When I’m working with complex metal fabrication projects, Metal Sheet V Grooving Machines often become a crucial part of the process. These machines are designed to create deep, narrow grooves in sheet metal panels, making it possible to achieve clean, precise bends and angular folds. If you’re wondering why grooving is necessary when press brakes or folding machines exist, this guide will walk you through the unique role these machines play in enhancing bending accuracy, visual aesthetics, and overall fabrication efficiency.

With the rapid advancement of China’s industrial sector, the demand for higher precision in metal sheet bending continues to grow. To meet increasingly strict aesthetic and functional standards, many companies now incorporate pre-grooving into their bending processes. The grooving process, especially V-shaped and U-shaped grooves, has become essential for achieving sharp bends and clean finishes. As design standards evolve, more industries—including high-tech sectors—are adopting this technique. Key application areas include light industry, electrical appliances, automotive, stainless steel fabrication, architecture, kitchenware, ventilation, aerospace, elevators, and more. Grooving also supports edge chamfering, cutting, and custom surface treatments for improved product quality.

1. The Purpose and Use of Designing and Producing Grooving Machines

1.1 After the grooving machine performs V-shaped grooving on the sheet, the bending angle of the sheet will be easy to form during the bending process, and the R angle after forming will be very small. The workpiece is not easily twisted or deformed, and the straightness, angle, dimensional accuracy, and appearance of the workpiece after bending and forming can all achieve good results.

1.2 After the sheet metal is V-grooved by the grooving machine, the required bending force will be reduced, so that long and thick sheets can be bent on a smaller tonnage bending machine. This will reduce the energy consumption of the machine.

1.3 The grooving machine can also perform pre-positioned marking processing on the sheet so that the workpiece can ensure high accuracy in the size of the bending edge during the bending process.

1.4 Under the special grooving process requirements, the grooving machine can process U-shaped grooves on the surface of some sheets, so that the processed surface can be beautiful, non-slip, and practical for splicing.

2. Classification and Processing Modes of Grooving Machines

2.1.Grooving machines are divided into two categories: discrete grooving machines and gantry grooving machines (horizontal).

2.2. Vertical grooving machines include single tool holder and double tool holder grooving machines. The single-tool post-grooving machine adopts right-cut grooving. The double-tool holder grooving machine can be divided into right-cut grooving and left-cut grooving. It can also be used with two tool holders to perform right-cut grooving and left-cut processing at the same time. It can also use bidirectional back-and-forth grooving.

2.3.Gantry grooving machines can be divided into single-drive grooving machines and double-drive grooving machines. Both grooving machines use right-cut machining mode.

High-speed Gantry Grooving Machine

High-speed Vertical Grooving Machine with Double-Knife

High-speed Vertical Grooving Machine with Single-Knife

3. Compression and Clamping Categories of Grooving Machines

3.1.Vertical grooving machines can be divided into hydraulic devices, pneumatic devices, and gas-liquid mixing devices.

3.2.The gantry grooving machine, like the vertical grooving machine, is also divided into hydraulic device, pneumatic device, and gas-liquid mixing device.

4. The Structure of the CNC V Grooving Machine

4.1.Vertical grooving machines can be divided into two types: full-body welding and screw-type connections. Because screw-type connections will cause looseness and deformation of equipment connections during the lifting and transportation of the equipment, the full-body welding type is generally used. The main welded large parts of the machine bed are tempered with natural gas to eliminate stress. After welding, the whole machine is processed using a gantry CNC machining center.

4.2.The gantry grooving machine adopts full-body welding technology. The entire bed and gantry are tempered by natural gas to eliminate stress, and then the entire machine is processed using a gantry CNC machining center.

4.3.The body structure of the vertical grooving machine consists of left and right columns, a workbench, a tool rest pressure plate, a cross beam, a rear gage frame, a planning tool rest, and other main components.

4.4.The body structure of the gantry grooving machine consists of main components such as the workbench, gantry frame, and tool rest.

4.5.Vertical and gantry grooving machines not only eliminate stress but also ensure excellent paint effects through sandblasting.

4.6.The workbench panels of vertical and gantry grooving machines are all welded with No. 45 steel. The frame is welded with a Q345 steel plate. The overall machine tool has good rigidity and is strong and durable.

5. Working and Driving Principles of Macchina per scanalature a V CNC

5.1.Working drive of the vertical grooving machine

a.The workbench of the grooving machine is designed to have a humanized height of about 850mm. The work surface is designed with a high-strength 9crsi material table below the running path of the tool holder, with a chromium hardness of 47-50 degrees to ensure the durability of the work surface.

b.The grooving machine’s drive system consists of four axes: X, Y, Z, and W. The X, Z, and W axes are mounted on the pressure plate beam. The X-axis is responsible for cutting and controls the processing length of the sheet. It is driven by a 3-module helical rack, alloy helical gear, a 5.5 kW spindle motor, and a 1:5 ratio planetary reducer. The Z and W axes use 32mm double-nut ground ball screws, powered by 1 kW servo motors and guided by dovetail rails and couplings. The Y-axis, mounted on the backgauge frame, manages groove spacing and uses a 32mm ball screw, 30mm linear guide rail, 8mm synchronous belt, 1:2 pulley, and 2 kW servo motor.

