNC system, it can make the tools achieve highly precise locations.
Automatic Tools Change (ATC) System: Tool capacity of the CNC machining center can restore various tools. Based on different materials and shapes of the workpiece, the ATC system can change a suitable tool to achieve the different machining process. This system is a key component to improve the production efficiency of CNC machining centers.
Cooling and Chip Removal System: The cooling system of CNC machining centers reduces heat generated in the machining process according to the cycled coolant. This can prevent tools wear or thermal deformation issues. In addition, the chip removal system efficiently removes metal chips to maintain a clean machining environment. Combination of the two functions ensures long service life of the tools and the production precision.
Overload and Wear Detectors: This component can monitor the wear level of tools or other components in the machining process. If there are some abnormal conditions, it will transfer signals to the CNC system, ensuring safety and reliability of the operation process to minimize unplanned downtime.
Automatic Pallet Changer (APC) System: The APC system supports preload of the workpieces. It can achieve automatic loading and unloading processes, reducing manual handling and errors. This will help the CNC machining center maintain continuous machining to improve the efficiency.
Advantages of CNC Machine Center
Highly Automated
The CNC machining center can be controlled by a smart control system to achieve highly automated processes, including tools change, coolant supply, and rotary tables. For different types of machine process or workpiece, you just need to modify and replace the CNC programs to suit various productions. The CNC machining center also supports remote monitoring and smart manufacturing, which can be integrated with the MES or ERP system. Its entire machining process relies on the smart system without any manual operation.
High Precision
The core advantage of the CNC machining center is high precision and consistency. Its bed possesses high rigidity, maintaining stability in a long term of usage. The CNC system can control the movement paths of the tool automatically, reducing the errors caused by manual operation to improve the position precision. The CNC machining center also has error compensation capabilities to compensate for tiny errors caused by worn tools or thermal deformation issues.
High Processing Capability
CNC machining centers can machine complex curved surfaces and irregular shapes based on multi-axis interpolation, such as impellers, engine cylinder blocks, and mold cavities. It is also flexible to adapt to different materials including aluminum alloys, steel, stainless steel, and titanium alloys. For different machining processes or workpieces, the CNC machining center can be reprogrammed quickly to meet different requirements and maintain high precision.
High Efficiency
The CNC machining center can achieve multiple machining processes at a single setup, and is equipped with an automated tools change system. This will reduce the time of tools changing and setup to improve production efficiency. Beyond necessary tool changes or maintenance, the CNC machining center allows continuous operation to significantly enhance the equipment utilization. The smart control system also optimizes machining paths to improve cutting efficiency. In addition, the CNC machining center has high rotation speed of spindle and rapid feed rates to increase the machining speed.
High Economic Benefits
Compared to common lathes with a single function, the CNC machining center can complete multiple various machining processes with one equipment, improving production efficiency. The CNC machining center can achieve processing complex structure with one piece setup to save fixture and manufacturing costs. It also possesses good stability and precision, ensuring the quality and dimensional consistency of workpieces to decrease the rework or scrap rates. The automatic design also reduces manual costs, increasing the economic benefits of your project.
How to Select CNC Machine Center
Actual Requirements
When selecting the CNC machining center, you should firstly analyze the workpiece and actual requirements. Different materials and structures have significantly different demands on the rigidity, torque, and tools of the machine, you should determine the material types and structural complexity. You can also identify the required process methods and production modes according to the machining demands of workpieces.
Key Parameters
Bed Structure: You can choose the bed of CNC machining centers made of cast iron with high strength, ensuring stability in the machining process. In addition, you should determine suitable machine dimensions based on the workpiece types. The structure of gantry machining centers generally possesses higher rigidity than vertical types, and is suitable for heavy cutting and large components.
Spindle: The spindle is one of the most important components of the CNC machining center. If you need to machine large and heavy materials such as iron and steel, a spindle with high torque is necessary to offer strong cutting power. While if your project involves light materials like aluminum alloys, then high rotation speed is more suitable to meet high surface finish.
Tools Changer Capacity: The automatic tools change system typically accommodates dozens of different cutting tools. You can choose the suitable capacity according to the complexity of workpieces and processes. Proper tools capacity can improve the efficiency of tools change, saving the change time in the machining process.
Control System: Common control systems include Siemens and Fanuc, each type has unique advantages. You can select the control system based on the compatibility of existing smart systems and operator proficiency. Choosing the one type that your engineer is familiar with can reduce learning time to improve the operation efficiency of CNC machining centers.
Precision: When choosing the CNC machining center, you should check whether its positioning accuracy and repeatability meet the international standards. At the same time, if your project has higher demands on precision, you can install a linear encoder feedback system for the CNC machining center.
After-sale Service
It is better to choose a reliable or famous brand and supplier, which typically has mature equipment production lines. They can ensure the quality and stability of the CNC machining center, offering a relatively long warranty for you. Once the machine is damaged or fails, the supplier can solve these issues and failures in time, reducing production loss caused by unexpected downtime. Good after-sale service will provide strong support for your project.
The decision of the CNC machining center is determined by the workpiece structure and actual machining requirements. The basic 3 axis machining center is suitable to handle simple structure, such as plates or discs. If your project involves multi-surface machining or side machining, a 4 axis machining center can meet the demands. While the 5 axis machining center is more suitable for complex surfaces and angled holes, offering high production efficiency and precision.
Maintaining stable operation environments is a useful way to ensure the precision of the CNC machining center. In addition, the wear level of spindle, guideways, and tools need to be checked regularly to improve the reliability of the machining process, enhancing the precision. You can also use the high-quality cutting fluids and lubricants to prevent machine damage caused by chemical components.
The tools changer capacity of CNC machining centers typically includes 16, 24, 32, or more. For multi-process machining, you can choose the tools holder with high capacity and an automatic tools change system to save the machining time.
