Specifics About A Vertical Milling Machine


There are basically two types of milling machines – vertical and horizontal.  It is important to know the difference between them so that the one you select is the best for the job you need done.  As its name suggests, a vertical milling machine uses a spindle axis that is oriented vertically.  A horizontal milling machine has it arbors mounted horizontally.  This article will look at the vertical version specifically with some references to the horizontal model.  

With a milling machine that is vertical, the spindle axis can usually be extended.  This makes it possible to drill and do plunge-type cutting with the machine.  Vertical versions come as either bedmill and turret mill.  Bedmills are generally larger but turret mills have proven to be more versatile and efficient.  When using a turret mill, the spindle doesn’t move and remains stationary when cutting is being performed.  The table itself moves both perpendicularly and parallel to the spindle axis.  In contrast, a bedmill moves only perpendicularly.  Its spindle moves in a parallel direction to its own axis.  There is actually another vertical version that is used today called a mill-drill.  It is relatively inexpensive and small so that it is available to hobbyists and laypersons alike.  The quality, of course, does not measure up to its larger and more efficient cousins, the bedmill and turret mill versions.

When using any milling machine, it is extremely important that safety precautions always be followed.  It is important that the revolving cutter never be touched.  Make sure that there is some type of protective covering placed on the cutting surface.  Working as a team is essential when heavy attachments are being used.  Caution should always be used whenever arbor nuts are tightened or loosened.  Avoid serious cuts by using a thick cloth to remove milling cutters and never adjust anything while the machine is in operation.  Use appropriate cleaning equipment when removing chips from the workpiece.  Never leave the machine on if something is being adjusted or measured.  Watch out for any oil spills that sometimes seep out onto the workroom floor.   

Whether using a vertical milling machine or a horizontal version, the possibilities are endless in the projects that can be performed.  All it takes is following a few simple precautions and using the machine as a helpful tool to get the job done.  

 

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