5.2.Gantry grooving machine work drive

a. The bed working platform of the grooving machine is designed to a user-friendly height of about 700mm that can be lifted smoothly by 2 people and loaded without obstacles. The left and right main and auxiliary linear guide rails are designed to be installed on both sides of the workbench. The single-driven gantry grooving machine The rack is installed on the operation control side. The rack of the double-driven gantry grooving machine is installed on both sides of the workbench bed.

b.The grooving machine features four drive axes: X, Y1, Y2, and Z. The X-axis, mounted on the gantry, is the primary cutting axis controlling processing length. It’s driven by a 5.5 kW spindle motor, a 1:5 reducer, 8mm timing belt, 1:1 pulleys, helical gears, and a rack. The Y1 axis controls the tool holder’s left-right movement, using a 1 kW servo motor, 8mm belt, 1:1.5 pulleys, 32mm ball screw, and dual linear guide rails. The Y2 axis drives the front presser foot, synchronized with Y1, using similar components but installed inside the machine base. The Z-axis manages vertical cutting depth, driven by a 1 kW servo motor, 32mm ball screw, and linear rails.

c.If the grooving machine is designed with dual drives and an X2 axis is added, the X2 axis will be designed to run synchronously with the X1 axis.

6. The Working Principle of the Pressing Plate of the Grooving Machine

6.1.Both vertical grooving machines and gantry grooving machines can be designed for hydraulic compression, pneumatic compression, and gas-liquid mixed compression, and can be designed with the same bed.

6.2.Pressing and clamping principle of the vertical grooving machine.

a.The pressure plate of the vertical grooving machine is installed on the pressure plate beam. Its installation position is below the pressure plate beam. The opening height of the pressure plate can be freely adjusted according to the thickness of the processed sheet. The pressure plate is designed to be fully compressed or individually compressed. 

b.The clamp of the vertical grooving machine is installed on the cross beam of the back gauge, and its opening height can be freely adjusted according to the thickness of the processed sheet. The clamps are also designed for full clamping and individual clamping. The lower opening of the clamps is designed with a copper plate. The plane of the copper plate is flush with the workbench panel, which ensures unobstructed feeding.

c.The pressure plate cylinder (cylinder) is installed inside the pressure plate beam, which can play a safe and beautiful role. The oil pipe and air pipe are also connected internally in parallel.

d.The clamp cylinder (usually designed for pneumatic clamping, because the pressure required to move the clamping material is very small) is installed inside the back gauge beam, which can also play a safe and beautiful role. The oil pipe and air pipe are also connected internally in parallel.

e.A front auxiliary pressure plate is positioned in front of the workbench to assist with clamping. In single-turret vertical grooving machines, which perform right-side cutting, this pressure plate is fixed on the right side. For double-turret machines, which cut simultaneously from both sides, two auxiliary pressure plates are used—one fixed on the right, and a movable one on the left. The left plate adjusts laterally based on the sheet’s length and size. This adjustment is done manually along a linear guide rail installed in front of the workbench, and once positioned correctly, it is securely locked in place with screws.

6.3.The Working Principle of the Side Pressure Plate and the Front Presser Foot of the Gantry Grooving Machine

a. The pressure plate of the gantry grooving machine is installed on the side of the workbench where the operator operates. The opening height of the pressure plate can be freely adjusted according to the thickness of the processed sheet.

b. The clamping plate device of the gantry grooving machine is installed on two polished rods on the inside under the bed. It can move back and forth for clamping according to the processing size of the sheet.

c. The pressure plate cylinder is installed below the pressure plate, and the oil cylinder and air pipe are also connected in parallel below.

d.The plywood cylinder is installed at the same position below the plywood. Because the plywood cylinder is a separate cylinder, there is only one high-pressure hose for connection.

7. Working Principle of Metal Sheet V Grooving Machine

7.1.Working principle of Metal Sheet V Grooving Machine

a. First, according to the length and thickness of the processing plate, the groove distance to be processed, and the depth of the processing groove, enter these data in the system interface.

b. Then, the sheet is fed into the positioning clamp, then moved to the auxiliary pressure plate on the workbench and clamped firmly. The clamp then shifts the sheet to the position of the first groove. The pressure plate presses down automatically, and the tool holder’s Z-axis feeds to the required depth based on sheet thickness and groove specifications. The X-axis then performs the cutting based on the programmed groove length and depth. After completing the first groove, the Z-axis lifts, and the X-axis returns to its starting point. The pressure plate lifts, the Y-axis shifts the sheet to the next position, and the cycle repeats for multiple grooves.

c. After each groove is processed, the Y-axis will automatically send the material to the original position when feeding, the clamp will automatically open, and then the material will be taken out.

d. The working principle of the double-tool-rest vertical grooving machine. Since the double-tool-rest vertical grooving machine needs to groove back and forth or in the same direction, it is necessary to operate in the single-tool-rest processing mode while also moving the front of the workbench. The auxiliary pressing plate on the left moves to the end of the processed sheet for auxiliary pressing. The working principle is the same as that of the single tool holder.

e. Whether it is a single-turret vertical grooving machine or a double-turret vertical grooving machine, during the cutting process, the air gun will be tracked to blow away the waste chips after processing, and it can also cool down the processing blade.

7.2.Working principle of gantry grooving machine

a. First, enter these data in the system interface according to the length and thickness of the processed sheet, the groove distance to be processed, and the depth of the processed groove (for specific operations, refer to the system operation manual).

b. Then put the sheet material into the side pressure plate of the workbench, move the front end to the front presser foot of the Y2 axis, and press the pressing button. At this time, the side pressure plate will firmly compress the sheet.

c.After pressing the start button, the Y1 and Y2 axes move synchronously to align with the first groove position on the sheet. Pressing the button again activates the Z-axis, which feeds to the required depth based on sheet thickness and groove specifications. The X-axis beam then begins cutting, with the groove length determined by the sheet size and cutting depth defining the number of passes. Once the first groove is complete, the Y2 clamp releases, and the Z-axis lifts the tool holder. The machine then moves to the next groove position. Unlike vertical grooving machines, where the sheet moves, gantry models keep the sheet stationary and move the tool holder beam.

