The machining center is an efficient, high-precision CNC machine tool, the workpiece can complete the processing of multiple processes in a clamping, and there is also a tool magazine, and there is an automatic tool change function. These rich functions of the machining center determine the complexity of the machining center programming.
The machining center can realize the linkage control of three or more axes to ensure that the tool can be processed on complex surfaces. In addition to linear interpolation and arc interpolation functions, the machining center also has various functions such as fixed machining cycle, automatic compensation of tool radius, automatic compensation of tool length, graphic display of machining process, man-machine dialogue, automatic fault diagnosis, offline programming and so on.
The machining center was developed from a CNC milling machine. The biggest difference with the CNC milling machine is that the machining center has the ability to automatically exchange processing tools, and by installing tools for different purposes on the tool magazine, the processing tools on the spindle can be changed through the automatic tool changer in a clamping to achieve a variety of processing functions.
Machining centers can be divided into vertical, horizontal and composite machining centers in terms of appearance. The spindle of the vertical machining center is perpendicular to the worktable, which is mainly suitable for processing plate and shell workpieces, and can also be used for mold processing. The spindle axis of the horizontal machining center is parallel to the workbench table, and most of its workbenches are CNC rotary tables controlled by servo motors. Composite machining center mainly refers to a machining center with vertical and horizontal two spindles or the spindle can change the angle of 90 °, so that the workpiece can be processed on five sides in a clamping.