INRODUCTION

MILLING MACHINE

THEORY

Milling machine
Introduction :A milling machine is a machine tool that removes metal as the
work is fed against multi-point culler. The machine can hold
more than one cutter at a time. It is superior to other
machines as regards to accuracy and surface finish.

Principal parts:
a) Base: It is a grey c.i casting serves as a foundation for all
other parts. In some machines base is hallow serves as
reservoir for cutting fluid.
b) Column: It is main supporting frame mounted vertically
on base. The column is box shaped heavily ribbed and
houses all driving mechanism for spindle and table feed.
c) Knee: The knee is a rigid grey cast iron casting that slides
up and down on vertical ways of column face. The knee
houses feed mechanism of table to provide guide ways
for table.
d) Table: It rests on ways of saddle and travels
longitudinally. The table may be swiveled horizontally.
e) Spindle: The spindle of machine is located on upper part
of column and delivers power from motor through bells,
motor, and clutcher and transmits it to arbor.
f) Arbor: It may be considered as extension or m/c spindle
on which milling cutter are securely mounted and
rotated.

Machining centre :1

INRODUCTION

MILLING MACHINE

THEORY

A machine centre is characterized by

(i) Indexable tool magazine :- The tool magazine may carry
16 to 100 tools depending upon its capacity. An
automated tool changer (ATC) is provided to pick up the
programmed tool from tool magazine and mount it on the
spindle. The removed tool is put back into magazine and
mounts it on the spindle.
(ii) Pallets :- They are often provided with two or more work
tables called pallets. In a 2 pallet machine while the job on
one pallet is being machined, the operator can set up the
next job on the free pallet. The automatic pallet changer
then moves the pallet.

Column and
Knee type

Milling
machine

Planar
type

Manufacturing
or fixed bed
type

Special
type

Hand milling
machine
Plain milling
machine
Universal milling
machine
Vertical milling
machine
Simplex milling
machine
Duplex milling
machine
Triplex milling
machine
Rotary table
milling machine
Drum milling
machine

INRODUCTION

MILLING MACHINE

THEORY

Hand milling machine : Feeding movement of the table is supplied by hand

control.
They are used for light and simple milling operations such
as machining slots, grooves and key-ways.
Plain milling machine :
They are much more rigid and sturdy than hand millers
for accommodating heavy work pieces.
The milling machine table may be fed by hand or power
against a rotating cutter mounted on a horizontal arbor.
The table may be fed in a longitudinal cross or vertical
directions.
Universal milling machine :
This is so named because it may be adapted to a very
wide range of milling operations.
In this machine has a fourth movement of table in
addition to above three.
The table can be swiveled horizontally and can be fed to
an angle to milling machine spindle. The table can be

INRODUCTION

MILLING MACHINE

THEORY

swiveled about a vertical axis and set at an angle other

than right angle to spindle.
It is provided with auxiliaries such as dividing head
attachment and rotary table etc.
The special design of machine itself to make spur, bevel
gears, reamers, milling cutters and other tool room work
operations.
Vertical milling machine :
It is distinguished from a horizontal milling machine by
the position of its spindle which is vertical or
perpendicular to work table.
The machine may be of plain or universal type and has all
movement of table for proper setting and feeding the
work.
The spindle head which is clamped to vertical column
may be swiveled at an angle, permitting the milling cutter
mounted on the spindle to work on angular surfaces.

INRODUCTION

MILLING MACHINE

THEORY

Manufacturing or fix bed type machine :

They are large, heavy and rigid differ radically from
column and knee type milling machine.
The table is mounted directly on the ways of fixed bed.
The table movement is restricted to reciprocation at right
angles to spindle axis with no provision for cross or
vertical adjustment.
The cutter mounted on the spindle head may be moved
vertically on the column and the spindle may be adjusted
horizontally to provide cross adjustment.
In duplex machines, spindle heads are arranged one on
each side of table.
Plano miller type :
It is a massive machine built up for heavy duty work,
having spindle heads adjustable in vertical and in
traverse directions.
Its resembles a planer and like a planning machine it has
a cross rail capable of being raised or lowered carrying
the cutters, all supported b rigid uprights.
This arrangement of independently driving multiple
cutter spindles enables number of work surfaces to be
machined simultaneously thereby obtaining great
reduction in production time.
There may be a number of independent spindles carrying
cutters on the rail as well as two heads on upright.
Special type milling machine :

INRODUCTION

MILLING MACHINE

THEORY

The construction of the machine is a modification of a

vertical milling machine and is adapted for machining flat
surfaces at production rate.
The fall milling cutters are mounted on two or more
vertical spindles and a number of work pieces are
clamped on horizontal surface of a circular table which
rotates about a vertical axis.
The cutters may be set at different heights relative to the
work so that when one of the cutters is roughing the
pieces, the other is finishing them.
Drum milling machine :
It is similar to a rotary table milling machine in that its
work supporting table which is called a drum, rotates in a
horizontal axis.
The face milling cutters mounted on 3 or 4 spindle heads
rotate in a horizontal axis and remove metal from work
pieces supported on faces of drum.