We’ve talked about the features of CNC lathe machining in the previous papers. We know  that CNC milling and CNC turning are two main processing methods of CNC lathe machining. This paper will introduce the CNC milling machine and its differences with CNC turning machine. 

What Is A Milling Machine?

Milling machine is a machine tool for milling workpiece with milling cutter. Milling machines in addition to milling plane, groove, gear, thread and spline shaft, but also processing more complex surface, the efficiency is higher than planer, in machinery manufacturing and repair departments have been widely used.

Classification Of Milling Machines

✅According to layout form and scope of application:

Lifting table milling machine: universal, horizontal and vertical, mainly used for processing  small and medium-sized parts, the most widely used.

Gantry milling machine: including longmen milling and boring machine, longmen milling and planing  machine and double column milling machine, are used for processing large parts.

Single column milling machine and single arm milling machine: the former horizontal milling  head can move along the column guide rail, the work table for longitudinal feed; The vertical milling head of the latter can be moved horizontally along the cantilever rail, and the cantilever can also be adjusted along the column rail. Both are used for processing large parts.

Table does not lift the milling machine: rectangular work table and round work table two, is  between the lifting table milling machine and longmen milling machine between a medium specifications of the milling machine. The vertical movement is accomplished by lifting the milling head on the column.

Instrument milling machine: A small lifting table milling machine used for machining  instrumentation and other small parts.

Tool milling machine: used for mold and tool manufacturing, equipped with vertical milling  head, universal Angle table and plug and other accessories, but also for drilling, boring and inserting and other processing.

Other milling machine: such as keyway milling machine, CAM milling machine, crankshaft  milling machine, roll milling machine and square ingot milling machine, is for processing the corresponding workpiece and the manufacture of special milling machine.

✅According to the structure:

Bench milling machine: a small milling machine used for milling instruments, meters and other small parts.

Cantilever type milling machine: milling head mounted on the cantilever of the milling  machine, bed horizontal layout, cantilever can generally along the side of the bed column guide rail for vertical movement, milling head along the cantilever guide rail movement.

Slide pillow milling machine: a milling machine in which the spindle is mounted on a slide.

Gantry type milling machine: bed horizontal arrangement, its two sides of the column and  connecting beam form a door frame milling machine. The milling head is mounted on the beam and column and can be moved along its guide rail. Usually the beam can move vertically along the column guide rail, and the table can move longitudinally along the bed guide rail for large processing.

Face milling machine: Used for milling flat and formed surfaces.

Copying milling machine: a milling machine for copying the workpiece. Generally used for  machining complex shape workpiece.

Lifting table milling machine: a milling machine with a lifting table that can move vertically  along a bed guide rail. Usually, the table and the saddle installed on the lifting table can move vertically and horizontally, respectively.

Radial milling machine: radial milling machine can also be called turret milling machine, radial milling, universal milling, machine turret milling machine is a light universal metal cutting  machine, with vertical, horizontal milling two functions, can milling medium, small parts of the plane, inclined plane, groove and spline, etc.

Bed type milling machine: table can not lift, along the bed guide rail for longitudinal and  transverse movement, milling head or column can be vertical movement of the milling machine.

Special milling machine: such as tool milling machine: used for milling tool die milling  machine, high processing accuracy, processing shape complex.

Differences Between CNC Milling Machine And CNC Turning Machine

✅Different Processing Product Types

CNC turning machine is generally processing shafts, sets, disks, pads and other parts. It is  generally horizontal horizontal machine. Of course, large lathes also have vertical and other forms.

CNC milling machine is generally processing slot type workpiece, such as spline shaft spline,  shaft keyway, gear tooth. Of course, it can also carry out plane milling processing. Generally, the small CNC milling machine is horizontal, and teh large machine is gantry type.

✅Different Processing Methods

Lathe is used to process rotary parts, the parts through three chuck clamp on the spindle of  the machine tool, and high-speed rotation, and then use the turning knife in accordance with the bus of the rotary body knife, cut out the product shape.

Milling machine is the blank fixed, with high speed rotation of the milling cutter in the blank,  cut out the shape and characteristics of the need. Conventional milling is mostly used to mill simple shapes/features such as profiles and slots. CNC milling machine can process complex shapes and features.