{"id":69417,"date":"2018-05-21T12:00:33","date_gmt":"2018-05-21T16:00:33","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/manufacturinglounge.com\/?p=8796"},"modified":"2018-05-21T12:00:33","modified_gmt":"2018-05-21T16:00:33","slug":"closer-look-vertical-horizontal-milling-machines","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.autodesk.com\/products\/fusion-360\/blog\/closer-look-vertical-horizontal-milling-machines\/","title":{"rendered":"A closer look at vertical and horizontal milling machines"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

For machine shop operators\u00a0considering milling machines<\/a>, one of the most basic questions they have to answer relates to configuration: vertical or horizontal mill? The answer depends on the nature of the business\u2014in particular the type and volume of work being done in the shop\u2014but also cost, capabilities of the workforce, and the facility itself. All these factors contribute to making an informed decision.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

Vertical Mills<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n
\n

In vertical mills, the spindle axis is vertically oriented. Milling cutters are held in the spindle and rotate on its axis. Typically the spindle can be extended, or the table raised or lowered to produce the same effect, allowing for plunge cuts and drilling. The two kinds of vertical mills are bed mills and turret mills.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\"vertical-cnc-milling-machine\"<\/div>\n
\n

Vertical turret mills have a stationary spindle and the table is moved both perpendicular and parallel to the spindle axis to execute cutting. They often have a quill that allows the milling cutter to be raised and lowered in a manner quite like a drill press. Turret mills provide two methods of cutting in the vertical (Z) direction: by raising or lowering the quill, and by moving the knee.<\/p>\n

In vertical bed mills, the table only moves perpendicular to the spindle\u2019s axis, while the spindle itself moves parallel to its own axis.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

Horizontal Mills<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n
\n

In horizontal mills, the cutters are mounted on a horizontal spindle across the table. Many horizontal mills also feature a built-in rotary table that allows milling at various angles; this is called a universal table. While end mills and the other types of tools used in vertical mills may be used on horizontal ones, they also have arbor-mounted cutters, called side and face mills, that have a cross section like a circular saw but are generally wider and smaller in diameter. Because the cutters have good support from the arbor and a larger cross-sectional area than an end mill, heavy cuts can be taken, enabling\u00a0rapid material removal rates<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\"horizontal-cnc-milling-machine\"<\/div>\n
\n

\u201cIf you look at general usage in the industry, most of the machines installed have been three-axis vertical mills,\u201d says Angelo Juras, CAM product manager, Fusion 360, at Autodesk. \u201cThey\u2019re easy to set up and it\u2019s easy for technicians to access the work table. Also, when you have a workpiece or vise, it\u2019s easy to load and unload because you just set the part on the table and gravity keeps it in place.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

\u201cWith a horizontal mill, the spindle points horizontally, which means that the surface the workpiece is mounted on is vertical; so it takes more effort for the operator to load or unload,\u201d notes Juras. \u201cBut there are advantages and disadvantages to each configuration beyond ease or difficulty of use.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

Advantages and Disadvantages of Milling Machines<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n
\n

Because of their configuration, horizontal mills have much better chip evacuation, as gravity simply allows the chips to fall. This results in a more refined surface finish, and also prolongs tool life.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen you\u2019re machining a part with a deep cavity or pocket, all the chips you\u2019re generating in the milling process fall out of the way,\u201d comments Juras. \u201cIf you\u2019re doing the same part on a vertical mill, all the chips stay in and can create problematic cutting conditions for tool life management and chip flow.\u201d<\/p>\n

Horizontal machines also have a fourth axis \u201ctombstone\u201d capacity. \u201cWhen you buy a horizontal milling machine, the spindle is pointing horizontally, and the table is horizontal; but it is designed for threaded mounting holes or key slots, where a fixture or base is mounted, called a \u2018tombstone.\u2019 The tombstone points vertically and presents the workpiece on another axis,\u201d explains Juras. In this instance, the workpiece is perpendicular to the spindle.<\/p>\n

According to Juras, if someone is just starting up a machine shop, 99 percent of the time they start with a basic vertical mill because:<\/p>\n