Common Types of Milling Machines and When to Use Each

With the right equipment, your shop could be 10 times more productive and efficient. With so many different types of equipment out there it can be hard to figure out what you need. If you’re curious about milling machines here’s what you need to know about the most common varieties and what they’re used for. 

What are Milling Machines Used for?

So what are milling machines used for anyway? For the most part, milling machines are used to remove material with a rotary cutter. They can be used to perfect and produce small individual parts or much larger projects. 

When it comes to purchasing a milling machine a little background info goes a long way, the more you know about them before-hand the more money you’ll save on your purchase. For example, you’ll know whether it’s a good idea or not to buy a used boring mill and what you can use it for, etc.    

Common Types of Milling Machines & When to Use Each

Firstly we have the manual knee mill which is one of the most important and essential secondary machines in any shop. These machines are commonly used for tooling, fixturing, and machine tool repairs. Having a manual knee mill on hand can greatly increase your shop’s productivity and speed up workflow. 

When you’re working on larger materials, you might want to consider the advantages of gantry mills. Gantry mills operate with a single milling head that rides over two rails and is used for projects involving heavy, large-part machining. 

If you need to widen the holes in your materials you’re going to need a boring mill that uses a single-point cutting tool to enlarge holes. These machines can save you a lot of time and improve the efficiency of your shop. 

Last but not least we have the humble bridge mill. Bridge mills are the powerhouse of many machine shops and are used for tool and die applications. These machines are extremely powerful and are considered to be a smart investment for most tool and die shops. 

Browse Our Wide Inventory of Milling Machines Today!

Now that you know more about some of the different types of milling machines it’s time to start browsing our selection at Southern Fabricating and Machinery Sales. When it comes to buying a milling machine the first question you should ask yourself is if you want to buy a brand new machine or if you’re more comfortable with used machinery. 

Simple milling machines like used boring mills are a good buy. As long as it’s in reasonably good condition there’s not much that can go wrong with it as long as you buy it from a reputable source like Southern Fabricating and Machinery Sales. 

A good rule of thumb is to opt for brand new milling machinery in situations in which you tend to rely on the machine for as long as possible. The longer you expect to use and depend on it, the newer you’ll want that machine to be when you buy it. 

Why Choose Southern Fabricating and Machinery Sales?

Milling machinery can be expensive which is why you’ll want the assurance that you’re getting as much bang for your buck as possible. When you buy your milling machines through Southern Fabricating and Machinery you’re making an investment in quality. 

Our customer service is unmatched in the machinery sales industry and you can’t argue with our prices, they’re so reasonable there’s no reason too! 

Check out the milling machines at Southern Fabricating and Machinery Sales and give your shop the boost it needs to be more productive and speed up workflow!