Different Types of CNC Milling Processes To Know
Milling is one of the processes in CNC machining because it’s flexible and adaptable. Machine shops can manufacture endless shapes on the surface of the workpiece via a single tool. Milling can transform a piece of metal stock into finished equipment of any complexity.
You might think, what does a CNC milling process involve? What are the types of milling performed by machine shops? The post covers the answers.
CNC milling process
The milling process starts when the workpiece gets inserted into the CNC machine’s work surface. It gets followed by the placement of the milling tools to the machine’s spindle. The direction of the milling process depends on the requirements from CAD and can be either horizontal or vertical. When the workpiece is secure, the programming gets downloaded, and the tool gets attached for the operator to activate the program beginning the milling process. Milling gets used as a finishing process for a workpiece.
The CNC milling gets distinguished into different types depending on the final shape of the workpieces. The following section will focus on various milling processes by Precision CNC machine shop owners.
Types of milling processes
Here are the types of milling processes performed by machine shop owners.
Face milling
Face milling is the machining of the flat surfaces done at the right angles at the axis of the cutter. The cutters in this process have teeth on the tool face and the periphery. Now, each set of teeth has a specific function, periphery teeth do the cutting, and the face teeth perform the finishing. Face milling produces higher-quality finishes and is ideal for horizontal and vertical methods.
Plain milling
Plain milling is when the milling cutter axis is parallel to the surface getting milled. It gets done with the workpiece mounted parallel to the surface of the milling machine table while the cutter gets mounted on the standard milling machine arbour. The connected teeth plain milling cutters get used instead of plain milling cutters during the machining of the wide surface.
Angular milling
Angular milling gets used for machining a flat surface at an angle, other than the right angle to the axis of the milling machine spindle. One example of angular milling is Dovetail milling having the angle of the cutter is 45°, 50°, 55°, or 60° relevant to the design. The single or double angle cutter gets used according to the surface type.
Profile milling
Profile milling is when a spinning cutting tool cuts a path along a vertical surface. The cutting tool spins around the axis parallel or perpendicular to the workpiece surface.
Thread milling
Thread milling allows the machine to thread into a hole or onto the outside of the surface. It is an alternative to tapping. Thread milling uses a cutting tool that spins and moves along the surface that gets threaded. Thread milling creates threads on the exterior surfaces with a variety of diameters.
Slot milling
Slot milling forms a channel in the workpiece via a disc-shaped cutting tool. However, slot milling can get performed with the help of a cutting tool that rotates along the axis that is perpendicular to the workpiece.
Straddle milling
Straddle milling allows the application of flat vertical surfaces on both sides of the workpiece at once. Two side milling cutters get mounted on the same arbour for this purpose. The distance between the two cutters can get adjusted by using spacing collars.
Final say
The above mentioned are some of the popular CNC milling processes used by CNC machine shops. Every process mentioned here has typical applications. The next step is to choose a CNC machine shop that works around your requirements and delivers the best solution to you.
