As the core equipment for processing large shaft and disk parts (such as turbine spindles and wind turbine flanges), heavy-duty CNC horizontal lathes have a tool system that is crucial for achieving efficient cutting and precision assurance. Unlike ordinary lathes, heavy-duty lathes need to withstand large cutting forces and high load machining conditions, and the stability and adaptability of the tool system directly affect the machining quality and efficiency.
1、 The core principle of heavy-duty CNC horizontal lathe tool system
The tool system of a heavy-duty CNC horizontal lathe mainly consists of four parts: the tool holder, the tool tower/holder, the tool clamping device, and the cooling and lubrication components. Through collaborative cooperation, it achieves a closed-loop function of "precise positioning stable cutting efficient heat dissipation".
From the perspective of transmission logic, the CNC system sends instructions to the turret/tool holder according to the machining program, drives the servo motor to drive the tool holder to rotate or move, and accurately sends the specified tool to the cutting position. The rigid connection between the tool holder and the tool holder is key in this process - heavy-duty lathes often use large-diameter, high-strength tool holders (such as BT50, HSK100 series), which ensure that the tool holder does not loosen under high cutting force through cone fitting and bolt locking, avoiding machining errors caused by tool deviation.
During the cutting process, the tool clamping device (such as hydraulic chuck, mechanical chuck) firmly fixes the tool to prevent tool vibration under high-speed rotation or heavy load; At the same time, the cooling and lubrication components precisely deliver cutting fluid to the contact area between the cutting edge of the tool and the workpiece through high-pressure oil injection or internal cooling, which not only reduces cutting temperature and tool wear, but also flushes out chips, avoiding chip accumulation and affecting machining accuracy. The entire system is centered around "rigid support+precise control+efficient heat dissipation", adapting to the demanding requirements of heavy-duty machining.
2、 Tool selection strategy for heavy-duty CNC horizontal lathe
The selection of cutting tools should revolve around the matching of "machining requirements, workpiece characteristics, and equipment capabilities", with a focus on the following three aspects:
（1） Select tool material based on workpiece material and processing type
Heavy duty workpieces are mostly made of high-strength alloys (such as 42CrMo), wear-resistant cast iron and other difficult to cut materials. The selection of cutting tools should be based on the material characteristics: when processing high-strength steel, hard alloy cutting tools (such as WC Co) are preferred, which have high hardness, strong wear resistance and can withstand large cutting forces; When processing viscous materials such as stainless steel, choosing coated tools (such as TiAlN coating) can reduce chip sticking and improve surface quality; For high-precision precision machining, cubic boron nitride (CBN) cutting tools can be used, which have good thermal stability and can ensure dimensional accuracy stability.
（2） Selecting tool structure based on cutting parameters and working conditions
The cutting parameters (cutting depth, feed rate) of heavy-duty lathes are relatively large, and an appropriate tool structure needs to be selected: for rough machining, a tool structure with a large rake angle and strong cutting edge, such as an indexing blade type tool, can be used to improve cutting efficiency and facilitate quick tool change; During precision machining, use tools with small rake angles and sharp edges to reduce the squeezing deformation of the workpiece caused by cutting forces and ensure surface roughness; For processing complex features such as deep holes and steps, specialized forming tools or extended rod tools are selected to ensure tool accessibility and rigidity.
（3） Select tool holder specifications based on equipment accuracy and tool holder type
The specifications of the tool holder should be compatible with the machine tool holder, while ensuring accuracy transmission: if the machine tool holder is a horizontal turret, a tool holder that meets the turret interface standard (such as DIN 69871 standard) should be selected to ensure the coaxiality of the tool holder after installation; If the processing requirements are high (such as roundness error ≤ 0.005mm), choose a thermal expansion type tool holder, which achieves seamless connection between the tool holder and the tool through thermal expansion and contraction, reducing vibration errors; For heavy-duty cutting, choose thick walled and high-strength tool holders to avoid bending and deformation of the tool holder under high loads.
In short, the tool system of heavy-duty CNC horizontal lathes should be based on the core principles of "rigidity, stability, and adaptability". At the principle level, attention should be paid to the collaborative cooperation of various components, and at the selection level, it should closely follow the machining requirements and working conditions. Reasonable tool system design and selection can not only improve the processing efficiency and quality of heavy parts, but also extend tool life, reduce production costs, and provide reliable technical support for heavy machinery manufacturing.