8459 - Machine tools (including way-type unit head machines) for drilling, boring, milling, threading or tapping by removing metal, other than lathes (including turning centers) of heading 8458:
Sub-classifications
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8459 1000 00
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8459 2100
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8459 2900
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Overview
Heading 8459 encompasses a specific group of machine tools designed for metalworking operations involving the removal of material. These machines are characterized by their ability to perform drilling, boring, milling, threading, or tapping functions. Crucially, this heading excludes lathes and turning centers, which fall under heading 8458, focusing instead on machines where the workpiece typically remains stationary while cutting tools move, or where the workpiece is fed through a fixed cutting tool in a linear fashion.
Unlike other machine tool categories within Section XVI, such as those for metal forming (e.g., presses, shears) or cutting by laser or plasma, the machines in 8459 are exclusively engaged in subtractive manufacturing processes using rotating or reciprocating cutting tools. When considering siblings at the root level of the HTS, it's important to note that 8459 deals with metal-removing machinery, distinct from categories covering powered hand tools, woodworking machines, or machines for working rubber or plastics.
The subcategories within 8459 provide further specificity based on the primary machining operation. This includes distinct classifications for way-type unit head machines, which are highly specialized for automated production lines, and further subdivisions for machines categorized by their primary function: drilling machines, boring-milling machines, boring machines, and various types of milling machines (including knee-type). Finally, a separate category exists for machines specifically designed for threading or tapping, ensuring precise classification based on the machine's core capability.