Milling Machine

Machine tool used to machine materials where the workpiece is fixed to a table and moved in XYZ relative to a rotating cutting tool. They exist in two basic forms: horizontal and vertical, which terms refer to the orientation of the cutting tool spindle.

The most fundamental requirement of a milling machine is that it is stiff. To make it stiff you need a large bedplate, large column with a good connection to the bed. The result is it will be heavy, even a small mill like that shown above is around 60kg.

There are many small vertical milling machines available to model engineers. One we have reviewed recently is the Amadeal XJ12-300 (also shown in the main picture).

Direct Collets

The advantage of the direct collet is obvious in the pair of images as the distance from the end of the mill to the bearing in the head of the milling machine is much greater with the drill chuck.

The advantage with the milling machine is you get much less chatter as a result of this reduced overhang. In addition the chuck only holds the mill at three points whereas the collet holds the mill around it's circumference.

See also: Collets, Lathe, Tools & Tool Reviews.