What is CNC Milling?

Computer Numerical Control (CNC) has been incorporated into a variety of technologies and machinery and one of the most common is CNC Milling.

CNC Milling is a specific type of CNC Machining. Milling is a process utilising a cylindrical cutting tool that can rotate in various directions and move along multiple axes. It is capable of creating a wide variety of shapes in both 2D and 3D that will result in a precision part. To form the finished part, the cutting process can be started from a solid block, pre-machined part, casting, forging, or extrusion in a wide variety of materials.

CNC Milling machines are often grouped by the number of axes on which they can operate. Each axis is labelled by letter, where X and Y are used to determine 2D linear moves, Z to control depth and A,B and C axis to control rotary and tilt movements.

CNC Milling machines are available in 3 and 5 axes, where the 3 axis variant is able to have the additional rotary and tlt axis being added as required. Simple parts can be programmed on the machine tool, however it is increasingly common for programming to take place off line with computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) technology which can create shapes that are impossible to produce with manual programming techniques.