Milling machines

Milling is the process of removing metal with rotating cutters.

The essential features of most milling machines are a powerdriven table on which the work is done, and a spindle carrying one or more multiple-toothed cutters, slots or grooves.

The horizontal milling machine consists of a main casting in which is mounted the spindle and its gear drive, and the feed gearbox. On the front of this casting is a vertical V-guide on which is mounted the knee. The knee is raised or lowered by a telescopic jack screw. A saddle slides from front to back on V-guides on the top of the knee. The work table is mounted in V-guides on the sad­dle. The table is provided with movement in two directions at right angles to each other in the horizontal plane, and with vertical mo­vement relative to the cutter, whose height is permanently fixed.

The cutter is mounted on an arbor, and held in the desired po­sition by spacing washers and a locking nut.

The type of a cutter mainly used on the horizontal miller is what is known as a side and face cutter, that is, a cutter provided with cutting edges on both sides and on periphery. For large flat surfaces, roller milling cutters are used, having cutting edges in the form of helix about the axis of rotation.

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THE SHAPER

A shaper is a machine that forms surfaces by successive re­ciprocating cuts of a tool over the work. The work is stationary with reference to the tool but moves laterally in small steps so that the successive cuts can be made. Although most of the work performed •on shapers consists of plane horizontal surfaces, it is also possible to finish vertical and angular surfaces, and, with the proper tools and accessories, even curved surfaces may be machined.

The size of a shaper is determined by the longest stroke of the ram.

Shapers are driven by belt from a countershaft, by direct con­nected motor, or by hydraulic power.

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