Vertical mills
Vertical milling machines are widely used in the metalworking industry for a range of milling operations. These versatile machines are characterized by a vertically oriented spindle that holds cutting tools, allowing for precise and efficient material removal.
Versatility and flexibility
With their multiple axis configurations, vertical milling machines offer a wide range of machining capabilities. The vertical spindle allows for both drilling and milling operations. This enables machinists to perform tasks such as face milling, end milling, drilling, tapping, and boring. The ability to maneuver the workpiece in multiple axes allows for complex machining operations and the production of intricate parts. Furthermore, the vertical orientation of the spindle facilitates easy access to the workpiece, simplifying tool changes and reducing setup times.
Precision and Accuracy
The vertical spindle design, combined with the rigidity of the machine structure, minimizes vibrations and ensures precise cutting when using a vertical milling machine. This makes vertical mills ideal for applications that require high dimensional accuracy and tight tolerances. Additionally, many vertical milling machines are equipped with advanced control systems, such as CNC (Computer Numerical Control), enabling automated and precise machining. These systems provide features like digital readouts (DROs) and tool probing, ensuring precise positioning and consistent results.
Efficient Chip Evacuation and Enhanced Productivity
In Vertical milling machines, the vertical orientation of the spindle allows gravity to assist in chip removal. Thus preventing chip buildup and reducing the risk of tool damage or workpiece contamination. This efficient chip evacuation improves machining efficiency and prolongs tool life. Moreover, vertical mills often have large worktables that can accommodate sizable workpieces, allowing for the machining of large parts in a single setup. This eliminates the need for repositioning or re-clamping, increasing productivity and reducing cycle times.
The KAAST line up of vertical milling machines includes both manual and CNC options, as well as combination ‘teach-style’ machines.
Within the category of vertical milling machines we find knee-mills, bed-mills, and VMCs.
Vertical Knee Milling Machines
Vertical Knee Mills derive their name from the vertical movement of the knee, a vertically adjustable component that supports the worktable and the saddle. Knee mills have a robust construction that includes a stationary column, a vertically adjustable knee, a saddle that moves along the knee, and a worktable. The column provides structural support and houses the machine’s drive mechanism and spindle. The knee can be raised or lowered manually or through powered assistance. The adjustable knee and movable saddle enable the operator to position the workpiece at different heights and angles. Thus making it possible to machine complex shapes and profiles. Knee mills are often used in toolrooms, maintenance shops, and small to medium-sized production environments.
Vertical Bed-Type Milling Machines
Vertical Bed-Type Mills feature a heavy-duty, rigid bed structure that serves as the foundation for the machine. The bed is typically made of cast iron or steel, providing stability and minimizing vibrations during cutting operations. The worktable is mounted on top of the bed and remains fixed, while the saddle moves along the bed horizontally. This design allows for increased load-bearing capacity, enabling the machining of large and heavy workpieces. One of the key advantages of bed mills is their ability to accommodate large workpieces. The fixed worktable provides ample space for clamping and securing sizable components. This makes bed mills particularly suitable for machining tasks that involve large parts or heavy workpieces, such as those found in industries like aerospace, automotive, and mold-making.
Manually Operated or Teach-style CNC
Both knee and bed mills from KAAST are available as manually operated machines (featuring DROs for accuracy and repeatability) or as teach-style CNC Machines. In manual bed and knee mills, the axial adjustments are made using handwheels featuring graduated scales while in CNC models, the positioning is controlled by the CNC system.
Vertical Machining Centers
Vertical machining centers (VMCs) have a solid construction with a vertical column that supports the machine’s spindle and tooling. The worktable is typically mounted on a movable saddle that can traverse along the X and Y axes. The spindle head can move vertically along the Z-axis. This three-axis movement provides versatility and allows for precise positioning of the cutting tool, enabling complex machining operations. Additional axes can be added with independent rotary chucks or tables. VMCs are CNC machines that cannot be controlled manually, though the Fanuc control on the KAAST VMCs does offer conversational programming
Are you considering buying a new milling machine? Read more about How To: Buying a Milling Machine or take a look at our inventory.
