Honing Machines – Ultraprecision Honing Solutions
Honing machines use a finishing process for improving the geometric form and surface texture of a cylindrical surface in the ID. Over the past 40 years, Precihole Machine Tools, the original equipment manufacturer of deep hole drilling and finishing machines, has perfected the art of both vertical and horizontal honing processes for finishing a large range of bore sizes and lengths. For nearly 15 years, Absolute Machine Tools has been proud to partner with Precihole to bring these machines to the North American manufacturing market.
Industries That Benefits From Honing Machines
In the firearms industry, both vertical and horizontal honing machines play crucial roles in enhancing the performance and reliability of firearm components, including barrels. High precision barrel manufacturing requires the bore to be honed to precision before rifling.
The surface pattern, finish and taper achieved on these machines are excellent. Vertical honing machines incorporate all the features necessary to upgrade the quality of gun barrels for even higher precision. The method of honing is typically applied to bores or holes in various components.
In addition to firearms and defense, vertical and horizontal honing processes are crucial in the energy, automotive, aerospace and heavy equipment industries as well. Many medical industry components, such as small bone screws and rods for internal human use, also require honing.
Machines
Honing Machine Applications: Choosing Between Vertical and Horizontal
Vertical or horizontal honing — which process is best? Below is information to help decipher which method may be best used:
When to Choose a Vertical
Vertical honing is most used when specific component requirements must be met, such as components with long bores where maintaining straightness, uniformity, and length are essential. The super-fast stroking system combined with Precihole’s high precision tooling produces holes with a mirror finish. Output parameters like straightness, roundness and cylindricity are excellent within submicron levels.
Firearm Barrel Honing
Vertical honing machines are often used for honing the barrels of firearms. The vertical orientation allows the firearm barrel to be mounted in a way that facilitates precise honing along its entire length. This is important for achieving a uniform and precise bore diameter, smooth fine surface finish and improved accuracy and performance by enhancing the consistency of a bullet’s trajectory.
Chip Evacuation
The vertical setup is advantageous for efficient chip evacuation during the honing process. Chips and debris generated during honing can be more easily removed when machining in a vertical configuration.
Other Components Best Suited for Vertical Honing
- Pump and Valve Bodies – The bores of pump and valve bodies, crucial components in fluid systems, can be vertically honed to ensure proper sealing and efficient fluid flow.
- Tooling Components – Various tooling components, especially those with long bores, may be vertically honed to achieve the required precision and surface finish.
- Connecting Rods – Engine connecting rods may undergo vertical honing to enhance the bore’s geometry and surface characteristics.
- Transmission Components – Components such as clutch cylinders or gear housings may benefit from vertical honing for improved functionality.
- Engine Cylinders – Automotive and industrial engine cylinders are often vertically honed to ensure a consistent bore diameter, improve cylinder roundness, and achieve the desired surface finish. This is critical for consistent piston movement and sealing.
- Hydraulic Cylinder Tubes – Hydraulic cylinders used in various applications, such as construction equipment and industrial machinery, may have their tubes vertically honed for optimal performance and durability.
- Aerospace Components – Certain aerospace components, such as landing gear cylinders or hydraulic actuators, may benefit from vertical honing to meet Federal guidelines.
When to Choose Horizontal
Horizontal honing is best used for various cylindrical components where the horizontal orientation is more practical. In the firearms industry, horizontal honing is best used in a range of large bore artillery barrels from φ30mm to φ205mm. The maximum length of the barrel can be up to 10,000mm.
Horizontal honing machines are designed to allow for fast loading and unloading of barrels, ease of handling for operators, efficient machining processes, flexibility of a range of components, or when the length of the bore is not as critical.
Small Components
Horizontal honing machines may be used for honing smaller firearm components such as cylinder bores and chambers. The horizontal orientation can be suitable for parts that are easier to handle in a horizontal position.
Flexibility
Horizontal honing machines provide flexibility in honing various parts and may be used for different firearm components that don’t require a vertical setup.
Other Components Best Suited for Horizontal Honing
- Engine Cylinder Liners – Horizontal honing is frequently applied to engine cylinder liners to achieve precise dimensions, surface finish, and roundness to maintain proper piston-cylinder interaction in internal combustion engines.
- Brake Master Cylinders – Components like brake master cylinders, which have shorter and more compact bores, may be horizontally honed to meet dimensional accuracy and surface finish requirements.
- Small Hydraulic Components – Certain small hydraulic components, like pistons or valve bodies, may be horizontally honed for efficiency and convenience in the machining process.
- Short Bore Components – Components with short bores or those that are more easily handled in a horizontal position.
- Pneumatic Cylinders – Cylinders used in pneumatic systems may undergo horizontal honing to ensure smooth operation and optimal sealing.
- Tool Holders – Some tool holders used in machining operations may be horizontally honed to achieve the necessary surface finish and dimensional precision.
- Gear Housings – Housings for gears and other transmission components with shorter bores may benefit from horizontal honing.
- Small Engine Components – Various small engine components, such as crankshaft bearings or connecting rod bushings are best suited for horizontal honing.
Absolute Machine Tools: Your Partner in Deep Hole Drilling and Finishing Solutions
Vertical and horizontal honing machines by Precihole offer ultra precision honing solutions that combine integrated accuracy, performance and reliability into one solution. As Precihole’s North American distributor, Absolute Machine Tools is here to help you find your ideal solution to achieve the finest of geometrical finishing processes. Email sales@absolutemachine.com to learn more.
