Originally Posted by JPMach On HMC,s though doesn't the spindle do all the movements. I keep reading how they are much more rigid and fast at making parts than a VMC even though they cost twice as much.
JP |
Good point but I think the overall machine footprint relative to the travel of the axes is larger than a VMC. I think the "fast at making parts" perception arises out of them nearly always being configured as pallet machines or with rotary tombstones or both for high volume production. Not always because sometimes low volume big parts are done on HMCs but then part loading with an overhead crane is a factor.