Used machining centres can be an excellent investment if you are looking for a machine that improves the performance of your machining workshop. Why choose a second-hand machine? Is it as good and reliable as a new one?
What are used machining centres?
Machining centres are the most advanced machine tools in the metalworking industry. They are highly versatile and can perform a wide range of machining operations, since they run on computer numerical control (CNC) technology. This is why machining centres need hardly any operator intervention.
A machining centre can work with rotary cutting tools such as drills, but all kinds of tools can be fitted (provided the machine model allows it). Used or new, machining centres offer a number of advantages: they can considerably increase and improve production output and shorten lead times.
However, while highly versatile and functional, these machines are quite expensive. That is why it makes sense to opt for a used machining centre. You will get the advantages and benefits of a new machine at a much lower price.
Features
Today you can find machining centres with different features, sizes and capabilities. Their price varies depending on the machine model, the work it can perform and the weight it can carry. Some machines have a rated power of up to 75 kW, and the spindle (head) has speed limits of 4,000–8,000 rpm. Some machines can also take loads of up to 7,000 kg.
Machining centres stand out for being reconfigurable: they can easily adapt to any task or operation carried out on a part. They have a head that can switch between the different tools needed to machine a part. This means the operator does not have to stop production, remove one cutting tool and fit a new one, or reposition the part: the machine does it automatically, without stopping.
These machines are fully automated, so they need hardly any operator intervention to do their work. They are also so fast that they reach high machining speeds and can produce parts in series with an excellent surface finish, even the smallest and most complex parts.
Are all used machining centres CNC?
All machining centres are CNC; there are no conventional ones. To work with these machines, the operator first has to design the final part using programming software (CAM and CAD). This is because machining centres have a built-in computer, which determines the type of tools needed to machine the part and other parameters such as cutting speed, depth of cut and so on. The CNC control on this machine works with programs generated by the most advanced CAD/CAM systems.
Because the machine's computer controls the process, one operator can run several machines at the same time. Having the computer handle this task also means it controls all the machining parameters and virtually any machining operation is possible, even on very complex parts. That is why machining centres are fairly expensive and need a range of accessories and tools.
Because of their high price, machining centres are aimed at large companies in the sector that need to produce parts in series and can therefore pay off the cost of the machine. If you do not want to invest in new machinery, consider buying a used machining centre.
Types of machining centre
Like other machine tools, machining centres come in different models. They are classified by size, number of axes and the type of programs and work they can handle.
- Horizontal. This type of machining centre is used to machine parts of considerable size on which different areas of the surface need to be worked.
- Vertical. These are the most efficient machining centres available. A used vertical machining centre can produce moulds, dies and other complex shapes. Vertical machining centres can have three, four or even five axes and are slightly cheaper than horizontal ones.