A milling machines is a machine tool (powered mechanical device,
typically used to fabricate metal components) used to machine solid
material. Milling machines are often classified into two basic forms:
Horizontal and Vertical, which refers to the orientation of the main
spindle. Both the types range in size from small, bench-mounted devices
to room-sized machines. Milling machines can move the work piece
radially against the rotating milling cutter, which cuts on its sides as
well as its tip. Milling machines may be manually operated,
mechanically automated, or digitally automated via computer numerical
control (CNC).
A vertical milling machine is a machine in which the spindle axis is
vertically oriented. Milling cutters are held in the spindle and rotate
on its axis. The spindle can generally be extended allowing plunge cuts
and drilling. A horizontal milling machine is a machine where the
cutters are mounted on a horizontal arbor across the table. A majority
of horizontal milling machine also features a +15/-15 degree rotary
table that allows milling at shallow angles.
A CNC milling machine is an automated milling tool that can cut 3D
shapes out of a block of material. Most CNC milling machines are
computer controlled vertical mills with the ability to move the spindle
vertically along the Z-axis. The extra degree of freedom permits their
use in die sinking, engraving application, and 2.5 D surface such as
relief sculptures. When combined with the use of conical tools or a ball
nose cutter, it also significantly improves milling precision without
impacting speed, providing a cost-efficient alternative to most
flat-surface hand-engraving work.
CNC machines can exist in virtually any of the forms of manual
machinery, like horizontal milling machines. The most advanced CNC
milling machines, the multi-axis machine, add two more axes in addition
to the three normal axes (XYZ). Horizontal milling machines also have a C
or Q axis, allowing the horizontally mounted work piece to be rotated,
essentially allowing asymmetric and eccentric turning. The fifth axis (B
axis) controls the tilt of the tool itself. When all of these axes are
used in conjunction with each other, extremely complicated geometries,
even organic geometries such as a human head can be made with relative
ease with these machines. But the skill to program such geometries is
beyond that of most operators. Therefore, 5 axis milling machines are
practically always programmed with CAM.
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