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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