CNC Milling Machines

A milling machine can perform an immense number of complex operations, such as planing, drilling, rebating and the general shaping of metal (or other materials) parts. Its basic form is made up of a milling cutter which rotates about the spindle axis (similar to a drill), and a movable table to which the workpiece is affixed. The cutting tool generally remains stationary (except for its rotation) while the workpiece moves to accomplish the cutting action. Milling machines may be operated manually or under computer numerical control (CNC).

Although automatic metalworking tools have been around in the United States since the early 1860's; these machines were only capable of producing one component at a time and took a long time to configure. Towards the end of World War II and with the introduction of the jet engine, the need for more complex parts was increased, at the same time there was a period of conflict between machinists and management in large manufacturing companies. These factors combined to create the need for automatic machines that could produce large quantities of the desired components precisely, efficiently and in a reliable repetitive manner.

The first numerically controlled (NC) machine was invented in the 1950's in a collaboration between the US Air force and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). The Air Force wanted to create rotor blades for a helicopter, which required precise machining of complex shapes. The machine developed to undertake this job, was controlled electronically, without the use of a computer. Although unreliable and expensive, it was able to accurately and automatically manufacture the necessary components. It also laid the foundations for its modern counterparts commonly used today.

During the 1960s true NC machines continued to be built, while specialised computers were also being developed to assist and advance functionality. By the late 1970s only CNC (Computer Numerical Control) machines were being assembled. As the cost of PCs diminished during the 1980s, manufacturers ceased the opportunity to decrease the costs associated with developing CNC machines and improve reliability.

CNC Milling machines work by using a computer to send signals to a stepper motor controller. This then tells the stepper motor (a device that translates electrical pulses into precise mechanical movement) which direction to turn and how many steps to take. The motor is connected to the drive mechanism of the mill in the X, Y and Z axes. Some CNC milling machines use a servo motor instead of a stepper motor, the advantage of this is that metal can be cut at high speeds and, due to a feedback loop, the machine always knows its exact position.

CNC automation has led to the reduction of errors in the machining of components and has also cut down the amount of CNC operator intervention required, thus freeing them up to perform additional tasks.

For precision machining of small to medium sized components, Ultra Precision Engineering employs state of the art, high-performance CNC milling centers that can perform several different machining processes in one single, accurate operation. Please see this page for further details of our CNC milling machines and our full plant list.