Base or Bed
The base is rigidly built to take up all the cutting forces and the entire load of the machine.
The top of the bed is accurately finished to provide guideways on which the saddle is mounted.
The guide ways are perpendicular to the column face.
2. Column
The column is the vertical member which is cast integrally with the base and houses driving mechanism of the ram and feeding mechanism.
The front vertical face of the column is accurately finished for providing ways in which the ram reciprocates.
3. Saddle
The saddle is mounted upon the guide ways and may be moved toward or away from the column either power or manual control to supply longitudinal feed to the work.
The top face of the saddle is accurately finished to provide guide ways for the cross-slide. These guide ways are perpendicular to the guide ways on the base.
4. Cross-slide
The cross-slide is mounted upon the guideways of the saddle and maybe moved parallel to the face of the column.
The movement of the slide may be controlled either by hand or power to supply crossfeed.
5. Rotary Table
The rotary table is a circular table which is mounted on the top of the crossslide.
The table may be rotated by rotating a worm which meshes with a worm gear connected to the underside of the table.
The rotation of the table may be effected either by hand or power. In some
In some machines, the table is graduated in degrees that enable the table to be rotated for indexing or diving the periphery of a job in the equal number of parts.
T-slots are cut on the top face of the table for holding the work by different clamping devices. The rotary table enables a circular or contoured surface to be
generated on the work piece.
6. Ram and Tool head Assembly
The ram is the reciprocating member of the machine mounted on the guideways of the column. It supports the tool at its bottom end on a tool head.
A slot is cut on the body of the ram for changing the position of the stroke.
In some machines, special type for tool holders is provided to relieve the tool during its return stroke.
7. Ram Drive Mechanism
A slotter removes metal during downward cutting stroke only whereas during upward return stroke no metal is removed. The reduce the idle return time quick return mechanism is incorporated in the machine. The usual types of ram drive mechanism are,
1. Whitworth quick return mechanism.
2. Variable speed reversible motor drive mechanism.
3. Hydraulic drive mechanism.