To understand the main points of difference between horizontal and vertical machining centers, it is necessary to first pause at another point. Almost any piece, tool, utensil, device, or apparatus you use, no matter how simple or complex it may seem, has generally been mass-produced. In any case, with the support of machines or industrial equipment, before they reached the stores or counters where they are typically purchased.
Just as everything you usually use has evolved, the development of the industrial sector and its processes and tools, is not lagging behind. Technological advances have allowed, throughout history, the perfection of methods and procedures related to the large-scale production of various goods.
Among the most significant contributions of technology to the industry are machining centers. These devices are machine tools that have optimized the operations and results of more traditional industrial devices, such as the milling machine or manual lathe.
If you are familiar with industrial environments, or have ever entered a workshop, you may have distinguished the appearance of a machining center. Generally speaking, it is a cubicle that can come in various sizes, and contains a set of devices that perform one or several specific tasks.
The appearance can vary and this may be closely linked to the type of equipment and its functions. In general, there are two types of machining centers: horizontal and vertical. Throughout this text, you will learn about their main characteristics, advantages, and functions that each performs within industrial production.
What is a machining center?
Machining centers are machinery-shaped tools implemented in the industrial sector. These employ various machining techniques, on generally rigid materials, for the production of parts. This result can constitute final products or simply parts to be assembled into more complex goods. These devices represent the technological evolution of older machinery, such as the milling machine, lathe, and drill, among others.
The main distinction, in relation to older equipment, is the automation of processes. A machining center has three main components that characterize it: the Computerized Numerical Control (CNC), multiple cutting and machining devices, and an automatic tool changer.
The aforementioned characteristics increasingly favor the demands in industrial processes, such as the optimization of time and resources, increased productivity, greater precision in work, and the guarantee of occupational safety.
Vertical and Horizontal Machining Centers
Machining centers are classified by multiple characteristics, such as size, functionalities, and levels of automation. However, the most general distinction is made based on the orientation of the working spindle. It can be either horizontal or vertical. Below, the general points of difference between horizontal and vertical machining centers are shown.
| Vertical Machining Centers | The working axis is a rotating head that performs various machining techniques on the material, from top to bottom. It primarily works on the upper area of the piece. In this sense, it is especially intended for the treatment of flat objects with cavities or grooves, as well as for the creation of patterns or molds. The worktable, on the other hand, moves horizontally on the X and Y axes, which, combined with the spindle movement, results in triaxial machining. Generally, it is a piece of equipment with a reduced installation space, making it a more economical and popular option. The machining process allows for observing the progress of the piece compared to the programmed design for it. |
| Horizontal Machining Centers | The main working axes on the material are located laterally. The primary function is to perform machining on different parts of the same piece. In this sense, it is intended for the treatment of large pieces. In certain equipment, the material can tilt and adopt certain positions to adjust to the working axes, according to programmed parameters. Machining with this type of equipment can use movements in three or four axes, each in different directions, allowing for three-dimensional treatment of the piece. An advantage is that the material can be worked on up to four surfaces simultaneously, reducing human intervention, as there is no need to manually move the piece. Due to the arrangement of the spindles and the movement of the piece, chips or material residues fall and do not accumulate on the object or the cutting tools. |
Conclusions
From its inception to the present, the industry by nature has been responsible for transforming raw materials into goods. This task has been focused on their subsequent commercialization, distribution, or large-scale use. It is the secondary sector of the productive economy, as it serves as a link between the processes of obtaining raw materials (primary sector) and the marketing and generation of benefits from finished products (tertiary sector).
In general, all the objects that are part of daily life today, or that are around you, are the result of a set of mechanical industrial processes, executed with tools of multiple characteristics and adjusted to different design, functionality, and finish parameters, among other aspects determined for production.
