The Big Machining Centers

[DeusExMachina]

I've got a little Taig at the moment, but like most in this hobby I'm starting to want something bigger...

So, I started to do some research on some of the larger commercial VMC's just to see how they're put together. I've never worked around any real machines so I thought it was interesting looking at the frames etc.

Thought I'd share and if anyone else has a shot of a machine frame, or the linear mechanics feel free to share as well!























( from CNC Cookbook: )

[slashmaster]

Originally Posted by DeusExMachina

Wow, look at the saddle on this one with those extensions! Has anyone here ever extended the saddle like this on a benchtop?

[kweierbach]

Originally Posted by slashmaster Wow, look at the saddle on this one with those extensions! Has anyone here ever extended the saddle like this on a benchtop?

those look like supports for the guards that are missing in that photo.

[slashmaster]

Originally Posted by DeusExMachina

What kind of tracks is this? I can't even tell what slides and what doesn't. What is that white thing that is where the table would be on a normal mill?

[Geof]

Originally Posted by slashmaster What kind of tracks is this? I can't even tell what slides and what doesn't. What is that white thing that is where the table would be on a normal mill?

That is a Horizontal Mill, see the spindle sticking sideways out of the column. The white thing is a rotary table with the axis vertical; a four side column called a tombstone would be mounted here and on each of the four faces multiple parts would be fixtured for high volume production machining

[mwood3]

All the shiny metal parts are way covers (slide covers) keeps it all clean when you run high production... I work with Robo drills everyday, they are "somewhat" similar but we used floodcoolant enclosures... it all looks so much simpler with the enclosures removed^^

maybe i misunderstood what you said there about a rotary table but the big white round thing looks like an ATC magazine to me...I could be wrong though its late...

ok, yep i read you wrong...I see what you mean now...Ive heard of tombstones but never worked with one :P

[tivoidethuong]

thanks your pic, it look great

[svenakela]

I miss the side mount style that for example Correa/CorreaAnyak and some other brands uses. Takes a little more space, but is extremely rigid. On the other hand I wonder why not more mills are router style, they are very sturdy even in big sizes (and after all, if you buy a machine this big, who cares about space then?... )

[HawkJET]

Great post DeusExMachina.

As they say, a picture is worth a thousand words. I have seen many homebrew machines that could have used the council of these pictures. Even with the small size of most of the machines on this forum, these are examples of tried-and-true design practices that can pay dividends in rigidity.

Look at the proportions. Look at the closed box design. Look at the way their geometry provide leverage against the cutting forces.

Very informative!

[veteq]

This also is a nice machinebase.
How about those 4th and 5th axis, are there exploded views or other jpegs on the net that clear the design concep up???

[DeusExMachina]

Those are cool, thanks Veteq and Svenakela.

Found a few more, its getting harder to find with simple image searches

[Geof]

Look at the bottom one in your most recent pictures; there is a feature that could be applicable to DIY machines.

The Y axis has outrigger supports. There are large boxways near the center of the machine but on each end there is what looks like a linear guide but the only the top is finished and there just seems to be a shoe sliding on it.

I imagine this is to support the unbalanced load when the X is moved to either extreme.