b'Vertical and horizontal machining centers are compared.By Christopher Tate VMCs, as the name implies, have the spindle in a vertical orientation with a Ime. But machinists and tool- table for the workpiece that is parallel to may have said this before. If so, please excusethe floor.HMCs have spindles oriented makers are an opinionated bunch. If youparallel to the floor with the table also ask 10 machinists how to do a job, you willparallel to the floor, which orients the get 10 different answers. All the proposedparts perpendicular to the floor. Choos-solutions will be the fastest, be the easi- ing the better orientation for machining est to set up and deliver superior quality.depends on several factors.Each also will have a litany of reasons whyThe volume of parts is probably the pri-the other nine solutions wont work. mary consideration when picking a ma-So when you ask machinists whetherchining center. HMCs are more often the a new job should be set up on a verticalbetter choice for high-volume machining. machining center or horizontal machiningAutomotive manufacturers, for example, center, you will hear a collage of reasonsalmost exclusively use HMCs.why one is better than the other. HMCs allow much higher part density. Truthfully, neither platform is superiorThe tables typically are fitted with a multi-as they sit on the showroom floor. Supe- sided fixture called a tombstone that can riority is based on the application and thebe fitted to hold numerous parts in dif-machine shop that will use the machine. ferent orientations. HMCs also come with 34JULY 2023VerticalMachining.indd 34 6/15/23 12:54 PM'