milling machine
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun: A milling machine is a machine tool in which a workpiece (often metal) is secured to a table or carriage and is then moved against a rotating cutting tool. The cutter shapes the material by removing chips from it.
Usage
A milling machine is used for machining solid materials, primarily metals, to produce complex shapes, slots, holes, and surfaces. The workpiece is typically held stationary in a vise or clamped directly to the machine table, which can move in multiple directions (e.g., X, Y, and Z axes) to feed the material into the spinning cutter.
Examples
- The machinist used a milling machine to create the precise gear teeth.
- This part requires a milling machine for its flat surfaces and intricate grooves.
- Modern CNC (Computer Numerical Control) milling machines can produce highly complex components automatically.
Advanced Usage
- CNC Milling Machine: A milling machine controlled by a computer, which follows a programmed set of instructions to machine the part.
- Vertical Milling Machine: A common type where the spindle axis (holding the cutter) is vertically oriented.
- Horizontal Milling Machine: A type where the spindle axis is horizontally oriented, often used for heavier cuts or certain types of gear cutting.
Variants and Related Words
- Mill (verb): To machine a material using a milling machine. (e.g., "We need to mill this block of aluminum.")
- Milling (noun): The process or operation of using a milling machine. (e.g., "The milling was completed in two hours.")
- Miller (noun, archaic/informal): A person who operates a milling machine.
Synonyms
- Machine tool (this is the broader category; a milling machine is a specific type of machine tool)
- Mill (informal, as in "Put it on the mill.")
Related Phrases/Idioms
- To run a milling operation: To perform machining using a milling machine.
- Set up the mill: To prepare the milling machine for a specific job, including installing cutters and securing the workpiece.
Noun
- machine tool in which metal that is secured to a carriage is fed against rotating cutters that shape it