Why do machine tools need to be both rigid and accurate?

Machine tools must be both rigid and accurate to handle the demanding requirements of modern manufacturing.

Rigidity is essential because these machines are subjected to heavy cutting forces while shaping materials. A lack of structural stiffness would cause the machine to deflect under these loads, compromising the stability of the cutting process and the integrity of the workpiece.12

Accuracy is equally critical to meet the precise dimensional requirements of modern parts, which are often machined to tolerances as fine as plus or minus one ten-thousandth of an inch (0.0025 millimetre). Achieving such precision requires the machine to maintain exact control over the depth of the cut and the relative motion between the tool and the workpiece. By combining significant weight and structural rigidity with delicate accuracy, machine tools ensure that parts are formed consistently and reliably.12