Machine Tool. Criteria of choices

Among material shaping techniques, it has historically been possible to distinguish processes that cut and deform plastically. For some years now, additive manufacturing has been used as an alternative and/or complementary process. Nevertheless, machining processes involving the removal of material, i.e. cutting, continue to play a major role in the industrial production of a wide variety of components.

In this context, machine tools have been the tools of production industrialization since the industrial revolution of the 19th century. Like all technologies involved in productivism, machine tools have undergone considerable evolution. And they are continuing to evolve as the world becomes increasingly digitalized.

Since the 1990s, with the widespread use of numerical control, machine tools have become truly mechatronic systems, growing in complexity as new technologies are constantly integrated.

The design and manufacture of a machine tool involves numerous disciplines and skills. This means high demands in terms of kinematics, static and dynamic behavior, cost rationalization and so on. Despite this, the development and design process still relies heavily on experience. It is perhaps for this reason that many machine tool builders retain a certain form of traditionalism. The challenge today is to strike the right balance between new ideas and tried-and-tested techniques.

Choosing a machine tool is not a purely objective process, but is often a matter of judgment determined by specific considerations and situations. Many factors determine and complicate the decision-making process.

This article provides a technical overview of the main components of a machine tool. It describes the main electromechanical components of today's machine tools. The aim is to help the machine tool specifier and/or designer make informed, pragmatic technical choices for a long-term investment.

In the first section, we'll look at the technical requirements for choosing a machine tool, to help you make the right choice based on the technological options available.

In sections 2 to 7, the main technological possibilities that characterize a machine tool will be described in detail, in order to help you understand the issues that influence your choices.

In the last section, the final acceptance stage will be the subject of a descriptive approach to the phase of verifying the capability of the production tool on the basis of the requirements determined upstream.