Horizontal machining center. A computer-controlled milling machine where the spindle holding the cutting tool is oriented horizontally. This setup allows chips to fall away from the workpiece naturally, making it highly efficient for heavy production runs and complex parts mounted on a rotary tombstone.
Heard on the job
We're moving the cast iron housings to the HMC so the chips stop packing into the deep pockets.
Related terms
Horizontal machining center
A CNC milling machine with a horizontal spindle axis.
CNC
Computer numerical control is the automated control of machining tools by a computer program.
VMC
Vertical machining center, a computer-controlled milling machine with a vertical spindle.
Machining center
An automated, computer-controlled machine tool capable of performing multiple milling and drilling operations.