maching oprations

Milling Machines: 101

Here’s some basics on milling machines courtesy of the Army Correspondence Course Program.
This is a long one, but if you scratch your head when someone says milling machine, this will give you the START to a basic understanding. Print it out and read it on the can. Make sure to click on read more to get to the whole article.

FIGURE 1. PLAIN MILLING MACHINE-KNEE TYPE.

1. Introduction
Milling machines were first invented and developed by Eli Whitney to mass produce interchangeable musket parts. Although crude, these machines assisted man in maintaining accuracy and uniformity while duplicating parts that could not be manufactured with the use of a file.
Development and improvements of the milling machine and components continued, which resulted in the manufacturing of heavier arbors and high speed steel and carbide cutters. These components allowed the operator to remove metal faster, and with more accuracy, than previous machines. Variations of milling machines were also developed to perform special milling operations. During this era, computerized machines have been developed to alleviate errors and provide better quality in the finished product.
2. Milling Machines
a. General. The milling machine removes metal with a revolving cutting tool called a milling cutter. With various attachments, milling machines can be used for boring, slotting, circular milling dividing, and drilling. This machine can also be used for cutting keyways, racks and gears and for fluting taps and reamers.
b. Types. Milling machines are basically classified as being horizontal or vertical to indicate the axis of the milling machine spindle. These machines are also classified as knee-type, ram-type, manufacturing or bed-type, and planer-type milling machines. Most machines have self-contained electric drive motors, coolant systems, variable spindle speeds, and power-operated table feeds.
(1) Knee-type Milling Machines. Knee-type milling machines are characterized by a vertical adjustable worktable resting on a saddle supported by a knee. The knee is a massive casting that rides vertically on the milling machine column and can be clamped rigidly to the column in a position where the milling head and the milling machine spindle are properly adjusted vertically for operation.
(a) Floor-mounted Plain Horizontal Milling Machine (figure 1 above).
[1] The floor-mounted plain horizontal milling machine’s column contains the drive motor and, gearing and a fixed-position horizontal milling machine spindle. An adjustable overhead arm, containing one or more arbor supports, projects forward from the top of the column. The arm and arbor supports are used to stabilize long arbors, upon which the milling cutters are fixed. The arbor supports can be moved along the overhead arm to support the arbor wherever support is desired. This support will depend on the location of the milling cutter or cutters on the arbor.
[2] The knee of the machine rides up or down the column on a rigid track. A heavy, vertical positioned screw beneath the knee is used for raising and lowering. The saddle rests upon the knee and supports the worktable. The saddle moves in and out on a dovetail to control the crossfeed of the worktable. The worktable traverses to the right or left upon the saddle, feeding the workpiece past the milling cutter. The table may be manually controlled or power fed.

maching oprations

Lathe machine operations
1) Facing
This is a process of machining the end or face to produce a smooth, flat surface which is square with the axis of the work. Facing is carried out for the following reasons:
i) To square the end surface
ii) To have an accurate surface from which measurement could be taken
iii) To reduce work to the required length
Cutting is carried out at right angle to the axis of the work.

machine4all

machine4all

Creasing and Cutting Machines are special equipments for creasing and cutting ordinary cardboard, corrugated board, plastic and leather in general, applicable in printing, packing, decoration and plastic industries.
Major Features:
1. High strength due to one piece casting by using top quality materials for machine body.
2. Smooth running, big pressure and low noise are obviously remarked as 4-step helical gear mechanism is adopted.
3. Operational altitude is reasonably arranged.Moving-bed opens toits optimum.
4. Electrical system is designed in conformity with IEC standard.
5. Concentrated lubricating system. 

LATHE MACHINE Working Principle

The lathe is a machine tool which holds the workpiece between two rigid and strong supports called centers or in a chuck or face plate which revolves. The cutting tool is rigidly held and supported in a tool post which is fed against the revolving work. The normal cutting operations are performed with the cutting tool fed either parallel or at right angles to the axis of the work.

The cutting tool may also be fed at an angle relative to the axis of work for machining tapers and angles.

Construction: The main parts of the lathe are the bed, headstock, quick changing gear box, carriage and tailstock.

1. Bed: The bed is a heavy, rugged casting in which are mounted the working parts of the lathe. It carries the headstock and tail stock for supporting the workpiece and provides a base for the movement of carriage assembly which carries the tool.

2. Legs: The legs carry the entire load of machine and are firmly secured to floor by foundation bolts.

3. Headstock: The headstock is clamped on the left hand side of the bed and it serves as housing for the driving pulleys, back gears, headstock spindle, live centre and the feed reverse gear. The headstock spindle is a hollow cylindrical shaft that provides a drive from the motor to work holding devices.

assembly of lath machine

Turning machines, typically referred to as lathes, can be found in a variety of sizes and designs. While most lathes are horizontal turning machines, vertical machines are sometimes used, typically for large diameter workpieces. Turning machines can also be classified by the type of control that is offered. A manual lathe requires the operator to control the motion of the cutting tool during the turning operation. Turning machines are also able to be computer controlled, in which case they are referred to as a computer numerical control (CNC) lathe. CNC lathes rotate the workpiece and move the cutting tool based on commands that are preprogrammed and offer very high precision. In this variety of turning machines, the main components that enable the workpiece to be rotated and the cutting tool to be fed into the workpiece remain the same. These components include the following:

Manual lathe

• Bed

   - The bed of the turning machine is simply a large base that sits on the ground or a table and supports the other components of the machine.

• Headstock assembly

   - The headstock assembly is the front section of the machine that is attached to the bed. This assembly contains the motor and drive system which powers the spindle. The spindle supports and rotates the workpiece, which is secured in a workpiece holder or fixture, such as a chuck or collet.

• Tailstock assembly

   - The tailstock assembly is the rear section of the machine that is attached to the bed. The purpose of this assembly is to support the other end of the workpiece and allow it to rotate, as it's driven by the spindle. For some turning operations, the workpiece is not supported by the tailstock so that material can be removed from the end.

• Carriage

   - The carriage is a platform that slides alongside the workpiece, allowing the cutting tool to cut away material as it moves. The carriage rests on tracks that lay on the bed, called "ways", and is advanced by a lead screw powered by a motor or hand wheel.

• Cross slide

   - The cross slide is attached to the top of the carriage and allows the tool to move towards or away from the workpiece, changing the depth of cut. As with the carriage, the cross slide is powered by a motor or hand wheel.

• Compound

   - The compound is attached on top of the cross slide and supports the cutting tool. The cutting tool is secured in a tool post which is fixed to the compound. The compound can rotate to alter the angle of the cutting tool relative to the workpiece.

• Turret

   - Some machines include a turret, which can hold multiple cutting tools and rotates the required tool into position to cut the workpiece. The turret also moves along the workpiece, feeding the cutting tool into the material. While most cutting tools are stationary in the turret, live tooling can also be used. Live tooling refers to powered tools, such as mills, drills, reamers, and taps, which rotate and cut the workpiece.