Which parts are suitable for horizontal turning center production?

In the field of machining, choosing the right equipment is crucial for ensuring production efficiency, machining accuracy, and economic benefits. While horizontal turning centers, a key component of modern manufacturing, are not universally applicable, they offer unparalleled advantages in machining certain specific parts. So, which parts are best suited for horizontal turning centers? This article will provide an in-depth analysis.

First, understand the unique advantages of horizontal turning centers

Before discussing specific parts, we must understand what makes a horizontal turning center "special." Its core advantages over vertical lathes are:

Gravity-friendly, smooth chip removal:The spindle is arranged horizontally, and the iron chips cut off fall naturally under the action of gravity and are not easily entangled on the workpiece or tool. It is particularly suitable for processing high-strength, large-allowance cast iron and steel parts.

Excellent stability:The weight of the workpiece is evenly applied to the bed through the chuck, resulting in a low center of gravity and strong rigidity. This effectively suppresses vibration when machining heavy and large parts, ensuring high precision and excellent surface finish.

Composite processing capabilities:It is usually equipped with a power turret and Y-axis, and can perform multiple processes such as turning, milling, drilling, and tapping, realizing "one-time clamping to complete all processing", greatly improving the processing efficiency and quality of complex parts.

 

Based on the above characteristics, the following types of parts can be called the "chosen ones" of horizontal turning centers.

Part Types Best Suited for Horizontal Turning Centers

1. Disc, sleeve, and ring parts

This is the most classic application area for horizontal turning centers. Typical parts include gear blanks, flanges, bearing end covers, sealing rings, large nuts, etc.

Why is it suitable?

 

Stable clamping:These parts are usually larger in diameter than they are long and can be held very securely using a chuck (especially a hydraulic expansion chuck) or a specialized fixture.

Efficient processing:After completing the turning processes such as end face, outer circle, inner hole, grooving, etc. on one side, the opposite end can be milled or drilled and tapped immediately through the power turret without the need for secondary clamping, ensuring the parallelism, verticality and other form and position tolerances of the two end faces.

Typical cases:A hydraulic flange with evenly distributed bolt holes can complete the turning of the inner hole, outer circle, and end face groove, as well as the drilling and tapping of the bolt holes on the back in one clamping, with excellent efficiency and precision.

 

2. Shaft parts with relatively small length-to-diameter ratio

The horizontal turning center is also capable of handling short shaft parts that are not long but have complex shapes.

Why is it suitable?

Advantages of composite processing:These parts often require not only external turning and threading but may also have features such as keyways, radial holes, and flats. The powered turret and Y-axis capabilities of a horizontal turning center can easily complete these milling and drilling operations.

 

 

High rigidity ensures precision:Even with the tailstock ejector support, the horizontal structure is more stable than the vertical one, which can effectively avoid the tool letting go phenomenon and ensure the straightness and roundness of the shaft.

 

3.Complex box and shell parts that require multi-faceted processing

This is an area where the "one-time clamping" capability of the horizontal turning center demonstrates its immense power. Examples include hydraulic valve blocks, pump housings, reducer housings, compressor housings, etc.

Why is it suitable?

 

"One-stop" processing:The machining surfaces of these parts are spread across multiple directions. By using a high-precision CNC rotary table (as the C-axis) in conjunction with a powered tool turret, it is possible to simultaneously complete milling, drilling, and tapping operations on four sides or even more directions, based on turning.

 

Guaranteed position accuracy:All features are completed in one clamping, completely eliminating the cumulative errors caused by multiple clamping, and perfectly ensuring the key precision requirements such as coaxiality and position between each bearing hole and threaded hole.

 

4.Heavy and large rotating parts

Such as large motor bases, wheel hubs, large gear blanks, rolling mills, etc.

Why is it suitable?

 

Strong carrying capacity:Horizontal turning centers are designed to handle heavy loads. Their large bed and powerful spindle system can easily handle workpieces weighing several tons or even tens of tons.

 

 

Chip evacuation is key:Machining such large workpieces generates a massive amount of chips. The horizontal layout, coupled with a chain-type chip conveyor, efficiently and automatically removes these chips, preventing chip accumulation that can lead to machining interruptions, workpiece scratches, and even equipment overheating.

 

• Small and medium-sized complex parts processed from bar stock

Horizontal turning centers are also highly effective for automated production using bar feeders.

Why is it suitable?

 

Automated production:Combined with the bar feeder, it can achieve long-term unmanned production, which is particularly suitable for the manufacturing of large-scale, complex-structured precision parts in industries such as automobiles, hydraulics and pneumatics.

 

Turning and milling:Before cutting, the power turret can be used to complete all feature processing on the side of the part. After a part is processed and cut, the next cycle will start immediately, which is extremely efficient.

 

Conclusion: How to make the right choice?

It is highly recommended to consider a horizontal turning center when your parts meet one or more of the following characteristics:

The parts are disc, sleeve and ring structures.

 

The part is heavy or has a small aspect ratio.

The part's structure is complex, requiring simultaneous turning, milling, drilling, and tapping operations.

Strict requirements exist for multi-faceted positional accuracy (such as coaxiality and positional accuracy).

When machining materials such as cast iron and steel, which generate a large amount of curled chips, chip removal is a key consideration.

 

In short, horizontal turning centers perfectly embody the modern concepts of "milling instead of turning" and "combined machining." By reducing setup times, shortening auxiliary time, and ensuring ultra-high precision, they offer significant cost advantages and competitiveness. Correctly assigning the right part to a horizontal turning center is a key step toward intelligent manufacturing and efficient production.