8. Grooving Principle and Sheet Changes

8.1.The tool holder of the single-tool holder vertical grooving machine consists of a knife mold that can install 4 alloy knife bars. The knife mold can be designed to install 4 alloy knives at the same time, 4 white steel knives can be installed at the same time, or it can be designed to be alloy Knives and white steel knives packaged together.

a. Analyzed according to 4 alloy knives, the alloy blades are installed on 4 knife shanks at the same time. When installing the knife shanks, there is a mounting knife plate under the knife tip. The fourth knife is the same height as the knife plate, and the third knife is higher than the knife. The plate height is 0.15mm, the second knife is 0.25mm higher than the knife plate, and the first knife is 0.35mm higher than the knife plate. The control distance of these knives can be controlled with a feeler gauge. At the same time, the tips of these 4 knives must be On the same straight line, otherwise, the standard groove cannot be processed.

b. The installation method of a white steel knife is the same as that of an alloy knife.

8.2.The installation method of the tool arbor and Z-axis tool holder of the double-tool holder vertical grooving machine is the same as the Z-axis installation method of the single tool holder. The installation method of the W-axis is the same as that of the Z-axis, but the installation direction of the tool arbor is the opposite.

8.3.The installation method of the tool arbor of the gantry grooving machine is the same as that of the vertical single tool post grooving machine.

8.4.After the tool arbor of any grooving machine is installed, the tool holder can perform cutting processing through the system’s instructions and the drive of the X-axis main motor.

8.5.The depth of the grooving machine and the feed amount of each Z-axis are controlled by the system.

8.6.Metal sheets naturally contain internal stress, and part of this stress is released during the grooving process. As a result, the sheet may bend along the grooved centerline. When multiple grooves with narrow spacing are made on the same sheet, this bending becomes more pronounced—commonly referred to as “plate rolling.” The severity of this deformation is influenced by several key factors: 1) the sharpness of the tool tip, 2) the concentricity of the tip installation, 3) the tool holder’s running speed (though its impact is minimal), 4) the thickness of the sheet, and 5) the depth of the groove being processed.

9.Blade Selection and Angle Requirements for Grooving

9.1. Under normal circumstances, in order to improve the efficiency of grooving processing, customers will use alloy blades for cutting. The alloy blades are resistant to high temperatures and can amplify the cutting speed of the X-axis.

9.2.Because of the hardenability of the alloy knife, it is not resistant to impact. Therefore, alloy-forming knife processing is generally not recommended when processing thick plates.

Profile knives can be divided into flat-angle and warped-angle knives. The impact resistance of the flat-angle knife is stronger than that of the curved-angle knife. It is not recommended to use the curved-angle knife to process sheets larger than 1mm.

9.3.The alloy-forming knife has four 90° corners on each side, totaling eight usable tips. If one corner becomes worn, the remaining seven can be rotated and used—provided they are not damaged from impact. Since the cutting angle is 90°, the resulting groove angle is also 90°. However, during bending, metal sheets often experience springback, requiring the bending angle to exceed 90° to achieve a final accurate angle. This overbending causes the two corners of the V-groove to be compressed, which is a common drawback when using alloy-forming knives for grooving, especially in precision applications.

9.4.Under normal circumstances, if customers process thick metal plates (above 2mm), they will recommend using white steel knives. The disadvantage of white steel knives is that they are not resistant to high temperatures, so the processing speed of the X-axis will be greatly reduced. The advantages of white steel knives It are impact-resistant and can be cut and ground to any angle greater than 30° and less than 120°.

9.5.When processing iron plates, aluminum veneers, aluminum-plastic plates, plastic plates, and acrylic plates, we recommend using white steel knives. Because the chip removal groove of the white steel knife can be freely ground to an angle that is conducive to chip removal.

9.6.Alloy knives and white steel knives are recommended models.

a. For alloy knives, we recommend Taegutec and KORLOY, two brands imported from South Korea.

b. For white steel knives, we usually recommend high-cobalt white steel knives imported from Sweden.

c. For alloy tool holders, we recommend Hanshiba and PSDNN2020K12 tool holders.

9.7.We recommend that during the bending process of the grooved sheet, the required bending mold angle is 83° for the lower mold and 80° for the upper mold.

10. Mechanical Principle of Grooving Machine

10.1.Mechanical Principle of Vertical Grooving Machine

a.The right column of the grooving machine adopts frame welding, which can ensure the stability of the welding between the workbench, pressure plate beam, and front beam. There are 4 sets of anchor screws designed at both ends of the left and right columns to adjust the level of the equipment.

b.The workbench and back gauge frame of the grooving machine are integrally welded structures, which ensures parallelism and verticality after overall processing. The main structure of the workbench is a square box welded. This ensures the stability of the pressure plate and reduces the sinking of the workbench due to pressure from the pressure plate. There are 4 sets of foot adjustment screws designed under the workbench, which can be used to adjust the level of the equipment and the support role played in the middle of the workbench.

c. Under the workbench panel, there are multiple sets of adjustment screws designed, which are mainly used to adjust the distance from the benchtop to each point under the tool tip’s running trajectory (can be adjusted to an accuracy of plus or minus 0.03mm). This ensures that the depth of each point of the processed sheet remains the same.

