Choosing the Right Milling Strategy: Balancing Speed, Accuracy, and Cost
Kaseman Machine, Inc. specializes in precision machining services, and we’re familiar with a variety of CNC technologies for milling and related operations. Over the years, we’ve acquired several different CNC mills and machining centers in order to handle a wider variety of parts for our customers. When it comes to determining which type of milling machine will work best for a customer’s design, we’ve got plenty of experience balancing the precision and cost requirements of the project with its deadline and production volume.
When Conventional CNC Milling is the Right Choice
Conventional CNC milling typically refers to any CNC mill that operates solely on three axes (x, y, and z). CNC milling is an accurate and effective technique for a variety of different projects, able to accommodate several different materials and a variety of geometries and part sizes.
However, conventional CNC milling is not as versatile or as flexible as other milling technologies. The more complex the design, the more the operator will have to perform adjustments and tool changes, which increases downtime and lead times. However, for parts with simpler designs, so long as the right tooling is equipped, traditional CNC mills can be a quick and efficient way to manufacture high-precision components.
High-Speed CNC Milling for Faster Turnaround
‘High-speed’ machining can mean a lot of different things, such as high cutting speed, fast spindle rotation, or even high material feed rate. However, the process still requires certain considerations, such as specialized tooling that won’t break down so easily, and machines that provide more control over the tools in order to ensure accuracy.
High-speed machining is excellent for parts with lighter cuts and micro-scale precision, as well as for projects requiring reduced cycle times, but it may be more expensive due to the need for specialized tooling. It’s not as effective for hard materials or designs requiring deeper cuts, but works well with metals like aluminum that are easier to cut. At Kaseman, most of our CNC mills are equipped with high-speed spindles and coolant systems to handle any of our customers’ needs in high-speed milling.
Vertical or Horizontal CNC Milling?
CNC milling machines can also be categorized by the orientation of the spindle compared to the machine’s work table–vertical and perpendicular to the table, or horizontal and parallel to the table.
Vertical CNC mills tend to use long, thin cylindrical tooling, and offer better visibility for operators–meaning much simpler oversight for in-process inspections. While not suited to deeper cuts or large part sizes, vertical mills are a cost-effective method for producing lower volumes of smaller, simpler components.
On the other hand, horizontal CNC mills have much more control over the workpiece itself, reducing vibration and allowing the shorter, more robust tooling to achieve deeper cuts. This type of CNC mill tends to operate much faster, even on more complex part geometries and bigger parts, than its vertical counterpart, so it’s an excellent choice for projects with higher production volumes.
About Kaseman Machine, Inc.
Kaseman Machine is an expert in precision milling and turning services for a wide range of applications. Head over to our website to learn more about our capabilities and request a quote on your next project.