The CNC milling machine is a machine used today for a wide range of machining work in factories, workshops and all kinds of industrial sectors. The machine works by means of a metal-cutting (chip-removal) process. In this process, the machine uses a series of rotating cutting tools, called milling cutters, which remove chips from the workpiece.
Depending on the type of movement used, there are vertical and horizontal CNC milling machines. The operator controls and directs each of these machines by means of a computer. This produces much more precise and accurate results on the workpiece.
How a CNC milling machine works
A standard CNC milling machine has a table, a cutting head, the spindle and a saddle for longitudinal and cross travel. It also comes with a CNC control panel, hoses to supply the machine with coolant, two axes for travel and another two for the cutting head.Using the CNC control panel, the operator can control and program the various movements of the milling machine and the travel of the table. The software usually included with a CNC milling machine is as follows:
- Computer-aided design (CAD), ideal for designing the part to be machined.
- Computer-aided manufacturing (CAM), which calculates the machine movements and the rotational speed of the cutters for cutting the part.
- Control software.
CNC milling machine applications
A CNC milling machine can have many applications in different industrial sectors. It can be used in all kinds of workshops and factories, as it delivers very precise results and much higher productivity than conventional milling machines or other manual tools.In the aerospace sector, for example, it is used to manufacture landing gear, turbines and a large number of aircraft fuselage components. In the wind energy sector, it is the perfect choice for manufacturing hubs and rotors, while in the railway sector it is also used to produce switches, crossings, frames and other structural elements of trains.
In the hydroelectric sector, the CNC milling machine plays an important role in turbine manufacturing. In recent years, CNC milling machines have also been used to machine large parts. Their use in the manufacture of travelling-column machines, bridge-type machines and others has enabled great progress in many sectors.
This machine is also widely used in the packaging and bottling sectors, in the manufacture of industrial supplies and assembly lines, as well as in architecture and interior design, carpentry, automotive and plastic fabrication.
The materials that can be used in milling processes are very diverse. Stainless steel, aluminium composites and other metals are the most common. But it is also possible to mill resins, composites, carbon fibre, foams, wood and engineering plastics such as polyethylene.
Advantages of this type of milling machine
Machining on a CNC milling machine makes it possible to achieve very exact and precise cuts and part dimensions. In fact, parts are usually made to the millimetre with zero risk of error. Thanks to the computer numerical control (CNC) system, it is possible to program in advance everything related to cutting, the drawing and the sanding of the part.In addition, a CNC milling machine can carry out very complex jobs in very little time and in the simplest, most precise way. The operator only needs to set up the program and check that milling is carried out as specified. This not only achieves greater precision but also greater productivity for the company.
As the operator only has to program the type of milling, there is no need to handle the machine while it is moving. It is therefore a very simple and safe way of working. The risk of accidents with a CNC milling machine is minimal for anyone working with it.
Finally, a CNC milling machine generates hardly any metal waste. Modern milling machines include a cutting and/or machining process that also deals with the resulting material. As a result, the working environment is left completely clean, making work more comfortable and delivering better results in less time.