d. The pressure plate beam uses a square box welded structure, which greatly enhances its overall rigidity and ensures material stability after machining. This design helps prevent directional bending or deformation of the workpiece during grooving. It also ensures stable movement of the Z-axis and X-axis tool holders, minimizing surface ripples on the finished groove. The pressure plate is mounted beneath the beam, maintaining precise parallel alignment with the crossbeam and worktable. Fine-tuning screws are integrated into the pressure plate base, allowing for precise adjustment of both ends to match the worktable height, effectively reducing indentation marks on the sheet during pressing

e. The backgauge beam is also designed as a square box structure to ensure the parallelism and verticality after processing. The clamp is installed on it. There are also adjustment screws on the clamp seat. When the clamp clamps When holding the sheet, if the clamping material is not parallel, it can be used to fine-tune it.

f.The tool holder is integrally processed from a piece of No. 45 steel, and its dovetail part is integrally cut by wire cutting, which ensures the running-in accuracy of the dovetail contact part.

g. The clamping plate of the tool holder is also made of No. 45 steel and processed by wire cutting. This can ensure the parallelism between each knife. The requirements here are very high. If the fitting surface where the four tool bars are installed is not On the same horizontal line, the four tool tips will not be in a straight line, and the groove processed in this way will be unqualified.

h. The two end points of the X-axis tool holder are designed to be equipped with anti-collision elastic rubber, because the motor power of the X-axis is relatively large. Without such design protection, when the X-axis fails, the gap between the X-axis and the left and right columns There will be a strong collision and even bite to death.

i. The Z-axis is also designed with a hard limit inside, which is used to control the stroke of the Z-axis and the lower limit of the Z-axis. If the Z-axis soft limit fails, the hard limit will play a good role. protection so that the sharp knife will not cut into the workbench.

10.2.Mechanical principle of the gantry Grooving machine

a.The bed of the gantry grooving machine is integrally welded. The two sides of the bed are the main board, which mainly supports the tabletop. Below the tabletop, there are several reinforcing ribs welded, so that the frame structure of the box body ensures the strength and stability of the entire bed. There are 8 sets of anchor screws designed and welded on the bottom of the bed to adjust the parallelism of the bed.

b. The design of the gantry is a combination of the main plate and the reinforcement plate, and frame welding is also used to ensure the strength and stability of the gantry. The main drive motor and reducer are installed inside the gantry.

c.The side pressure plate is installed on the operating side of the machine bed and is pushed and pressed by the oil cylinder (or cylinder), using spring return.

d. The front presser foot is installed on the Y2-axis polished rod. Its running trajectory is controlled by the straightness of the polished rod. There is a notch on the workbench, which is opposite to the center of the polished rod.

e. The Z-axis tool holder is installed on the cross beam, and the tool holder plate is installed on two linear guide rails. This will reduce the gap between the tool holder running up and down and reduce the vibration generated by the tool holder during processing and cutting.

e.The transmission shaft is designed with imported bearings to ensure the stability and durability of the X-axis during operation.

11. Electrical Structure and Distribution of Grooving Machine

11.1.Electrical structure and distribution of vertical grooving machine

a.The main electrical components of the grooving machine include control system (touch screen type and digital button type), driver, transformer, control switch, proximity switch, transformer, IO board, resistor, super flexible cable, relay, circuit breaker wait.

b.The system is installed on the operating end of the grooving machine. There are two installation methods: suspended movable type and crane arm rotatable type. The user-friendly operating height can be designed according to the customer’s requirements.

c. The electrical panel and transformer are all installed in the frame of the right column of the grooving machine. This ensures the safety of the equipment during transportation, saves space for the assembly of the equipment, and also has a beautiful effect.

d. Proximity switches are designed on the X-axis, Y-axis, Z-axis, and W-axis to control the alignment of the origin of each axis.

f.A lighting device is installed under the front beam of the grooving machine so that the operator can clearly see the environment of the work surface and observe the wear of the blade.

11.2.Electrical structure and distribution of gantry grooving machine

a. The main electrical components of the gantry grooving machine include the control system, driver, transformer, control switch, proximity switch, frequency converter, IO board, resistor, relay, circuit breaker, super-flexible cable, etc.

b. The system is installed on the upper end of the X-axis beam. This facilitates the operator’s flexibility in operation.

c.The electrical panels and transformers are all installed inside the X-axis beam. This design will shorten and reduce the connection distance between the system and each electrical appliance.

d.Proximity switches are designed on the X-axis, Y1-axis, Y2-axis, and Z-axis to control the alignment of the origin of each axis.

12. Hydraulic and Pneumatic Principles of Grooving Machine

12.1.The hydraulic part of the vertical grooving machine consists of: a hydraulic station, a pressure gauge, several oil cylinders and high-pressure hoses.

a. After the motor is started, the hydraulic oil will be transported to the accumulator through the work of the oil pump. When the pressure of the accumulator reaches the set height value, the motor will automatically stop (this will save power and can effectively reduce the oil temperature).

b. When the button for pressing the pressure plate or clamping the clamp is pressed, the solenoid valve on the valve group will be energized to open the valve core. The hydraulic oil in the accumulator will enter the cylinder through the solenoid valve and then pass through The piston rod of the oil cylinder pushing the pressure plate (clamping plate) to press and clamp the workpiece. When these two buttons are pressed again, the discharge port of the accumulator will be closed, the solenoid valve spool will return to its original position, and the pressure plate will discharge the hydraulic oil in the cylinder back to the tank through the elastic force of the spring.

c. After more than N cycles of action, the hydraulic oil in the accumulator will become less and less. When its internal pressure is lower than our designed low-pressure value, the motor will start immediately and pass the hydraulic oil through the oil pump again. The work is transferred to the accumulator.

