What's the Difference Between Milling and Turning?
Working every day with tools dedicated to precision mechanical machining also means knowing well the characteristics of the various operations. For example, do you know the difference between milling and turning? We can tell you right away.
With the mill, the cutting tool rotates and the block to be modified remains stationary; turning, on the other hand, provides for the exact opposite. So, the object to be modified rotates and the tool is blocked to the machining machine. That is, the lathe. In summary, we can say that the substantial difference between milling and turning is in the operational process. Which, of course, is used at certain times to obtain specific results. That's why it's right to deepen the characteristics of these so important operations.
What Is Milling, a Definition
On this blog we have dealt several times with topics related to the subject. For example, listing the main types of mills for metal and focusing on the characteristics of the face mill models or core drilling mills. But what is milling and what does it consist of?
Let's start with a technical definition. Milling is a precision mechanical machining process that uses a rotating tool, the mill, to remove material from a single block. This is done to obtain a specific shape.
The fundamental characteristic of milling is rotation: the tool designed for cutting, the mill, rotates at very high speed and the block remains stationary. Or it advances in a way that agrees with or disagrees with the rotation. In CNC mode – Computer Numerical Control – the operation is automated and movements are controlled by a specific program.
All of this in favor of absolute precision. Through milling you can create flat surfaces, grooves, gears, and complex shapes without fear of making mistakes. As long as you always use quality tools like Krino mills. In the catalog you can find extremely high-quality tools, made of 8% HSS-Co steel to have maximum resistance in milling activities.
Now Let's Explain Turning Well
We gave a definition of milling, let's do the same with turning: this too is a mechanical machining process based on absolute precision. How is it done? The blade designed for cutting removes material from a rotating piece.
In this way it's possible to obtain the desired shape on the block, for your specific purpose. How is turning performed materially, and in a few words? The piece rotates around its own axis; the cutting tool remains stationary or moves linearly.
Also in this circumstance we can talk about CNC turning, therefore based on numerical control and activated by machines of extreme precision. But it can be operated manually with the traditional lathe that allows you to rotate the object to be machined at certainly reduced speeds. Furthermore, you can have internal or external turning of the block. The tool can move both longitudinally and parallel to the axis, in this way we will have longitudinal and face turning.
The Difference Between Milling and Turning
We said that these operations differ in the element that rotates: in milling it is the tip, in turning the block to be shaped. What are the characteristics and best solutions for individual operations? Turning is perfect for engraving objects with rotational symmetry such as shafts, pins, bushings, gears, and screws. What does this mean? If the piece in question needs to be finished around its own axis, for example to create a thread, the lathe is the choice to refer to.
On the other hand, to work on blocks with flat surfaces or complex shapes, it's better to focus on milling: the computerized solution also allows you to work on multiple axes so as to create complex shapes with articulated pockets and grooves.
Both solutions are designed to achieve maximum precision if they are used in their own field, and the same applies to mass production via CNC. Although milling is perfect for highly customized solutions.
