What are milling types performed by CNC machine shops?
Computer numerical control (CNC) machining is an important machining process with a variety of milling types used to machine parts made from different metals, plastics, and composites. CNC machining ensures high repeatability and accuracy, making it ideal for a variety of manufacturing applications.
CNC machining is an umbrella term that covers a variety of machining processes, including CNC turning, CNC milling, CNC drilling, and more. Among them, CNC milling is an important CNC machining process used in industrial and commercial parts production. With that said, you may be wondering – what does the CNC milling process involve? What are the types of CNC milling performed by CNC machine shops? Read this article to find out.
1.Introduction to CNC Milling Process
CNC milling ensures a high degree of flexibility and versatility, which makes it an ideal machining process for most CNC machine shops. Its material removal rate is high compared to other CNC machining processes, and the parts also have excellent surface finish. The process employs multiple rotating, multi-point cutting tools. These tools rotate and help transform the ordinary workpiece into the desired shape. During CNC milling, the workpiece is usually fed into the CNC machine in the same direction as the cutting tool is rotating. CNC milling can be used to cut deep cavities in the workpiece as well as flat, shallow, and flat-bottomed cavities.
CNC milling is further divided into different milling types based on the workpiece shape to be formed. This article will tell you about some of the common CNC milling types performed by CNC machine shops and their results.
2.Milling types in CNC machining workshops
The following are a few common types of CNC milling processes performed by CNC machine shops:
1) General Milling
Face milling is used to machine flat and horizontal surfaces. This type of milling is also known as slab milling. Depending on the movement between the table and the material, plane milling can be divided into down milling and up milling.
2) Face Milling
In face milling, the tool axis is kept perpendicular to the surface of the material. The tool used for removing material has more teeth than the tool used for flat milling. The teeth in contact with the flat material are used for finishing, while the teeth on the edge are used to cut the raw material.
3) Cross Milling
Cross milling utilizes a pair of side milling cutters to machine two parallel surfaces of a workpiece. The milling cutters are placed in opposite directions and in such a way that the workpiece is straddled by them. This type of milling is suitable for milling several vertical surfaces in one cut.
4) Combination milling
In combination milling, multiple milling cutters are used on a single tool bar to cut different horizontal surfaces. The cutters used in this process have different diameters and the cutter speed is calculated starting from the cutter with the largest diameter.
5) Form milling
In form milling, parts with irregular contours are produced using form milling cutters. The milling cutters used for this purpose can have rounded corners, convex corners, and concave corners.
6) End milling
This CNC milling process is used to machine vertical planes, narrow slots, grooves, and guides on the workpiece. End milling can be done vertically, horizontally, or at an angle to the table.
7) Angular milling
In this type of milling, the cutting tool is held at a specific angle to the workpiece surface. Angular slots can have single or double angles. It is used to mill planes that are neither parallel nor perpendicular to the axis of the cutting tool.
8) T-Slot Milling
In this type of milling, a disc-shaped cutter is used to cut a channel in the workpiece. In a T-slot milling operation, a side milling cutter is first used to cut a plain slot in the workpiece, and then the T-slot milling cutter is fed from one end or the other of the workpiece.
Mentioned above are just a few of the popular CNC milling processes employed by CNC machine shops. Each of the processes mentioned here has typical applications that an experienced CNC machining service provider will be more aware of.
If you are looking for an experienced CNC milling manufacturer, Xavier is your ideal choice. The Xavier team is well-equipped to provide high-quality CNC machining solutions. If you need more information or to discuss your machining needs with us, please feel free to contact us.