12.2.The hydraulic principle of the gantry grooving machine is the same as that of the vertical grooving machine.

Hydraulic schematic diagram

12.3.The pneumatic part of the vertical grooving machine consists of an air compressor, an air source processing element, several solenoid valves, several cylinders, and air pipes.

a.Because the air tank of the air compressor has been operated by the motor, a certain air source has been stored in it. When the pressing or clamping button is pressed, the air source in the air tank will pass through the solenoid valve. When the work enters the cylinder, the piston of the cylinder will push the pressure plate to hold the sheet. When the two buttons are pressed again, the action direction of the solenoid valve will change, and the air source will enter the other cavity of the cylinder. This will open the pressure plate.

12.4.The pneumatic principle of the gantry grooving machine is the same as that of the vertical grooving machine, that is, the return stroke of the pressure plate cylinder uses a spring return stroke.

13.Configuration table of Metal Sheet V Grooving Machine

NO.	Nome	Tipo	Quantity
1	CNC System	Taiwan Edraw Control Technology	1 set
2	Spindle Motor	5.5kW	1
3	Servomotore	2kW	1
4	Servomotore	1kW	2
5	Linear Guides	35mm、25mm	2 groups each
6	Ball screw rod	θ32mm	2 groups each
7	Drag chain cable	2.0 square, 1.5 square, 1.0 square	German IGUS high performance flexible cable
8	Electrical components		FranceSchneidevSchneider
9	cilindro	θ80 standard cylinder	Airtac (Taiwan) Co., Ltd.
10	cilindro	θ80 standard cylinder	Airtac (Taiwan) Co., Ltd.
11	Oil cylinder	θ30 standard cylinder	Shandong Jining Taifeng Hydraulic
12	Angular contact ball bearings	7025AWP5  908	Japan NSK
13	Angular contact ball bearings	7025AWP5  802	Japan NSK
14	Plane bearing	51305  907	Japan NSK
15	hydraulic station	6.3L	Shandong Jining Taifeng Hydraulic
16	Coupling	Θ22
17	Alloy blade	KORLOY、TaegUTec	Made in Korea (optional)
18	Tool holder	PSDNN2020K12	Drought Lion Tyrant
19	White steel blade	ASSAB 17	MADE IN SWEDEN

14. Technical Parameters of Grooving Machine

Tipo	HSV-4000×1250
Processing range	4000mmX1250mmx0.5-6mm	Sheet parallelism <2mm
System Configuration	control method	4-axis CNC control (X, Y, Z, W)
	monitor	15-inch Edraw touch screen (optional)
	storage capacity	99 groups, 999 ways (can be cycled 99 times)
	transfer method	Main motor, ball screw, linear guide, gear rack
clamping device	Pneumatic, hydraulic	Opzionale
Precisione	Main tool post X-axis positioning accuracy	±0.05mm
	Backgauge Y-axis positioning accuracy	±0.03mm
	Tool holder Z-axis positioning accuracy	±0.02mm
	Tool holder W-axis positioning accuracy	±0.02mm
Processing speed	Main tool post X axis	0-90m/min
	Back gauge Y axis	0-90m/min
	Tool holder Z axis, W axis	0-20m/min
Lathe bed structural accuracy	Workbench parallelism	±0.06mm
	Parallelism of tool holder crossbeam guide rail	±0.03mm
	Parallelism of rear gauge guide rail	±0.03mm
Diameter of press cylinder	cilindro	Θ80mmx30mm
	Oil cylinder	Θ30mmx32mm
Minimum margin for slotting		10mm
Dimensioni	6000m 5500mmX2150mmX1900mm 5880m*2150mm*1500mm
Machine weight	About 10.5 tons (vertical grooving machine) About 7.8 tons (gantry grooving machine)

15. Specifications and Models of Grooving Machines

15.1.Specifications and models of vertical grooving machines

Model: HSV Specifications: HSV-2500X12500-3200, HSV-3200X1250-3200 HSV-4000X1250-3200, HSV-5000X1250-3200, HSV-6000X1250-3200.

Note: Various types of security door grooving machines and various non-standard grooving machines can be customized according to customer requirements.

15.2.Specifications and models of gantry grooving machine

Model: HSL Specifications: HSL-2500X1250-1500, HSL-3200X1250-1500, HSL-4000X1250-1500, HSL-5000X1250-1500, HSL-6000X1250-1500

16. Factory Inspection Standards and Parameters of Grooving Machines

16.1.Factory inspection standards and parameters of vertical grooving machines

a.Check whether there is any obvious color difference in the paint of the equipment, whether the paint surface is smooth, and whether there is any paint peeling.

b. Check the welding joint for leaks, pores, welding slag and spatter.

c.Check whether the screws of each component are loose. Check whether the indicating devices, selector switches and buttons are neatly arranged, beautiful and flexible.

d.Check each blackened part to see if there is any rust on the non-blackened parts.

e.Use a dial indicator to attach the tool holder to the position where the tool holder is installed, and move the tool holder in manual mode to check. The distance tolerance between the tool holder and the workbench panel is ±0.03mm.

f. Start the equipment and visually inspect and feel the vibration phenomenon when the tool holder is running to determine the correctness of the installation of gears, racks, and linear guides.

