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What Is a V Type Milling Drilling Head and How Does It Work?

Aug 14, 2026

For CNC turning centers and mill-turn machines, machining flexibility increasingly depends on how efficiently the cutting tool can transmit spindle power, hold the tool securely, and maintain accuracy during cutting. A V Type Milling Drilling Head is designed for this purpose, combining milling and drilling capability with a rigid tool-holder structure.

The DA-Series V Type Milling Drilling Head from Jiaxing XiRay Industrial Technology Co., Ltd. is designed for precision machining applications and supports DIN 6499 collets with a 15 bar center coolant outlet. Its V-type structure is intended to improve rigidity and reduce vibration, making it suitable for demanding CNC machining environments.

What Is a V Type Milling Drilling Head?

A V Type Milling Drilling Head is a driven tool head used on CNC turning centers to perform secondary machining operations such as milling and drilling. Instead of limiting a turning machine to conventional turning operations, a driven head allows rotating cutting tools to be used directly on the machine.

The basic system consists of the tool-head body, internal drive mechanism, spindle, tool-clamping interface, and coolant passage. The cutting tool is secured through a suitable collet, while the machine's driven-tool system provides rotational power.

V Type Head vs. Standard Driven Tool Holders

A conventional driven tool holder can perform rotating-tool operations, but the structural design of the tool head has a direct influence on rigidity, tool accessibility, and machining stability.

The V-type configuration provides a rigid supporting structure around the tool-driving mechanism. During milling or drilling, cutting forces are transmitted through the tool, collet, spindle, and head body into the machine turret. A rigid load path helps control unwanted movement and vibration.

This becomes particularly important when machining harder materials, using larger cutting tools, or performing interrupted milling operations.

How Does the V-Type Design Support Machining Stability?

Machining stability is not determined by the tool alone. Tool overhang, spindle stiffness, clamping accuracy, cutting parameters, workpiece geometry, and machine structure all contribute to vibration.

A rigid V Type Milling Drilling Head can help reduce unnecessary deflection within the tool-holder assembly. Lower structural movement can contribute to more consistent cutting, improved surface finish, and better dimensional control when the machining parameters are properly selected.

How Does a V Type Milling Drilling Head Work?

The operating principle is straightforward: the CNC machine supplies rotational power to the driven head, and the internal transmission system transfers that power to the tool spindle.

The spindle then rotates the milling cutter, drill, or other compatible rotating tool. The CNC control coordinates spindle rotation with turret positioning and feed movement to complete the required machining operation.

Power Transmission and Spindle Rotation

During operation, the machine's driven-tool output provides mechanical power to the head. The internal transmission system transfers this motion to the output spindle.

The actual allowable spindle speed and cutting conditions depend on the specific head configuration, machine interface, tool diameter, workpiece material, and cutting tool. Therefore, users should verify the technical specifications of the selected configuration rather than assuming that every V-type head has the same RPM capability.

Milling and Drilling on CNC Turning Centers

A major advantage of a driven milling drilling head is that multiple operations can be completed without transferring the workpiece to another machine.

Typical operations can include:

  • End milling

  • Face milling

  • Slot milling

  • Cross drilling

  • Radial drilling

  • Hole preparation

  • Other rotating-tool operations

Keeping several operations on one CNC platform can reduce workpiece repositioning and help maintain the positional relationship between turning and milling features.

Role of the Collet and Tool Clamping System

The collet is a critical part of the machining system because it connects the cutting tool to the rotating spindle.

The DA-Series is designed for DIN 6499 collets, while the collet itself is not included with the head.

When selecting a collet, the tool shank diameter, required clamping range, machining load, runout requirements, and spindle interface should all be considered. Incorrect or insufficient clamping can lead to tool slippage, vibration, poor surface finish, and premature tool wear.

What Are the Main Benefits of a V Type Milling Drilling Head?

The value of a V Type Milling Drilling Head is not simply that it can perform two types of machining. Its greater benefit is the ability to combine machining flexibility with a precision-oriented tool-holder structure.

Improved Rigidity and Machining Stability

Rigidity is essential when milling and drilling from a CNC turning center. Cutting forces can cause deflection if the tool assembly is not sufficiently supported.

The V-type structure of the DA-Series is designed to provide rigidity and stability during operation, supporting accurate machining while helping minimize vibration.

Reduced Vibration During Cutting

Vibration can affect surface quality, dimensional accuracy, tool life, and machine productivity. It can become especially noticeable during milling because cutting forces change continuously as the cutter engages and disengages with the workpiece.

A rigid tool-head structure can help provide a more stable cutting condition. However, vibration control still requires correct tool selection, minimum practical overhang, suitable feed and speed settings, and appropriate workholding.

One Tool Head for Multiple Machining Operations

A milling drilling head allows a CNC turning center to perform more than conventional turning. This can be useful when a component requires turning, drilling, and milling features in a single production cycle.

For manufacturers producing complex precision parts, this multifunctional capability can reduce machine transfers and simplify production planning.

Reduced Setup Time and Better Process Efficiency

Moving a workpiece between different machines introduces additional setup requirements and creates opportunities for positioning errors.

