The advent of CNC milling machines has eliminated repetitive work of the hands of humans and put them within the confines of computer-controlled machines. Whether it is a small piece of jewelry, the engine of an automobile, or a custom-made metal or wooden part of an airplane, it would surely have been touched by a CNC milling machine.

Types of these machines

There are various kinds of milling like slots milling, contour milling face milling, etc . that require specific machines. There are two main kinds of these mills that are horizontal and vertical. Vertical machines are made up of turret mills in which the spindle doesn't move in the course of cutting, and the table itself is moved with perpendicular or parallel motions with respect to the spindle's axis.

The larger bed-mills have a table that is capable of only perpendicular movements in relation to the axis of the spindle, although the spindle too can move parallel in relation to its own axis. The horizontal machines have cutters that are fitted on a horizontal arbor or axle that is situated across the table.

This offers manufacturers a chance to do some heavy-duty milling and a lot of material can easily be removed from different materials with ease. While these machines are mostly used by manufacturers, homemade milling machines are usually of the box or column design that only offers basic up-down movement along with a bench. There are various other types of these machines that cater to specific needs.