g. Start the equipment and check each oil cylinder, cylinder, oil pipe joint, and air pipe joint for oil leakage, air leakage, etc.

h. Check whether the oil cylinder and air pressure reach the required pressure value when the equipment is working. The oil pressure is 11 MPa and the air pressure is 0.6 MPa.

i. Check the flexibility of the X-axis, Y-axis, Z-axis, and W-axis (usually based on hand push and hand rotation).

j. Check whether all moving parts are lubricated.

k. Use a 4000x1250x1.0 iron plate to start input size processing. The processing groove spacing is 10mm, 50mm, 100mm, 300mm, 500mm, 1100mm, and the processing depth is 0.5mm. After processing is completed, check the distance between each groove. The allowable tolerance within 500mm is ±0.1m, and the allowable tolerance within 1100mm is ±0.15mm.

l. After the entire board is processed, observe whether the depth of each groove is consistent and whether there are obvious vibration lines and obvious burrs in the groove. Then check whether there are obvious indentations on the reverse side.

f. Then turn the plate over to process the reverse grooves. The dimensions are 20mm, 200mm, 600mm, and 1000mm. The processing depth is also 0.5mm. After the processing is completed, check that the error between the front and back grooves is within ±0.2mm.

g. After the final inspection is completed, check whether the X-axis, Y-axis, Z-axis, and W-axis can accurately return to the origin position.

h. Press down the pressure plate, and use a feeler gauge to check whether the clamps match the lower openings of the pressure plates and their lower openings. if No, you need to adjust the upper fine-tuning screws to make them match.

16.2.Inspection standards and parameters of gantry grooving machine.

The inspections of the gantry grooving machine are the same as those of the vertical grooving machine, except for the additional inspection. The tolerance from the tooltip to any point on the workbench cannot be greater than 0.03mm.

17. Common Faults and Troubleshooting Methods of Grooving Machines

17.1.Common mechanical faults and troubleshooting methods of vertical grooving machines and gantry grooving machines

a. When these two grooving machines are constantly working, the pressure plate and clamps are constantly tightened. When opened, the screws at the joints of the oil cylinder (cylinder) will easily become loose (use a suitable wrench to tighten again).

b.If the operator does not refuel frequently and the working environment of the equipment is relatively poor, then the linear guides, ball screws, bearings, drive shafts, gears, and racks will lack lubricating oil or be affected by dust and be damaged and strained.

c. There are many adjusting screws under the table of the vertical grooving machine. Due to the continuous compression of the pressure plate in the early stage, a certain gap will be created. Within one month of initial use of the equipment, you need to use a dial indicator to test it. If any local changes are found, adjust the adjustment screws below to fine-tune the table. Generally, after one or two adjustments, there will be no changes.

17.2.Common circuit faults and troubleshooting methods for vertical grooving machines and gantry grooving machines

a.PLC007 external control device alarm!

b.(X, Y, Z, W) axis soft limit alarm

c.emergency stop alarm

17.3.Emergency stop alarm

Press the emergency stop switch in the stop state. After checking the situation, release the emergency stop button and press RESET to reset.

17.4.If the corresponding position of the Z-axis is too large when.

17.5.The following error of the (X, Y, Z, W,) axis is too large. Please check the servo rigidity or parameters.

a.Check the parameter following the error value design range and increase the following value range.

b. Check whether the tool holder or motor is blocked.

c. Check whether the wiring is disconnected.

d. Modify parameters or turn off error value detection.

18. Single vs Double Tool Holders in Grooving

18.1.In the early development of the CNC V grooving machine, the main shaft (X-axis) was initially driven by a large-pitch ball screw. Although we added a protective tool rest over the screw, the length and weight of the screw limited the movement speed of the tool holder during cutting and return. Increasing the speed would cause vibrations and possible deformation, reducing overall machining efficiency. To address this, we redesigned the system to allow the tool holder to perform cutting during the return stroke as well. This led to the introduction of a double tool holder, significantly improving performance and productivity.

18.2.After improvements in the design and production process, the main shaft (x-axis) drive of the grooving machine was changed from the original ball screw drive to a rack and pinion drive. Because the rack and pinion solves the defects caused by the ball screw transmission, the running speed of the tool holder is greatly increased whether it is machining, cutting or return travel. In this way, the double tool holder grooving machine loses its original advantages.

18.3.Because the speed of the single tool holder grooving machine is increased, the entire 4000mm return speed only takes 2 seconds, and it has only one tool holder. The installation and debugging of the tool arbor on the tool holder will be much simpler than that of the double tool holder, especially 4 tools. The concentricity of the knife is easy to adjust.

18.4.Because the double tool holder grooving machine is designed with two tool holders, and the width of one set of tool holders is 300mm, so when the double tool holder is processing, whether it is processing or return, an additional 300mm of stroke must be input, so that the double tool holder The tool holder travels 600mm longer than a single tool holder for one round trip, which wastes a lot of working time.

18.5.Because there are 8 knives in the two sets of double tool holders (4 in each group), the equipment has very high requirements on the concentricity of the 8 knives during debugging, because the blades need to be constantly worn. It also wastes time to pause the equipment to change the blades.

18.6.Because the manufacturing, assembly, and debugging of a double-tool-rest vertical grooving machine are more complex than a single-tool-rest vertical grooving machine, the production cost will increase, so the sales price is generally higher than that of a single-tool-rest vertical grooving machine. The price of the grooving machine is 30,000 to 40,000 yuan.

