MILLING MACHINE

MILLING MACHINE

Introduction: Milling is the cutting operation that removes metal by feeding the work against a rotating, cutter having single or multiple cutting edges. Flat or curved surfaces of many shapes can be machined by milling with good finish and accuracy. A milling machine may also be used for drilling, slotting, making a circular profile and gear cutting by having suitable attachments.

Working Principle: The work piece is holding on the worktable of the machine. The table movement controls the feed of work piece against the rotating cutter. The cutter is mounted on a spindle or arbor and revolves at high speed. Except for rotation the cutter has no other motion. As the work piece advances, the cutter teeth remove the metal from the surface of work piece and the desired shape is produced.

There are two major types of milling machines, the vertical milling machine, and the horizontal milling machine.

As their names imply, a vertical milling machine spindle axis is vertical and the horizontal milling machine spindle axis is horizontal. In addition the vertical milling machine has a machine table that moves perpendicular to the spindle axis of rotation and the horizontal milling machine has a work table that moves parallel to the spindle axis of rotation.

The vertical milling machine is the most common type found in the machine shop today. However, during the first half of the 20th century the horizontal milling machine was the primary machine tool used for milling purposes. There are far fewer horizontal milling machines in production today than vertical machines.

Another type of mill is the combination milling machine. This milling machine is a hybrid of the vertical and the horizontal.

Still another type of specialty milling machine is the universal milling machine. It is usually a horizontal milling machine with a swiveling table.

There have been dozens of specialty milling machines built over the years, each with their own unique configuration. Do not be surprised if you come across a machine not covered here.

Classification of milling machine

 There are two main types of milling machines:

(a) Bed type

(b) Column and knee type.

a)   Bed type milling machine:

A bed type milling machine has a vertical adjustment of the spindle,

Simplex milling machine

Duplex milling machine

Triplex milling machine

(b) Column and knee type:

A column and knee type milling machine has a vertical adjustment of the work table.

Hand milling machine

Plain milling machine

Universal milling machine

Universal milling machine

Vertical milling machine

Planner type milling machine

Special type milling machine

Rotary table milling machine

Drum milling machine.

Planetary milling machine

Pantograph milling machine