What are the differences between machining centers, engraving and milling machines, and routers? This is a frequently asked question for many friends who have just entered the industry when buying mechanical equipment. They would be at a loss and not know what equipment to buy to meet their needs. Today, Huaen Intelligent Equipment will reveal the differences between these three.

Engraving and milling machine:

As the name suggests, it can engrave or mill. Based on the engraving machine, the power of the spindle and servo motor is increased, and the bed can withstand the load while maintaining the high speed of the spindle. Engraving and milling machines are also developing towards high speed, generally called high-speed machines. They have heavier cutting capabilities, very high processing accuracy, and can directly process materials with a hardness of HRC60 or above. They can be formed in one go and are widely used in precision mold core roughing and precision machining, batch processing of mold copper electrodes, aluminum products, shoe mold manufacturing, fixture processing, clock, and eyewear industry. Due to its high cost-effectiveness, fast processing speed, and smoothness of processed products, it is increasingly occupying an important position in the machine tool processing industry.

CNC machining center:

The machining characteristics for a machining center are: with a one-time clamping, the CNC system can control the machine tool to select and replace cutting tools according to different processes automatically; Automatically changing the spindle speed, feed rate, and relative motion trajectory of the tool to the workpiece, as well as other auxiliary functions, to continuously perform multiple processes such as drilling, countersinking, reaming, boring, threading, milling, etc. on each machining surface of the workpiece.

Due to the centralized and automatic completion of multiple processes by machining centers, human operational errors are avoided, and the time for workpiece clamping, measurement, and machine tool adjustment, as well as workpiece turnover, handling, and storage, are reduced. This greatly improves machining efficiency and precision, thus having good economic benefits. Machining centers can be divided into vertical and horizontal machining centers based on the position of the spindle in space.

Router:

The torque is relatively small, and the spindle speed is high, which is suitable for processing small cutting tools. It focuses on the "routering" function and is not ideal for heavy cutting of large workpieces. At present, most products marketed under the banner of router machines are mainly for processing handicrafts, with low costs. Due to their low precision, they are not suitable for mold development.

Comparison of Index Data for Engraving and Milling Machines, Machining Centers, and Routers

Maximum spindle speed (r/min):

Machining center 8000;

The most common engraving and milling machine is 240000,

The minimum for high-speed machines is 30000;

Routers are generally the same as engraving and milling machines. Routers used for highlight processing can reach up to 80000, but they do not use ordinary electric spindles but air-floating spindles.

Spindle power:

The machining center is the largest, ranging from several kilowatts to tens of kilowatts;

Engraving and milling machines rank second, generally within ten kilowatts;

The router is the smallest.

Cutting Quantity:

The machining center is the largest, especially suitable for heavy cutting and rough cutting;

Next are engraving and milling machines, suitable for precision machining;

The router is the smallest.

Speed:

Due to their lightweight nature, engraving and milling machines have faster movement and feed rates than machining centers, especially high-speed machines equipped with linear motors that can reach a maximum movement speed of 120m/min.

Accuracy:

The accuracy of the three is similar.

Processing dimensions:

The workbench area can better reflect this factor.

The minimum worktable area of the machining center (unit: mm, the same below) is normally 830 * 500 (850 model);

The maximum worktable area of the engraving and milling machine is normally 700 * 620 (750 machines), and the minimum 450 * 450 (400 machines);

For routers, they generally do not exceed 450 * 450, with a common size of 45 * 270 (250 machines).

Application object:

Machining centers are used to process workpieces with large milling volumes, large molds, and materials with relatively hardness, also suitable for roughing ordinary molds;

Engraving and milling machines are used to complete precision machining of small milling quantities and molds, suitable for processing copper, graphite, and other materials;

Low-end routers process low-hardness boards such as wood, two-color boards, and acrylic boards, while high-end ones are suitable for polishing and grinding chips, metal shells, and other materials.

Whether to purchase a router or a CNC milling machining center is a common question, depending on the production needs.

Let's clarify the differences between the three models:

1. Numerical control milling and machining centers are used to complete machining workpieces with large milling volumes.

2. Numerical control engraving and milling machines are used to complete small milling quantities or soft metal processing equipment.

3. High-speed cutting machines are used to process medium milling volumes and minimize the amount of polishing after milling.