18.7.Based on the above factors, we generally recommend customers to buy a single-tool holder grooving machine, because we have observed that some customers buy a double-tool holder grooving machine, but actually use one tool holder for processing.

19. Performance Comparison Between Vertical Grooving Machine and Gantry Grooving Machine

19.1.Coverage

The dimensions of these two grooving machines are basically the same, but the height of the vertical grooving machine is higher than that of the gantry grooving machine, so the visual effect is slightly worse. Generally, store space is limited, so store customers will choose the gantry grooving machine.

19.2.Convenience of loading and unloading panels

a. Because the front end of the vertical grooving machine is open, and after the workpiece is processed, the back gauge will send the sheet metal to the front end of the equipment, so it will be very convenient for the operator to get on and off the sheet metal. There are also vertical The workbench of the grooving machine is relatively narrow, and the front support is designed with many universal balls, so that the movement of the sheet on the platform is very flexible, which is also very convenient and practical for processing some thicker sheets.

b. The working platform of the gantry grooving machine is relatively large. If you process a whole plate or a relatively large sheet, it will be more difficult to load and unload the material. In addition, there is generally a protective film on the front of the stainless steel plate. , so that when the sheet is moved, a friction barrier will be formed between the protective film and the workbench surface. If the sheet is processed, it will be extra time-consuming and laborious to move it.

19.3.Comparison of processing range

The vertical grooving machine can process sheets with a thickness of 0.5-6mm. The gantry grooving machine can process sheets with a thickness of 0.5-4mm. The vertical grooving machine can process sheets up to 4000mm long x 4000mm wide, and the gantry machine can process sheets up to 4000mm long x 1250mm wide.

19.4.Comparison of processing speed

Because the tool holder of the vertical grooving machine is relatively light, its running speed will be correspondingly faster, and it also has a double tool holder design, which will save a certain amount of man-hours when processing the density grooves of the entire board, while the gantry grooving machine processes The beam needs to be moved, so the processing speed will be lower than that of the vertical grooving machine.

19.5.Energy saving comparison

Because the tool holder of the vertical grooving machine only weighs about 300Kg, while the beam of the gantry grooving machine weighs about 900kg, during processing, the power consumption of the main motor will be lower for the vertical grooving machine than for the gantry grooving machine.

19.6.Comparison of manufacturing costs and sales prices

Because the vertical grooving machine has more parts, weight, processing technology, assembly technology, etc. than the gantry grooving machine and is more complicated, the sales price of the vertical grooving machine will be higher than that of the gantry grooving machine.

19.7.Comparison between machining workpieces and front and back grooving

a. Vertical grooving machines and gantry grooving machines differ mainly in how they operate. In vertical grooving machines, the tool holder beam remains stationary while the sheet moves during processing. In contrast, gantry grooving machines have a moving tool holder beam, and the sheet stays fixed. The vertical machine’s pressure plate stays directly on the grooving line, ensuring stability, while the gantry model’s side and front pressers only secure one edge of the sheet. Therefore, tasks like pre-cut sheets from laser machines, irregularly shaped materials, inclined grooves, or special-profile grooves can only be effectively handled by vertical grooving machines.

b.Because the tool holder of the vertical grooving machine is lighter than that of the gantry grooving machine, their working inertia is also different, so some fixed-point grooving can only be completed by the vertical grooving machine.

c. Because the vertical grooving machine uses a back gauge that pulls or pushes the processed sheet material to move, while the gantry grooving machine’s sheet does not move, so when they are processing the front and back grooves of the sheet material, the gantry is open. The slot machine will have certain advantages.

e.Based on the above factors, we still recommend products suitable for customers based on their needs.

20. Recommendations for Customer Selection of Grooving Machines

We generally recommend to customers whether to purchase a vertical grooving machine or a gantry grooving machine based on the following points.

20.1.It is necessary to distinguish the type of customer. If it is used in a store, because the space of the store is relatively limited, and the amount of density grooves processed is large, and some thin plates are processed, such customer groups will buy gantry grooving machines. Because the factory site is relatively open and they process some of their own products, such customers will choose to purchase a vertical grooving machine after considering many factors.

20.2.It depends on the customer’s existing equipment. If the customer already has a gantry grooving machine, then we will give an example to illustrate the advantages of the vertical grooving machine. If the customer already has a vertical grooving machine, we will explain the gantry grooving machine. superiority.

20.3.When we recommend, whether it is a vertical or gantry type, we try to recommend the standard machines HSV-4000-1250 and HSL-4000-1250. Because these two models are standard machines, our production cycle is fast and the cost will be low. Now these two models are the mainstream models sold in the market.

21. Lifting and Transportation of Grooving Machine

21.1.Lifting holes are reserved behind the front beam of the vertical grooving machine and at both ends behind the tool holder beam, and the weight of the grooving machine we designed is distributed at the bottom and middle of the equipment, so when lifting It is very simple and safe in terms of transportation and transportation. Unlike the current vertical grooving machines produced in Guangdong, the center of gravity is completely on the top, so it will bring disadvantages to lifting and transportation.

21.2.Lifting lugs are welded to both ends of the gantry grooving machine, and the bed of the gantry grooving machine is platform-type. Its center of gravity is at the bottom of the equipment, so it is convenient and safe to lift and transport.

22. Grooving Machine Care and Maintenance

22.1.Before using the grooving machine, the workbench and other parts must be cleaned of debris. Lubricating oil must be added to the main moving parts. Check whether the screws on the pressure plate and tool holder are loose.

