What is CNC Milling?
Milling is a type of machining process that involves using rotating cutting tools to remove material from a workpiece. In CNC milling, the machine feeds the workpiece in the same direction as the tool’s rotation, while in manual milling, the machine feeds the workpiece in the opposite direction.
Milling can be used for face milling to create shallow, flat surfaces and cavities, as well as peripheral milling to create deep cavities like slots and threads. It’s typically used as a finishing process to create features such as holes, slots, and threads, but can also shape a stock piece of material from start to finish.
The milling process removes material gradually to form the desired shape and features. The process may require several passes and machine setups for geometrically complex parts. Once milling is completed, the part moves to finishing and post-processing stages.
CNC Milling Services
Common CNC Milling Operations
CNC milling is a machining technique that is well-suited for creating precise, tight-tolerance components in prototype, low-volume, and small to medium production quantities. With its flexibility, milling can be applied to a broad range of industries and to parts with various features and designs such as slots, chamfers, threads, and pockets. The typical CNC milling operations comprise :
Face Milling
Face milling is a type of milling process that involves cutting with a tool whose axis of rotation is perpendicular to the workpiece’s surface. To perform this operation, face milling cutters are used, which have teeth on both the periphery and the tool face. The peripheral teeth are mainly used for cutting, while the face teeth are employed for finishing tasks.
Angular Milling
Angular milling, also called angle milling, is the process of milling where the cutting tool’s axis of rotation is positioned at an angle in relation to the workpiece’s surface.
Plain Milling
Plain milling, alternatively called surface milling or slab milling, involves cutting operations where the cutting tool rotates along an axis that is parallel to the workpiece’s surface. This milling process utilizes plain milling cutters with teeth located on the cutter’s periphery to carry out the cutting operation.
Form Milling
Form milling involves milling processes that deal with complex shapes, contours, and outlines, such as components with both flat and curved surfaces, or surfaces that are entirely curved.
Other Milling Machine Operations
Straddle Milling/ Gang Milling/ Profile Milling/ Gear Cutting/ Drilling/ Boring/ Reaming And Tapping Etc