CNC machine tools are widely used in large-scale machining centers, CNC machining centers, and general machine shops, making them suitable for the vast majority of machining and CNC processing tasks. Based on established machine tool classifications, CNC machine tools fall into eleven major categories: lathes, drilling machines, boring machines, grinding machines, gear-cutting machines, thread-processing machines, milling machines, planers and shapers, broaching machines, sawing machines, and other machine tools.
While the classification method mentioned above is one approach, there are others. Having already introduced one method, we will now outline several additional classification methods to provide you with a comprehensive understanding of CNC machine tool categories.
Based on versatility, CNC machine tools can be classified as follows:
General-purpose machine tools: These have a wide processing scope, allowing them to perform various operations on a wide range of parts; examples include horizontal lathes, cylindrical grinders, and radial drilling machines.
Specialized machine tools: These have a more limited processing scope than general-purpose machines and are designed for specific types of parts or specific operations; examples include relieving lathes and lead-screw milling machines.
Dedicated machine tools: These have a very narrow processing scope, designed solely for a specific operation on a specific part; examples include various combined drilling and boring machines used for automotive components.
Based on working precision, CNC machine tools can be classified as standard-precision, precision, and high-precision machine tools.
Based on weight and size, CNC machine tools can be classified as instrument-class, medium-sized, large-scale, heavy-duty, and ultra-heavy-duty machine tools. Specifically, "large-scale" refers to machines weighing over 10 tons, "heavy-duty" refers to those over 30 tons, and "ultra-heavy-duty" refers to those over 100 tons.
Based on the number of primary functional components, CNC machine tools can be classified as single-spindle or multi-spindle and single-tool or multi-tool machines.
Based on the level of automation, CNC machine tools can be classified as standard (manual), semi-automatic, or automatic machine tools. Both semi-automatic and automatic machine tools feature complete automatic operating cycles; however, the automatic cycle of an automatic machine tool includes the automatic loading and unloading of workpieces, enabling continuous automatic machining, whereas a semi-automatic machine tool lacks this capability and requires manual intervention for loading and unloading, preventing continuous automatic operation.
