a manufacturing unit consisting of numerically controlled machine tools serviced by a robot (cells), material transport mechanisms and storage buffers which interconnect them
8457 Machining centres, unit construction machines (single station) and multi-station transfer machines, for working metal
A machining center is a relatively new class of machine tool. Its concept is that a single numerically controlled machine tool can perform a multiplicity of operations in only one setup. They are designed to face-mill, end-mill, profile, contour, drill, ream, tap, bore, and counterbore in any or all axes.