Horizontal boring machine

This article is about a machine tool. For excavating machines, see Directional boring and Tunnel boring machine.

A horizontal boring machine or horizontal boring mill is a machine tool which bores holes in a horizontal direction. There are three main types — table, planer and floor.[1] The table type is the most common and, as it is the most versatile, it is also known as the universal type.[2]

A horizontal boring machine has its work spindle parallel to the ground and work table. Typically there are 3 linear axes in which the tool head and part move. Convention dictates that the main axis that drives the part towards the work spindle is the Z axis, with a cross-traversing X axis and a vertically traversing Y axis. The work spindle is referred to as the C axis and, if a rotary table is incorporated, its centre line is the B axis.

Horizontal boring machines are often heavy-duty industrial machines used for roughing out large components but there are high-precision models too. Modern machines use advanced CNC control systems and techniques. Charles DeVlieg entered the Machine Tool Hall of Fame for his work upon a highly precise model which he called a JIGMIL. The accuracy of this machine convinced the USAF to accept John Parson's idea for numerically controlled machine tools.[3]

References

  1. ↑ Karl Hans Moltrecht (1981), "ch. 10 - The Horizontal Boring Machine", Machine shop practice, ISBN 978-0-8311-1132-8
  2. ↑ R.K. Rajput (2007), A Textbook of Manufacturing Technology, p. 506, ISBN 978-81-318-0244-1
  3. ↑ James Benes (1999-02-01), "Four metalworking pioneers join Machine Tool Hall of Fame", American Machinist