When turning and driven-tool operations can be completed within one machining setup, manufacturers can potentially reduce handling time and improve process consistency. The actual productivity improvement depends on the part geometry, machine configuration, tooling strategy, and cycle time.

Where Are V Type Milling Drilling Heads Used?

V Type Milling Drilling Heads are relevant to CNC manufacturing environments where turning centers need additional rotating-tool capability.

Automotive Component Machining

Automotive components frequently combine turned diameters, drilled holes, slots, flats, and other machined features. A driven milling drilling head can support these operations within an integrated CNC process.

This is particularly useful for production environments where repeatability and cycle-time control are important.

Precision Parts Processing

Precision components often require multiple machining operations with close positional relationships. Performing several features on the same machine can reduce the need for repeated workpiece alignment.

XiRay identifies precision parts processing as one of its application areas, alongside automotive, electronics, and medical manufacturing.

Aerospace Components

Aerospace machining places strong demands on tool rigidity, dimensional consistency, and process control. Milling drilling heads can be useful when complex components require multiple machining processes.

The appropriate head must be selected according to the machine, material, tool diameter, cutting forces, and required accuracy.

General CNC Manufacturing

For general CNC manufacturers, the main advantage is flexibility. A single CNC turning center equipped with suitable driven tooling can handle a wider range of component geometries without relying entirely on separate machining equipment.

How Do You Choose the Right V Type Milling Drilling Head?

Selecting a V Type Milling Drilling Head should begin with the CNC machine rather than the cutting tool. The head must match the machine interface and the intended machining process.

Selection Factor What to Check
CNC machine compatibility Turret/interface, machine model, mounting dimensions and driven-tool configuration
Tool capacity Tool diameter, shank size, collet range and required cutting load
Maximum RPM Required cutting speed versus the head's rated spindle speed
Collet type DIN 6499 or another specified clamping system
Coolant configuration External coolant or internal/center coolant requirements
Machining direction Axial, radial or application-specific tool orientation
Cutting conditions Workpiece material, cutter diameter, feed rate and depth of cut
Accuracy requirements Runout, surface finish and dimensional tolerance

CNC Machine Compatibility

Compatibility is the first technical checkpoint. A tool head that cannot correctly match the turret or driven-tool interface cannot deliver its intended performance.

Before ordering, users should provide the CNC machine model, turret type, mounting interface, rotation direction, and available driven-tool configuration to the tooling supplier.

Tool Capacity and Collet Selection

The cutting tool and collet must be treated as one system. Tool diameter, shank diameter, cutting load, and required rigidity should be evaluated together.

For the DA-Series, DIN 6499 collet compatibility provides a defined clamping interface, but the correct collet size still needs to be selected for the tool being used.

Maximum RPM and Cutting Conditions

Maximum RPM should not be selected independently from the cutting tool. The required spindle speed depends on cutter diameter, material, cutting speed, and machining strategy.

For this reason, users should compare the required cutting conditions with the specific technical data of the selected V Type Milling Drilling Head.

Coolant Configuration

Coolant delivery can influence tool life, chip evacuation, and cutting temperature. The DA-Series provides a 15 bar center coolant outlet, which can deliver coolant toward the cutting zone through the tool system when the corresponding tool and coolant configuration are suitable.

For deep drilling, difficult-to-machine materials, or operations generating significant heat, the coolant configuration should be considered during tooling selection rather than after installation.

Why Choose a DA-Series V Type Milling Drilling Head?

The DA-Series focuses on the requirements of precision-oriented CNC machining, combining a rigid V-type structure with a defined collet and coolant configuration.

Its key specifications include DIN 6499 collet compatibility and a 15 bar center coolant supply. The product page also identifies milling and drilling capability, structural rigidity, vibration reduction, durability, and ease of installation and maintenance as important design considerations.

For manufacturers, the more important question is not simply whether a V Type Milling Drilling Head can perform milling and drilling. The practical question is whether its interface, rigidity, clamping system, coolant supply, and operating parameters match the actual CNC process.

XiRay Tooling and Manufacturing Support

Jiaxing XiRay Industrial Technology Co., Ltd. has specialized in metalworking tool holders since 2000. According to the company's information, XiRay has more than 200 employees, a 30,000 m² manufacturing base, eight production lines, and a technical engineering team. The company also states that its core components have a 100% self-made rate and that it is an ISO 9001 certified manufacturer.

Its product portfolio covers boring tool systems, driven and static tooling for VDI, BMT, HSK, BT and PSC interfaces, as well as other tooling solutions for turning centers, machining centers, grinding machines, and special applications.

This broader tooling capability is relevant when a V Type Milling Drilling Head needs to be integrated into a complete CNC tooling solution rather than treated as an isolated component.

Final Considerations

A V Type Milling Drilling Head is an important option for CNC turning centers that need reliable milling and drilling capability without moving the workpiece to another machine. Its performance depends on the complete machining system: machine compatibility, tool clamping, spindle speed, rigidity, coolant delivery, cutting parameters, and workholding must work together.

The DA-Series from XiRay is designed around this principle, offering DIN 6499 collet compatibility, 15 bar center coolant supply, and a precision-oriented V-type structure. For manufacturers evaluating driven tooling, these specifications provide a practical starting point for comparing configurations and selecting a head according to the actual CNC machining process.