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Application of Hydraulic Power to Machine Tools

The application of hydraulic power to the operation of machine tools is by no means new, though its adoption on such a wide scale as exists at present is comparatively recent. It was in fact the development of the modern self-contained pump unit that stimulated the growth of this form of machine tool operation.

Hydraulic machine tool drive offers a great many advantages. One of them is theat it give infinitely-variable speed control over wide ranges. In addition they can change the direction of drive as easily as they can very the speed. As in many other types of machine, many complex mechanical linkages can be simplified or even wholly eliminated by the use of hydraulics.

The flexibility and resilience of hydraulic power is another great virtue of this form of drive. Apart from the smoothness of operation thus obtained, a great improvement is usually found in the surface finish on the work and the tool can make heavier cuts without detriment and will last considerably longer without regrinding.

By far the greater proportion of machine tool hydraulic drives are confined to the linear motions, a rotary pump being used to actuate one or more linear hydraulic motors. In the form of double-acting hydraulic rams, usually of the piston type. In some cases, as in certain hydraulic lathes both the linear motions of the cutting tool and the rotary motion of the work may be hydraulically driven and/or controlled. Such rotary motions are produced by the use of a rotary hydraulic motor.