{"id":3709,"date":"2024-02-20T00:01:00","date_gmt":"2024-02-20T05:01:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/therabbithoel.com\/?p=3709"},"modified":"2024-02-19T20:09:45","modified_gmt":"2024-02-20T01:09:45","slug":"a-milling-machine-is-never-run-of-the-mill","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/therabbithoel.com\/?p=3709","title":{"rendered":"A Milling Machine Is Never Run Of The Mill"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

In this post<\/a> I talked briefly about my milling machine. It’s one of the most important tools in my machine shop. Today let’s explore it a little further.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

A milling machine is sort of like a drill press on steroids. It can cut straight lines and slots in metal with a spinning bit. The work is mounted on a table that can be precisely moved from side to side and front to back, and the cutting tool can move up and down. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
The big box with the green glowing numbers is a digital readout. It displays the position of the work relative to the cutter. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

As the cutting bit spins, the operator turns one of the cranks. This moves the table, which in turn moves the work piece past the cutter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Turning the crank on the right side moves the table left and right along the X axis. The crank on the front moves the table forward and backalong the Y axis. The big 3-armed wheel on the side of the machine head moves the cutter up and down on the Z axis. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The Cutters<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Tool companies keep inventing new cutters for the milling machine. But most of the time I use straight-sided, flat bottomed cutters called end mills. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
From left to right we have two end mills, a rounded-corner endmill, a ball mill, a corner rounding mill, and a chamfering mill.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

To hold the cutters, I use a tool inserted into the spindle called an end mill holder. These use a setscrew to firmly clamp the cutter so it can’t slip up or down in the cutter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But remember I mentioned that a mill is a drill press on steroids? If I want to use that capability I can mount a drill chuck in place of the end mill holder. Now I get the best of both worlds!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Two sizes of end mill holder and a drill chuck. The arbors have a taper. That matches a taper inside the machine spindle, locking the two together. Consequently, the end mill rotates with the spindle.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

What Can A Milling Machine Do?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

I’m including a picture with some examples of items made on a milling machine. Note the flat surfaces, slots, ledges, and holes. All of those features were made on the mill. It’s an incredibly versatile machine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

I hope you enjoyed this brief overview. In future posts I plan to discuss cutting tools, work holding, and other more advanced aspects in more detail. Thanks for reading!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

In this post I talked briefly about my milling machine. It’s one of the most important tools in my machine shop. Today let’s explore it a little further.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":false,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[4],"tags":[37,38,27],"class_list":["post-3709","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-shop-projects","tag-metalworking","tag-milling","tag-tool-talk"],"yoast_head":"\nA Milling Machine Is Never Run Of The Mill - Down the Rabbit Hoel<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"My milling machine is one of the most important tools in my shop. 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