A milling machine is a staple tool in any machine shop. It'll help you complete complicated projects effortlessly. Primarily, it will cut off excess metal material on a particular workpiece. The milling machine performs lots of minor, separate cuts to achieve this. The results are both beautiful and very efficient. If you have a machine shop but no milling machine, you need to change that as soon as possible.

The trick is to select a suitable model for your needs. You need to know quite a bit. So, here are some tips for how to choose a milling machine.

The Differing Types of Milling Machines

First, you'll want to know what kinds of projects you're going to perform most often. Do you need a milling machine for some simple corrections or vast and involved projects? Knowing this will significantly help you select the correct type of tool.

You'll also need to know how many axes you need for your workpiece. Standard milling machines come with either three- or four-axis functionality. A three-axis machine will have a vertical axis and two horizontal axes. The vertical axis can raise the table toward the cutter, while the two horizontal axes can move the table transversely and longitudinally.

In a four-axis milling machine, the fourth axis can rotate the table. It saves you from having to disassemble the machine to work at different angles. If you have a complex pattern to work on, a four-axis machine is ideal. If you only need to make simple corrections, three axes will suffice.

For more complex projects, there are even milling machines out there with five axes. The fifth one is a horizontal pivot for the machine head, which adds further mobility.

Vertical or Horizontal Milling Machines?

Next, you'll need to determine if you require a vertical or horizontal milling machine. Here's the difference between the two:

• A vertical milling machine has the spindle perpendicular to the table. You can also equip it with a drill bit and a reamer. If your project requires drilling or calibrating a hole, a vertical milling machine is an optimal choice.
• A horizontal milling machine has the spindle parallel to the table. This is an ideal setup if you want to place a few milling machines next to one another. A horizontal milling machine will also allow you to make multiple grooves on the same plate. Furthermore, horizontal machines provide better chip evacuation.

So, we hope you follow our tips for how to choose a milling machine. By following this guide, you can easily figure out which type of milling machine will work best for your operation. At Penn Tool Co., we offer many types of industrial milling machines to handle all your project needs.