What is milling?: What it is, how it works, and more

What is milling?

Milling is a machining process used in various industries to shape parts or products. This process uses a rotating tool, called a milling cutter, which cuts the material to achieve the desired shape. It is a key technique in the manufacture of precise parts and can be used on metallic materials, plastics, wood, and others.

The milling process explained

Milling involves removing material through the contact of the cutter with the workpiece. Depending on the needs, milling can be performed in different ways:

• Vertical or horizontal milling: Determined by the orientation of the tool.
• CNC milling (Computer Numerical Control): Milling is controlled by software to ensure precision and repeatability.
• Manual milling: Although less common nowadays, it is still used in some workshops.
  Milling is used to create a wide variety of complex shapes, allowing the production of parts with minimal tolerances and high-quality finishes.

What is milling used for?

Milling is a versatile process with multiple industrial and commercial applications. Below, we explore its main uses.

CNC milling

CNC milling is one of the most advanced forms of milling, used in the manufacturing of complex parts with high precision. The advantage of this process is that it is computer-controlled, allowing for exact and repeatable cuts in hard materials such as metal or plastic.

Wood CNC milling

CNC wood milling is widely used in the furniture and carpentry industries. Thanks to the precision of numerical control, detailed cuts, engravings, and finishes can be achieved on various types of wood, improving efficiency and final product quality.

Solid Surface milling

Solid Surface is a composite material used in the creation of solid surfaces, especially in interior design. Solid Surface milling allows this material to be shaped into custom forms and perfect finishes. Ideal for manufacturing countertops, sinks, and other interior design elements, CNC Solid Surface milling ensures precision and high quality.

Milling and machining workshop for your project

At Indutec Solid, we have a specialized CNC milling workshop, ideal for your high-precision projects. Thanks to our advanced machinery and highly skilled team, we can offer customized solutions for a wide range of materials, such as Solid Surface, thermoplastics, HPL, and more. 

Our commitment is to ensure that every project, from wood milling to composite materials, is carried out with the highest standards of quality and precision. 

Advanced machinery for the milling process: 5-axis milling machine

At Indutec Solid, we have 5-axis milling machines, a state-of-the-art tool that allows us to offer a superior level of precision and versatility in our milling projects. Unlike conventional 3-axis milling machines, which move the piece in three directions (X, Y, Z), the 5-axis milling machine can work in five directions simultaneously, enabling more complex and detailed cuts.

Advantages of the 5-axis milling machine:

1. Greater precision and complex details: The ability to move the piece in five axes allows for finer and more complex cuts, ideal for projects requiring highly specific details.
2. Reduced production times: Being able to perform more movements in a single operation reduces manufacturing time and associated costs.
3. Flexibility to work with complex materials: Thanks to its multi-axis movement, our milling machine can handle difficult materials such as Solid Surface, metals, and plastics, delivering perfect results.
4. Better surface finish: Advanced machine control ensures high-quality finishes, minimizing imperfections and improving the aesthetic appearance of the parts.

Indutec Solid’s 5-axis milling machines:

Biesse Materia LD 5026
This 5-axis CNC machining center is ideal for processing large elements and parts requiring high precision. Its gantry and floating bridge architecture allow high speed and accuracy in manufacturing thermoformed pieces and composite materials of complex shapes. With a working area of X 4910 x Y 2500 x Z 1000, it can perform complex elaborations with continuous axis interpolation, ensuring perfect results in precision-demanding projects.

Biesse Rover FT 2243
This 5-axis machining center is designed for processing flat or low-volume elements. Equipped with a 13 kW spindle motor and an extraction system with a filtering table, its Gantry-type construction provides great rigidity and precision. Its working area of X 4250 x Y 2205 x Z 250 makes it perfect for milling projects in Solid Surface and other materials, ensuring precise cuts and high-quality finishes.

Biesse Rover FT 1536
Similar to the Biesse Rover FT 2243, this 5-axis machine is ideal for machining flat elements, especially in ventilated façade applications. It also features a 13 kW spindle motor, extraction system with filtering table, and a Gantry structure for increased rigidity. With a working area of X 3700 x Y 1500 x Z 250, it is perfect for working with materials such as Solid Surface and other composites, guaranteeing precision and an excellent finish.

Thanks to these state-of-the-art machines, we can handle projects with a great variety of needs, whether you require milling of large pieces, low-volume components, or flat parts for specific applications such as ventilated façades. 

At Indutec Solid, we make sure to offer tailor-made solutions for each of our clients, meeting the highest standards.

Frequently asked questions about milling

What materials can be milled?

Milling can be performed on a wide range of materials, including metals, plastics, wood, and solid surfaces such as Solid Surface.

What is the difference between manual and CNC milling?

Manual milling requires human intervention to guide the tool, while CNC milling is automated and computer-controlled, providing higher precision and repeatability.

What advantages does CNC milling offer?

CNC milling offers superior precision, the ability to make complex cuts, and the capability to work with hard or difficult-to-handle materials.

What are the benefits of a 5-axis milling machine?

The main advantage of a 5-axis milling machine is its ability to orient the cutter in any direction, without being limited to the traditional vertical or horizontal movements of the XY plane. This means the head can tilt and rotate, allowing machining at any angle and direction.
Thanks to this freedom of movement, more complex shapes and three-dimensional surfaces can be machined with greater precision, reducing the need to reposition the workpiece. The result is more efficient processes, more uniform finishes, and outstanding final quality in materials such as Solid Surface, composites, or technical wood.

Milling is a fundamental technique in today’s industry, used in a wide range of applications. If you need a milling workshop for your project, don’t hesitate to contact us at Indutec Solid. 

Our team and machinery, including our 5-axis milling machines, are ready to help you achieve the results you need.