Machining Centers and Milling Machines

The term “machining center” describes almost any CNC milling and drilling machine that includes an automatic toolchanger and a table that clamps the workpiece in place. On a machining center, the tool rotates, but the work does not. Vertical machining centers (VMCs) generally favor precision while horizontal machining centers (HMCs) generally favor production — but these are loose generalizations, and plenty of machining centers break out of them. Five-axis machining centers are also common, which can pivot the tool and/or the part in order to mill and drill at various orientations. In some cases, these machines only position parts in five axes (commonly referred to as 4+1 or 3+2 machining). In others, full five-axis machining is used to create contoured features. Machining centers are also used as a secondary operation machine to complete parts that were partially machined on a lathe.

5-Axis Machining Centers Transform Medical Swiss Shop
Turning Machines

5-Axis Machining Centers Transform Medical Swiss Shop

Traditionally a Swiss machine shop, Swiss Precision Machining Inc. discovers a five-axis machining center that has led the company to substantial growth. (Includes video.)

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SW North America, CNC Machines and Automation
YCM Alliance

Latest Machining Centers & Milling Machines Articles

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SW North America Manufacturing Production Cell Runs Fully Automated

IMTS 2024: SW’s production lines are designed to precisely match components to the matched quantities from the raw part to the packaged, ready-to-ship component.

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Select Machining Technologies Highlights Multitasking Machines

IMTS 2024: Select Manufacturing Technologies is highlighting large-capacity multitasking machines from Solace, Geminis, Ibarmia and Momentum. 

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Okuma Machine Lineup Features Intelligent Manufacturing Technology

IMTS 2024: Okuma’s booth features CNC machine tools, a CNC control, a line of automation systems, intelligent manufacturing technologies, customer services and more.

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Swiss-Types

Mazak Custom Machining Solutions Feature Automation, Digitalization

IMTS 2024: Mazak features advanced machining solutions designed to boost productivity in automation, multitasking capabilities and machine tool technology. 

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micromachining

Keeping Watch on Small Parts

From watch parts to exotic medical applications, this shop takes on the world of micromachining.

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Basics

Understanding Micro-Milling Machine Technology

Micro-milling can be a companion process to turning-based production machining. This article looks at some of the technologies that go into a micro-milling machine and why they are important to successful operation.

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Campro USA
World Machine Tool Survey
manufacturer of machine tools
Kyocera
SW North America, CNC Machines and Automation

Latest Products

Romi D 1250 Vertical Machining Built for Rigidity and Precision

The D 1250 VMC is built on a Romi-made monoblock cast iron bed that absorbs vibration and enables consistent production of highly precise parts.

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SW HMC Functions as Independent Manufacturing Cell

PMTS 2023: SW North America’s BA 322i is a horizontal machining center created to function as an independent manufacturing cell that can store enough workpieces for an entire shift.

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PMTS

5-Axis Machining Center for Milling Diverse Materials

PMTS 2023: The Grob 6350 Generation 2 Universal Machining Center has the ability to rough and finish on the same machine to produce a complete part in one setup for increased productivity.

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PMTS

Five-Axis Machining Center Performs Cutting Operations in a Single Setup

PMTS 2023: Haas’ UMC-350HD is a compact five-axis universal machining center Capable of performing 3+2 and five-axis machining simultaneously.

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Compact VMC Built for Diverse, Simultaneous Applications

The compact model is well suited for shops that want an integrated 5-axis solution for virtually any part that has previously required multiple operations or setups.

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Kaast 5-Axis CNC VMC Offers Rigidity, Cutting Performance

The VMC includes a 30-tool magazine for flexible milling and drilling applications as a standard feature.

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Techspex
Star swiss-type automatic lathes
SolidCAM
Efficient, Durability, Advanced CBN Abrasives
Campro USA

Featured Posts

Automation

This Shop is Taking an Automated Aerospace Approach

A flexible manufacturing system helps an Indiana job shop run a mix of aerospace work for long stretches of time and function more like a contract shop.

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Video Tech Brief: Five-Axis Machining’s Value for the Medical Industry

Watch to see how a medical bone plate is created on a five-axis machining center.

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Medical

Five-Axis Machining for Small Prismatic Parts

New to the U.S. market, this compact machine could enable precision turning shops to win complex, more prismatic work in medical and other industries.

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Workholding

Five-Axis Fixturing Fun

This shop creates intricate fixtures — some of which it has given interesting names — for very complex jobs and high-volume work on five-axis machining equipment.

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Precision Machining Technology Review July 2022: IMTS Machining Centers Preview

Production Machining’s IMTS Machining Centers preview showcase includes Expand Machinery, Hardinge, Mikron Corp., DN Solutions, Kyocera Precision Tools and Mitsui Seiki.

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Where Automated Five-Axis Machining Isn’t a Challenge

A Minnesota shop recently added a five-axis machine with integrated pallet changer to perform days-long stretches of precision, repeatable small-parts machining on its own.

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Marubeni Citizen CNC
SPC Innovations, In-machine gaging and attachments
Horn USA
YCM Alliance