Openex compares CNC turning and vertical boring for oversized parts

Openex says the choice between heavy horizontal CNC turning and vertical boring can determine whether oversized parts hold tolerance, avoid deformation and control cost. The company outlines when each process fits best for large rings, shafts, casings and other rotational components.

Why it matters: - Oversized parts can deform during machining if the wrong orientation or machine type is used. - Choosing the right process can improve tolerance control, reduce sagging and cut unnecessary rigging and cycle costs. - The decision matters most for parts that weigh up to 50 tons or span up to 5 meters in diameter.

What happened: - Openex published a technical comparison of Heavy Horizontal CNC Turning and Vertical Boring Mills, also called VBM or VTL. - The company says it guides procurement managers and engineers on machining large rotational parts. - Openex framed the guide around the challenge of manufacturing oversized cylindrical parts under heavy gravity loads.

The details: - In horizontal turning, a workpiece is clamped at one end, supported at the other and often stabilized with steady rests. - A long, slender part such as a propeller shaft fits horizontal turning well. - A massive ring can sag or ovalize when spun horizontally, which makes tight circular tolerances difficult to hold. - In vertical boring, the workpiece sits on a rotary table and the cutting tool descends from above. - Vertical boring is suited to large flanges and rings, including wind tower flanges, bearing rings and slew bearings. - Vertical boring is also suited to heavy, short cylinders such as turbine housings, pump casings and valves. - Vertical boring handles asymmetrical heavy parts that are difficult to balance horizontally. - Gravity helps keep a part stable on a vertical table, which supports roundness and flatness. - Loading a 40-ton casing onto a horizontal lathe is difficult, while a vertical table and overhead crane make loading safer and faster. - Openex says its large-scale vertical boring capacity covers diameters that would be impossible on a horizontal lathe. - Heavy horizontal lathes are better for long, slender parts such as propeller shafts, rollers and tie rods. - Horizontal turning is the better fit when the length-to-diameter ratio is high. - Gravity helps chips fall away from the cutting zone in horizontal setups, which aids deep internal boring. - Horizontal setups can access both ends of a shaft for centering and turning with the right configuration. - The comparison table in the release lists vertical boring as a fit for disc, ring and short-cylinder parts. - The same table lists horizontal turning as a fit for shafts, tubes and long rollers. - The table lists wind energy, hydro power and oil and gas as key industries for vertical boring. - The table lists marine, paper and pulp, and steel mills as key industries for horizontal turning. - Openex says its facility has both floor-type boring mills and heavy-duty horizontal lathes, along with fabrication and welding divisions. - The company says it can machine a 10-meter flange on a VTL and a 15-meter shaft on a heavy horizontal lathe. - Openex says it reviews drawings, weight and dimensions to route each part to the machine that offers the tightest tolerances and most efficient cycle time.

Between the lines: - The release positions machine selection as a design and logistics problem, not just a machining choice. - Openex is also signaling that shops with only one machine type may push the wrong process onto a part, which can raise risk. - The comparison doubles as a sales pitch for Openex’s broader equipment base and one-stop-shop capability.

What's next: - Openex is inviting customers with oversized projects to request a technical review and quote. - The company is steering customers toward a pre-machining assessment before a part is assigned to a process. - Future decisions will likely hinge on part geometry, weight, tolerance targets and handling requirements.