Milling Machine – Operation, Parts and Types.

It is a machine which is used to remove metals from the work piece with the help of a revolving cutter called milling
cutter. It is used to machine the flat, rough and irregular surfaces and this is done by feeding the work piece against a
rotating milling cutter.

Main Parts of Milling Machine

The milling machine main parts are:

1. Column & Base

Column including base is the main casting that supports all other parts of milling machine.
 The column contains an oil reservoir and a pump which lubricates the spindle.
 The column rests on the base and base contains coolant reservoir and a pump which is used during machining
operation that requires coolant.
 2. Knee
It is a casting that supports the saddle and table. All gearing mechanism is enclosed within the knee.
 It is fastened to the column by dovetail ways.
 The knee is supported and adjusted by a vertical positioning screw (elevating screw).
 The elevating screw is used to adjust the knee up and down by raising or lowering the lever either with the help of
hand or power feed.

3. Saddle and Swivel Table

Saddle is present on the knee and supports the table. It slides on a horizontal dovetail on the knee and dovetail is
parallel to the axis of the spindle (in horizontal milling m/c).
 The swivel table (in universal machines only) is attached to the saddle that can be swiveled (revolved) horizontally
in either direction.

4. Power Feed Mechanism

It is the knee which contains the power feed mechanism. It is used to control the longitudinal ( left and right),
transverse ( in and out) and vertical (up and down) feeds.
 To get the desired rate of feed on the machine, the feed selection lever is positioned as indicated on the feed
selection plates.
 On some universal knee and column milling machine, the feed is obtained by turning the speed selection handle
until the desired rate of feed is indicated on the feed dial.
 Most of the milling machines have a rapid traverse lever that can be engaged when a temporary increase in the speed
of the longitudinal, transverse or vertical feeds is required. For example this lever would be engaged when the
operator is positioning or aligning the work.

5. Table
It is a rectangular casting which is present on the top of the saddle.
 It is used to hold the work or work holding devices.
 It contains several T-slots for holding the work and work holding devices (i.e. jigs and fixtures).
 The table can be operated by hand or by power. To move the table by hand, engage and turn the longitudinal hand
crank. To move it through power, engage the longitudinal direction feed control lever.

Types of Milling Machine

Basically the milling machines are divided into two types first is horizontal milling machine and
second one is vertical milling machine. They are further classified as knee-type, ram-type,
manufacturing or bed type and planer-type milling machine.

Most of the milling machine classified above has self-electric driven motor, coolant systems, power
operated table feed and variable spindle speeds.

1. Horizontal Milling Machine

In horizontal milling machine the axis of rotation of the spindle is horizontal to the table. And due the
axis of spindle horizontal, it is called as horizontal milling machine.

2. Vertical Milling Machine

The milling machine in which the spindle axis is perpendicular to the table is called vertical milling
machine.

3. Knee-Type Milling Machine

The milling machine which has a knee like projection at the middle is called knee-type milling
machine. It is characterised by a vertical adjustable work table resting on a saddle supported by a
knee.

4. Ram-Type Milling Machine

A milling machine which has a ram on the top of the column is called ram type milling machine.
Generally ram is used in vertical milling machine. It can be moved on the column in transverse
direction (i.e. in and out when operated from the knee side).

6. Gang Milling
It is the machining process in which two or more milling cutters are used together to perform
different milling operation simultaneously. In gang milling the cutters are mounted on the arbor.

7. Form Milling
It is the process of machining special contour (outline) composed of curves, straight lines, or entirely
of curves, at a single cut. Formed milling cutters shaped to the contour to be cut are used to perform
this operation. This operation is accomplish by using convex, concave and corner rounding milling
cutters.

8. Profile Milling:
This milling operation is used to cut a profile on the workpiece.
 9. End Milling
It is the process of producing flat surfaces which may be horizontal, vertical and at any angle taking
worktable as a reference. End milling cutters are used to accomplish this operation.

10. Saw Milling

It is machining process which is used to produce narrow grooves or slots on the workpiece.

 It is also used for the parting off the workpiece into two equal or unequal parts.
 This milling operation is performed by using saw milling cutter.
 The width of the this cutter is very less as compared with the width of the workpiece.

11. Milling Key Ways, Grooves and Slots

This milling operation is used to produce key ways, grooves and slots on the workpiece.

12. Gear Milling

It is the milling process which is used to cut gears on the workpiece. This operation is done by using
formed milling cutters called involute gear cutters.

13. Helical Milling

This milling operation is done to produce objects having helical design such as helical gears, twisted
drills etc. it is done on the periphery of the cylindrical workpiece.

14. Cam Milling

It is a machining process which is used to make cams. The cams are used to open and close of the
valves in the internal combustion engines.

15. Thread Milling

It is the process of milling used to cut threads on the cylindrical workpiece.

This is all about what is milling machine-operation parts and types. If you find any improvement in
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