What Are Milling Machines?

Do you ever wonder how complex toys, cooking ware, keyboards, and other everyday items are made? They start off as designs on a program and are converted into physical pieces by milling machines. Milling machines are an integral part of manufacturing industries around the world. Advanced companies and sellers in today’s market offer equipment with CNC capabilities and other specific features to achieve precision engineering. At Phoenix Specialty, it is our goal to provide you with the best products using only high-quality processes and equipment. And we achieve this by staying in tune with the rapid technology changes.

Factors that Determine Performance Speed

When looking to buy a machine that will be both impressive and efficient, take into account the following features: cutters, feed rate, table space, size, the revolution-per-minute (RPM) of the spinning piece, and thermal control. For the price that this milling equipment typically costs, it is essential to understand how each of these features plays a role in the performance and speed.

First, know that there are multiple types of orientations. Machines with swivels are likely to be quicker since they can shift between horizontal and vertical as needed for individual work pieces and give the operator more room. We have a broad selection of machines that cater to the myriad of requests we receive from customers.

When machining components, different cutters may be utilized depending on the material of the parts. For example, metal and wood cannot be cut via the same milling method. Usually, the cutter going through wood will have to move at a slower speed than one for metal. Feed rate is the term assigned to how quickly a milling tool will pass through the part. This feed rate can be affected by the depth of the cut and the sharpness of the cutting tool. Cutting speed and feed rate are sometimes words combined to form the definition of “spindle speed” in tool practices.

While a part is rotating to make it more accessible to various axes on the machine, it completes a certain number of revolutions per minute. This RPM will dictate how fast something is manufactured, but also relies on the diameter of the tool. Meanwhile, the faster the piece is turning, the more heat escapes to the surroundings. To reduce the heat produced by the friction of the cutting tool on the work piece, coolants ought to be used throughout the duration of machining. Those who underestimate the value of coolants will experience the setbacks in feed rates, quality, and timeliness.

Which Are the Best Ones Right Now?

Even with an extensive amount of categories and features, it is not difficult to identify the current greatest metal milling machines. What makes a machine the best is not simply mastering one of the features connected to speed, but rather incorporating many of them into their system. The list below delves into details about which brands are doing exactly this.

• Brother carries an amazing selection of equipment. Their milling machines have been created robustly and perform exceptionally to deliver accuracy and repeatability. The TC-20B machine runs at a max spindle speed of 30,000 RPM due to its acceleration/ deceleration power and high feed rate.

• According to Hurco, their VMXHSi machine reaches high speeds through the benefits of its prudently selected features. The VMXHSi boasts large linear rails for improved accuracy, an excellent thermal control strategy, and is the only one of its kind in the market with a dual-screen control. With the advantage of a dual-screen system, operators can access their CAD design, begin production on the milling machine, and even begin to draw another piece. This machine reaches a spindle speed of 18,000 RPM.

• Equally as prominent in the industry are the machines at Phoenix Specialty. We work with a variety of different brands to satisfy our customers and keep within our strict delivery timelines—typically within two weeks for small to medium products. By giving ou•%09http:/www.phoenixspecialty.com/resources/our-machine-equipmentr machinists the opportunity to choose from the spectrum of milling machines available at our shop, we are able to obtain the best speed and performance. The Charmilles 5-axis wire EDM machine we use gives finesse to surface finishes and fearlessly reaches RPM speeds of 12,000–54,000.

• Next to Phoenix Specialty, there is the Bridgeport manufacturer. Their milling machines come in a variety of flavors—from manual to automatic and even 5-axes options. Thus, for those trying to achieve a broader range of motion, it may pay off to partner with the GX250-5 axis machine. The GX250 also carries a spindle speed of 15,000 RPM compared to others in the GX series which max out at 10,000 RPM.

• At the forefront of the industry are Grizzly products. Grizzly metal milling machines can cut to brass, bronze, aluminum, and steel and have rotating heads, quick spindle speeds, and a plethora of table options to ease the process. Its pump lubrication makes it so you are rarely checking to see if your piece is overheating or if your machine is overworking. The G0747 vertical mill allows 16 speed options and a max spindle speed of about 5500 RPM.

The following two brands have also paid attention to designing for speed and possess exceptional qualities, too: JET Tools JTM-55 and Fox Vertical Mill. The JTM-55 can work in a 3-axis mode, uses closed-loop feedbacks in their CNC programming for unique precision levels, and smoothly directs table movements using the Jog Control. The spindle speed ranges from 10–3800 RPM. Meanwhile, the Fox machine has a max spindle speed of 2760 RPM with head tilts and single-shot lubrication.

To be able to constantly deliver quality, companies need to keep abreast of the technological changes in the manufacturing industry. Phoenix Specialty recognizes the importance of never sacrificing quality for price, which is why our team is fully equipped with all the state-of-the-art machinery required for keeping our manufacturing process at its finest.

Important Factors to Remember

A milling project can vary in complexity, size, cost, and method. Metal milling machines might have all the features to accomplish a task, but it is the operator who must be aware of the machine’s limitations and advantages. A machine priced competitively or without all the capabilities you desire may mean you will have to pour money into buying separate parts to make the machine perform how you want. Therefore, it makes an enormous difference to know what you are buying, what you might be giving up, and how much more you are willing to pay to upgrade a machine.

Additionally, size does not matter. Smaller milling machines for sale typically can go just as fast as the larger competitors. And different table space requirements may make the decision for you. For example, the military and aircraft builders may want to contract those with the capacity to machine relatively huge assemblies, while businessmen looking for a prototype of their invention design could easily work with a manufacturer that tends to build with the aid of mini milling machines.

Our team at Phoenix Specialty is willing to provide you with stellar customer service in order to help you decide!

Sources:

• https://www.phoenixspecialty.com/resources/our-machine-equipment
• http://www.thomasnet.com/articles/machinery-tools-supplies/how-milling-machines-work
• http://www.mmsonline.com/columns/how-fast-can-you-feed
• http://news.ufl.edu/archive/1996/09/uf-engineering-students-develop-worlds-fastest-milling-machine.html
• http://www.southbaymachine.com/setups/cuttingspeeds.htm
• http://www.grizzly.com/products/Vertical-Mill-16-Speed/G0747
• http://www.gfms.com/content/dam/gfac_country_UK/PDF/flight_pack_machines.pdf
• http://www.jettools.com/us/en/p/jtm-1055-mill-with-3-axis-acu-rite-g-2-millpwr-cnc/691928
• http://www.brother-usa.com/MachineTool/Default.aspx?src=tc20b_overview#.VDsjn_ldUuc