A Milling Machine is probably the most popular and versatile machine in any shop mainly because of their ability to shape complex metal parts. It's basic form is that of a rotating cutter or endmill which rotates about the spindle axis (similar to a drill) and a movable table to which the workpiece is affixed.

VERTICAL MILLS EXPANDED

Metal is extracted or chipped off by moving the X and/or Y axis, while the Z axis moves downward like a drill press. There are many different tools used with a milling machine to create the type of shape you are going for.

The workpiece is held in by a vise or rotary table placed on the milling table using bolts held in by t-slots in the table. Once the piece is secure, you are ready to mill!

Features and Options:
Starting with the head of the machine, there are a few different ways to change head speeds. One option is a belt change, or step pulley machine which takes a little bit longer and is not recommended if you have many speed changes. To change the speeds more efficiently, you can get a variable speed head, which changes speeds as easy as you can turn a wheel. The most common option is a Powered table feed. This allows you to feed your workpiece automatically. Power feeds can be applied at any time and can be put on the x and y axis as well as the knee. This saves time work cranking the handles.

Another popular option would be a Digital Read Out or DRO. This usually has some type of digital numbering system that shows you your measurements on screen instead of using the numbers on the dials for your x, y or z axis�s.

Another option would be a Power Draw Bar. This allows you to pneumatically open and close the draw bar with the touch of a button closing the collets without having to use a wrench to open the draw bar manually to change the collets.

CNC Mills are the top of the line. CNC Mills or Machining Centers are Computer Numerical Controlled and can vastly speed production and set up time. With a CNC mill you can program your job and the control saves the information to use later; this helps reduce operator error and set up.

What to look for:

Some milling machines have scraped and chromed ways. Chroming adds strength to the ways for less wear and scraping evenly distributes the oil across the ways for a smooth flow. To make a machine flow smoothly you need a good lubrication system. Options include automatic lubricating system or a one shot lube system.

When shopping for a Milling machine you should look at the key components of what makes a milling machine work and what parts get worn.

• Table working surface
• Swivel of head
• Longitudinal feed of table
• Vertical feed of head
• Vertical feed of table
• Spindle taper hole
• Table or knee feed range
• Spindle speed range
• Distance spindle to outboard support
• Maximum distance spindle to center of table
• Distance spindle to face of column

We Buy & Sell all types of Mills such as:

• Vertical Milling Machine- Bridgeport, Sharp, Tree, Webb, Wells, Supermax, Lagun, Machinist
• Horizontal Mills- Kerney & Trecker, Cincinnati, Johnson,
• Production Simplex- Kent Owens, Cincinnati
• Plain Horizontal- All Brands
• Hydrotel-Vertical- All Sizes