22.2.In manual mode, check whether the X-axis, Y-axis, Y2-axis, Z-axis, and W-axis operate normally.

22.3.Press the one-key reset button and observe whether the axes return to the origin normally. After confirmation, start inputting the size values and insert the sheet for processing.

22.4.After the processing is completed, press the one-key reset button to return each axis to the origin position.

22.5.If the equipment will not be used for a long time, use protective oil paper to stick to the positions of each guide rail and ball screw, or if possible, use a film protective cover to cover the equipment.

23. Grooving Machine Setup: Environment, Oil, and Air Pump

23.1.Because the grooving machine is a cutting process with the tool holder running, especially the gantry grooving machine, because the movement of the beam is vibrating, the ground must be flat and have a concrete foundation. However, when we design the grooving machine, we fully consider Considering these factors, we designed the center of gravity of the grooving machine to be lower, so that the equipment itself has a certain degree of stability, so there is generally no need to install anchor locking screws.

23.2.Except for the side where the operator operates loading and unloading (there must be enough space here), the distance between the other three sides and the wall or other equipment is one meter. The working environment should not be too dusty, and the ground should not accumulate water for a long time.

23.3.The number of hydraulic oil is the same as that of shearing machines and bending machines. It is the No. 46 anti-wear hydraulic oil.

23.4.The model power of the air pump is as follows:

W-0.9/8 W0.9/12.5
Energia		Velocità	Capacità		Pressione massima		Air Tank		weight	Package Size
KW	HP	giri al minuto	L/min	C.F.M	Sbarra		L	Gai	kg	cm
7.5	10	850	900	31.8	8	115	160	60.8	150	150*52*100
7.5	10	950	900	31.8	12.5	178	160	41.6	150	150*52*100

V-06/8
Energia		Velocità	Capacità		Pressione massima		Air Tank		weight	Package Size
KW	HP	giri al minuto	L/min	C.F.M	Sbarra		L	Gai	kg	cm
4	5.5	850	600	21.2	8	115	90	23.4	110	120*46*87

24. Groove Types vs Bending Results

25. Focus on the Differences and Principles of Hydraulic Grooving Machines and Pneumatic Grooving Machines

We choose whether to buy hydraulic or pneumatic, just like we buy a car, whether to buy a gasoline car or a new energy car. Both grooving machines can actually achieve the grooving effect, so how can we choose better? For a suitable grooving machine, we will analyze and compare it in detail from the following points. When we first designed and produced grooving, we designed it to be hydraulic, because at that time, pneumatic components were not yet fully popular. However, after many years of use, some defects of the hydraulic grooving machine have become apparent.

25.1.Comparison of oil leakage and air leakage phenomena

a.Hydraulic grooving machines consist of components like hydraulic stations, cylinders, high-pressure pipes, and joints. These parts are prone to issues such as oil leakage and cylinder failure. For instance, a standard 4-meter machine has up to 64 potential leakage points, including 12 pressure plate cylinders, 7 clamp cylinders, and auxiliary systems. In vertical machines, any leakage from the beam-mounted pressure plate cylinders may directly contaminate the sheet below, which is unacceptable for end users. Moreover, oil leakage causes pressure drops, forcing the oil pump to overwork. Wear in valves, accumulators, motors, or pumps also increases maintenance risks and operational instability.

b.If you choose a pneumatic grooving machine, you don’t have to worry about these phenomena. Even if there is air leakage in the cylinder, air pipe, or air pipe joint, it will not cause any adverse effects. Because the air pump stores a large amount of air, it has little impact on the air compressor.

25.2.Comparison of working principles

a. The diameter of the cylinder of the hydraulic grooving machine is 25mm, and the diameter of the cylinder of the pneumatic grooving machine is 80mm. The lever force of the pressure plate of the hydraulic grooving machine is 1:1, that is, the force pushed by the pressure plate by the oil cylinder is equal. The lever force of the pressure plate is 3:1, which means that the thrust of the cylinder will generate 3 times the pressure on the pressure plate through this principle. Based on the above analysis, the logic of saying that pneumatic compression is not tight is not valid.

b. Manufacturing cost, because if it is a hydraulic design, many components will be added, such as a hydraulic station, accumulator, motor, oil pump, oil cylinder, and oil pipe, which will increase the material cost and labor cost, and it must be equipped. There is an air compressor. If you use a pneumatic grooving machine, the above components will not be needed, only an air compressor, several cylinders, and air pipes are needed.

c. Cost of use. If it is a hydraulic grooving machine, it is necessary to add No. 46 hydraulic oil, and the tank must be cleaned and the hydraulic oil replaced regularly. Pneumatic grooving machines do not need this expense.

d. Maintenance costs for hydraulic grooving machines are often high because key components like the hydraulic station, oil tank, cylinders, and pipe joints are custom-made by the manufacturer. When issues arise, replacement parts cannot be sourced from the open market and must be bought directly from the original supplier—often at significantly inflated prices. In contrast, pneumatic grooving machines use standard components such as cylinders, solenoid valves, and air pipes, which are widely available and affordable. Moreover, if a manufacturer discontinues a specific hydraulic model, spare parts may become unavailable, leading to expensive, time-consuming repairs that can halt production entirely.

Based on the above analysis, we believe that pneumatic grooving machines are also the direction of future development. Our company produces two models of hydraulic grooving machines and pneumatic grooving machines, and we have designed both hydraulic and pneumatic machines, whether vertical or vertical. Whether it is a grooving machine or a gantry grooving machine, they both use the same bed.

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