Main application fields and development trends of medium and large turning centers
As the manufacturing industry upgrades to high precision and high efficiency, medium and large turning centers, as key processing equipment, are becoming core equipment in the industrial field. This article will analyze its core application scenarios and future development directions to provide reference for industry practitioners.
一、. Core application fields of medium and large turning centers
1. Aerospace manufacturing
Medium and large turning centers occupy an important position in the processing of aircraft engine parts (such as turbine discs and shaft parts). They can meet the high-precision requirements of difficult-to-process materials such as high-temperature alloys and titanium alloys, with tolerance control of ±0.005mm, supporting the manufacturing of high-end equipment such as domestic large aircraft C919.
2. Energy equipment field
It is used for processing super-large workpieces such as nuclear power plant main pump casings (diameter over 2 meters) and wind power main shafts (length up to 8 meters). Through multi-axis linkage technology, complex curved surfaces can be formed in one go, and processing efficiency is increased by more than 40%.
3. Rail transit industry
Batch processing of key components such as high-speed rail wheels (diameter 1.1 meters), bogies, etc., with the automatic tool setting system, can achieve 24-hour continuous production, and the processing time of a single piece is shortened to 30 minutes.
4. Military industry and shipbuilding
Special parts such as submarine propellers (diameter 5 meters) and artillery barrels are processed with a seismic bed design (hardness above HB300) to ensure stability under heavy cutting conditions.
二、. Analysis of industry technology development trends
1. Intelligent upgrade acceleration
Internet of Things integration: 85% of new equipment in the market in 2023 will be equipped with remote monitoring modules to achieve tool life warning (automatic alarm for error <0.1mm)
AI process optimization: Through machine learning, the efficiency of machining parameter matching is increased by 60%, and a case of a leading enterprise shows that energy consumption is reduced by 18%
2. Composite processing breakthrough
The market share of the five-axis milling and turning center has increased by 12% year-on-year, and it can complete the full process of a 2.5-meter diameter workpiece with one clamping, reducing more than 3 repeated positioning.
3. Penetration of green manufacturing technology
The new hydrostatic guide technology reduces the energy consumption of equipment by 25%, and the cutting fluid circulation system achieves a 95% recovery rate, which meets the EU CE certification environmental protection standards.
4. Explosion of demand for ultra-precision machining
The semiconductor equipment field promotes the demand for nano-level precision, the linear motor drive positioning accuracy reaches 0.1μm, and the temperature compensation system can control thermal deformation at ±1μm/℃.
5. The rise of modular customization services
More than 20 modular configurations such as spindle power (22-55kW) and bed length (3-10 meters) are provided, and the delivery cycle is shortened from 180 days to 60 days.
III. Market Prospects
The scale of medium and large turning centers in the global market is expected to reach US$7.8 billion in 2028 (CAGR 6.2%), and the Chinese market share will exceed 35%. In emerging fields such as integrated die-casting molds for new energy vehicles and hydrogen energy storage tanks, the equipment processing range is expanding from the traditional diameter of 1 meter to 5 meters. Enterprises that master the core technologies of composite and intelligentization will take the lead in the reconstruction of the industrial chain.
Conclusion: Medium and large turning centers are evolving from single processing equipment to intelligent manufacturing nodes. Enterprises need to focus on innovative directions such as multi-axis linkage control technology and digital twin system integration to meet the ever-increasing challenges in the field of high-end manufacturing.