A vertical machining center refers to a machining center where the spindle is in a vertical state. Its structural form is mostly a fixed column, and the worktable is rectangular without indexing and rotation function. It is suitable for machining disc, sleeve, and plate parts. A vertical machining center generally has three linear motion coordinate axes and can install a rotating table along the horizontal axis on the worktable, which is commonly known as a four axis machining center in the industry. It is mostly used for machining spiral line parts.
Vertical machining centers are easy to install, operate, observe machining conditions, debug programs, and have a wide range of applications. However, due to the height of the column and the limitations of the tool changing device, it is not possible to process parts that are too high. When machining cavities or concave surfaces, chips are not easily discharged, and in severe cases, they can damage the tool, destroy the already machined surface, and affect the smooth progress of machining.
A horizontal machining center refers to a machining center with a horizontal spindle, usually equipped with an automatic indexing rotary worktable. It generally has 3-5 motion coordinates, commonly three linear motion coordinates plus one rotary motion coordinate. After one clamping, the workpiece completes the machining of the other four surfaces except for the mounting surface and top surface. It is most suitable for adding box type parts. Compared with vertical machining centers, horizontal machining centers have easier chip removal during processing, which is beneficial for machining, but their structure is complex and their price is higher.