Horizontal Milling Machines: Technical Specifications and Selection Tips

If you believe that horizontal milling machines are quite complex devices, then you are mistaken.

Description

These units are one of the simple and uncomplicated electrical tools. If you compare with other devices, in this case, the tool is fixed to the shaft of the electric motor, so the device is free of belts, gear and gears. Power plant unit can have a high power, which can be compared with the parameters typical of stationary machines, but the main accent the developers make on the speed of the rigging, and the presence of direct transmission allows the milling to accelerate to high speed. Most often horizontal milling machines are supplied with auxiliary devices that are designed for productive sampling and accurate feeding, including clamps, templates, stops and guides.

Basic Abilities

Horizontal milling machines can be used not only for wood processing, but also for working with plastic, plexiglas, non-ferrous metals and composites. The instrument is subject to artificial stone and other materials. Depending on the purpose, as well as a number of design features, we can distinguish several types of tools, namely: fixed, rod, edge and specialized, which are cut-off. The latter are designed for drywall, tie-in locks, tile processing. However, the most common and universal are submersible mobile rod milling devices. In this case, the head of the device moves up and down the guide bars, rigidly connected to the support sole.

Main technical characteristics

If you are interested in horizontal milling machines, then it is important to pay special attention to the electrical component. The head part is a motor with handles, as well as a collet clamp. The power consumption can indicate the performance of the device. If there is more watt under the housing, the device is equipped with a larger cutter, which allows for quick feed and deep passage without overheating of the windings. But high power can cause the weight of the unit and its dimensions to increase. Among other things, an impressive torque may incorrectly exist in tandem with delicate snap. According to this feature, the horizontal milling machine can belong to one of the classes. If we are talking about lightweight devices, then their power does not exceed 700 watts, in mid-range models this parameter varies from 700 to 1500 watts, but for professional variants that are heavy, the power may be more than 1500 watts. A number of manufacturers do not use in the manufacturing process technologies that would suggest the manufacture of lightweight tools. They offer for sale appliances with a capacity that is equivalent to 2.3 kilowatts. The depth of cut in such devices can be 70 centimeters, and the weight reaches 6, 1 kilogram. Among other characteristics of such devices, one can distinguish an impressive number of revolutions per minute, which may amount to 22,000, while the collet size will be equal to 12 millimeters. If you compare, the desktop horizontal milling machine, whose power is 900 watts, weighs half as much, and the processing depth is reduced to 57 millimeters.

Recommendations for choosing a model depending on the speed of the spindle

This indicator manufacturers keep in the range of 20 to 30 thousand rpm. If we are talking about edge machines, then this figure can be equal to 35,000 rpm. When choosing a device it is important to take into account that with an impressive tooling diameter the unit will be able to give out a high speed, which depends on the power. A small frequency may be necessary for the master if necessary to process metal or plastic, which allows to avoid overheating of the working area.

How to choose a tool based on speed

When specialists or home masters choose a cantilever horizontal milling machine, they always pay attention to speed. The higher this index, the more even it will be possible to make the edge of processing and the easier it will be to work with sufficiently hard materials. If you need high accuracy, and the material is viscous, then it makes sense to use a lower frequency. For these reasons, many machines allow the preset speed for certain conditions and materials, the latter of which have different densities. The frequency correction is most often performed by the method of moving a stepped or smooth adjustment of the wheel. The choice of speed will fall on the shoulders of the master, however the developers make hints, indicating the numbers on the milling machines or in the passports.

Instrument selection by mechanical characteristics

Horizontal CNC milling machine can have a sole with different characteristics. The support platform is made of aluminum alloys or stamped metal. The latter option refers to budget models. The described element is the most important component of the device. The molded sole is a sign of a high class of the device, because it is characterized by a clear geometric shape and an excellent fit to the surface. On the base support are the eyes for fixing the guiding devices, this also applies to the turret, where the vertical rods are fixed. In the process of selecting a tool, you should pay attention to the fact that with a quality instrument the lower surface of the support platform is covered with a patch, this element is made of lacquered wood or plastic.

Recommendations of specialists at choice

The device of the horizontal milling machine is described in the article, you can read it with you if you read the passport. When choosing a device of the type described, do not put power at the forefront, this is especially true when manual use is more relevant. To perform regular work, high power already seems to be a clear plus. According to experts, it is important to have speed control and the nature of its implementation. The switch should be placed in such a place that the master does not move it accidentally. The slider or the wheel must move stepwise or rather tight.

Additional recommendations for your choice

It is necessary to analyze what the actual depth of immersion of the milling cutter is, this indicator depends on the characteristics of the collet clamp. An excellent option will be the case when the collet reaches the bottom of the base sole. If it stands for the basic construction, this is even better.

This characteristic will affect the functionality of the device, however, looking at the passport, you will see only the head stroke, and not the exit for the sole.

It is important to determine the diameter of the cutter to be used in a particular device, it is necessary to compare the geometry with the opening diameter in the support area with the holes in the ruler-circula and the copying ring.