What is a gantry machining center?

Gantry machining center refers to a machining center where the axis of the spindle Z axis is set vertically to the worktable. The overall structure is a large-scale machining center machine with a gantry structure frame composed of double columns and top beams, and there is a crossbeam in the middle of the double columns. It is especially suitable for processing large workpieces and workpieces with complex shapes.

There are fixed beam type (crossbeam is fixed, worktable moves/rotates), movable beam type (crossbeam moves up and down, worktable moves forward and backward), movable column type (worktable is fixed, gantry moves), overhead crane type (worktable is fixed, crossbeam moves) and multiple types of gantry machining centers in the above composite form. The processing characteristics, capabilities, and product processing purposes are not exactly the same.

Structural features of gantry machining center:

1. Worktable

The worktable of the gantry machining center is basically rectangular. The large castings such as the worktable, bed, columns, crossbeams and slides are made of cast iron or welded parts. The inner cavity of the casting is a honeycomb composite arrangement structure with advanced design. They are all treated with aging and secondary tempering to eliminate residual internal stress to stabilize the material and ensure the stability of workpiece processing accuracy and machine tool life.

2. Gantry

The gantry consists of a beam and two columns. It is divided into three types: beam fixed, beam locked by positioning block and segmented lifting, and beam arbitrary lifting.

3. Ram

The ram can be divided into two types in terms of structure: open and closed. The ram of the open structure is clamped on the spindle box through a pressure plate, and the cross-sectional area of the ram is large; the ram of the closed structure is clamped in the spindle box, and the cross-sectional area of the ram is small.

4. Tool magazine

The basic types of tool magazines are turret type, drum type and chain length type.

5. Accessory head library

The processing of large and complex parts usually requires a lot of accessory heads. The accessory heads are specially designed according to the processing requirements of the workpiece, and are generally divided into right-angle heads, extended heads, special angle heads and universal heads.

6. CNC system

There are many suppliers of CNC systems, and there are different choices of system brands and models according to different needs.

7. Accuracy

The accuracy of a machine tool refers to the original accuracy of the machine tool under the condition of no external load. Accuracy is usually expressed by its opposite - the deviation from the ideal state (abbreviated as error). The smaller the error, the higher the accuracy.