What does a milling machine do?

Views: 9 Author: Site Editor Publish Time: 2021-06-25 Origin: Site

Machines allow many industries to streamline their production processes. With the right type of machinery, workers can quickly manufacture items in a uniform and precise manner and businesses can cut back on their operational costs. Currently, there are hundreds of different types of equipment used by manufacturing businesses. One fine example would be the milling machine. Essentially, it’s a piece of equipment workers use to file metal parts into their desired shape, size or design.

How does a milling machine work?

The milling machine was developed back in the 18th century. Its precursor model was used to create the tiny gears inside clocks. A few years later, manufacturers started making ones for the metalworking sector. Earlier models are specifically designed to rely a lot on the machinist’s precision and accuracy. While the latest ones or the CNC mills are run by computer programs or algorithms.

At first glance, you might mistake it for a circular saw that simply slices a material into smaller portions. However, upon closer inspection, you can see that it cuts a workpiece into a specific shape. It can also create flat surfaces, smoothen edges, and drill holes with threading depending on the type of attachment used.

The milling or cutting attachments spinning at a high speed removes some parts of the workpiece. The machinist feeds the stock into the equipment to create the desired results.

You can also find stark differences between the orientation of the moving and the stationary components of certain mill models.

What do milling machines do?

Both vertical and horizontal mills are quite versatile. They can be used on both flat and irregular working surfaces. They can also serve various functions. Besides machining into large blocks of material, mills can also be used for routing, planing, keyway cutting, and die-sinking.

Miller cutters – These are used for various operations such as smoothing surfaces and cutting shapes onto the surface of the material.

Gear cutters – This type of tool creates gears by cutting teeth into the workpiece.

End mills – They cut materials in an axial direction. These are used in cutting slots, facing edges and plunging.

Slitting cutters – Create narrow slits or remove material on the stock surface.

Bevel cutters – Makes bevel cuts into the stock material.

Staggered tooth cutters – These cut deep slots and provide maximum chip clearance.

Finishing end mill – Leaves a smooth and clean finish on the workpiece.

There are plenty of other mill machine tools in many factories. Some notable examples include corner rounding end mill, keyseat cutters, carbide face mill, and T-slot cutter.

To maximize the use of the equipment, metal fabrication companies often opt for knee type milling machines. Factories mostly provide manufacturing companies exact specifications in order to create a piece of bespoke milling equipment.