Deciding on the type of mill to invest in, whether Vertical or Horizontal, is a carefully crafted consideration that requires attention to a conscious number of factors. The cost, manpower, nature of the business, the volume of production, work-space available and much more.

The majority of Shop-owners choose to invest in Vertical Milling Machines when they start out fresh, even when Horizontal Mills are the more catalytic investment. Each Mill has its own pros and cons that make them an invaluable asset to a developing Machining business.

Vertical Mills and Horizontal Mills

In a Vertical mill, the cutters are mounted on a Vertically-oriented spindle that rotates about its axis. The workpiece is fed horizontally while the spindle moves parallel to its axis and the table can be lowered or raised to perform the cutting machinations.

In a Horizontal mill, the cutters are mounted on a Horizontally-oriented spindle; additionally, the mills can be fitted with a rotary table and arbor-mounted cutters that enable milling at various angles and in various depths, diameters, and designs. The workpiece is fed perpendicular to the spindle.

Quirks of Employing a Vertical Milling Machine

Pros: Vertical mills are easily available and their operations are easy to understand and handle, while loading and unloading of the work-pieces is a breeze. Additionally, compared to the Horizontal Mills, their starting price is really cheap. The cost for a used milling machine would actually enable you to purchase 2 new vertical mills for the price of one Horizontal mill.

Vertical mills take up less space and require less training time for the personnel since the ease of use of the Vertical mill is simplistic.

Cons: Chip evacuation on a Vertical mill is extremely low which results in the stray chips to interfere with the cutting procedures. This increases the risk of accidental mechanical issues and poses a serious hazard to the operator.

Quirks of Employing a Horizontal Milling Machine

Pros: In Horizontal milling, Chip evacuation is really high since the stray chips pretty much fall off because the workpiece is held vertically. Hence tool life is prolongated and product quality is ensured. Another fascinating work angle that Horizontal mills provide is much like a ‘Tombstone’ mount. Since the spindle is in a position perpendicular to the vertical work-piece, this allows a different axis to work on.

Machining in Horizontal mills greatly reduces the milling time and efficiency is doubled with complex operations being possible.

Cons: Horizontal mills are large equipment taking up more space and are complex machines that require knowledgeable handling by competent Operators. Since the workpiece is fed vertically, loading and unloading become a hassle.

Upgrading from one Mill to the other is a gradual process. Once the business is stable and you have accrued enough capital investment, you can certainly invest in a Horizontal mill for faster order runs and boosted productivity.

While buying the required Mill, whether new or used, it is recommended that you employ the services of a reputed dealer instead of relying on general or local Used Milling Machine Near Me options.

Hi-Tech Machinery Inc., is a reputed establishment specializing in the acquisition and sales of Used CNC and Conventional Machining Tools. Flip through our list of Used Milling Machine for Sale to find your specific Milling Machine. Contact us at our official website for any further inquiries.