Machining centers are developed from CNC milling machines. The biggest difference from the CNC milling machine is that the machining center has the ability to automatically exchange machining tools. By installing different-purpose tools on the tool magazine, the machining tool on the spindle can be changed through an automatic tool changer in one clamping to achieve multiple processing functions.

The vertical machining center is actually a CNC machine tool with a tool magazine and automatic tool change function, and it can also be called an automatic tool change CNC machine tool or a multi-process CNC machine tool. Machining center manufacturers have fully enclosed protection, and all machine tools have protective doors. When processing, close the protective doors to effectively avoid personal injury accidents. Machining centers usually have multiple feed axes (at least three axes or more), or even multiple spindles, and the number of linked axes is relatively large, such as three-axis linkage, five-axis linkage, seven-axis linkage, etc., so it can automatically complete the processing of multiple planes and multiple angle positions, and realize high-precision machining of complex parts.

One clamping on the machining center machine tool can complete a variety of processing such as milling, boring, drilling, expanding, reaming, tapping and other programs, and the process is highly concentrated. Multiple tools are used, and tools are automatically exchanged. The machining center is equipped with a tool magazine and an automatic tool changer. Before processing, the required tools are first loaded into the tool magazine, and the tool can be automatically replaced by program control during processing. If the machining center is equipped with an automatic exchange workbench, it can realize that one workbench is processing while another workbench completes the clamping of the workpiece, thereby greatly reducing the processing auxiliary time and improving the processing efficiency.