Ultimate Guide for CNC Milling Machine
By Vehera Pavel | Dec 15, 2021
Tools for shaping metal vary in their types and purposes, making it complicated to obtain an appropriate insight into CNC milling. It results in difficulty choosing a CNC milling machine or understanding the principles of its operation.
Here is the complete guide for CNC milling machines, this post will get answers to all common topic-related questions.
Contents(show)
What Is a CNC Milling Machine?

Such machines are used for both commercial and industrial production of components from prepared material. Parts can be made from metals, plastics, ceramics, and composites.
CNC milling machines can be used to produce machine parts that are not symmetrical from an axial perspective. Depending on a particular component’s unique curvatures or surface contours, a combination of drilling, tapping, slots, recesses, and other elements may be required.
CNC milling machines are of high popularity for the high-volume production of complex components from various materials.
How does a CNC Milling Machine work?
The operation process of the CNC milling machine consists of two parts, which are pre-programming and preparation of components, i.e., material cutting itself.
Pre-Programming
In CNC milling, pre-programmed Computer-Aided Design (CAD) software installed on a computer connected to the mill dictates the movement of the machine’s axis. To be executed, instructions to the mill must be coded using means of G-code and M-code programming.

G-code. This software programming language is used to control a CNC machine directly. It is written in a logical way and is responsible for dictating commands to change geometry. In other words, G-code makes the machine change the geometric coordination of its axes.
M-code. In its turn, M-code is responsible for non-geometry machine functions. Some of them may include spindle rotation start and stop, pallet change, flood coolant on and off, and others. M-code is more customizable than G-code.
Preparation of Components

The general principle of milling can be described as rotating a cylindrical cutter along multiple axes. It enables the creation of slots, holes, and details in the workpiece, turning it into a specialized part.
The moving section of a CNC mill, which is called the spindle, includes the cutter and can be positioned either vertically or horizontally. Such configuration enables the cutting tool to reach any X-Y-Z position on the workpiece, performing cutting and shaping.
The workpiece can be fixed or mounted on a table or positioned in a linear direction to the spindle with the cutting tool. Arranging the described process enables removing material from the workpiece to obtain the desired shape.
Pre-programming enables the subsequent operation of CNC machines, the result of which is the fully completed component.
Related Post: Up Milling vs Down Milling
Is CNC Milling and Manual Milling the Same?
CNC Milling
High accuracy. CNC milling enables the production of components with the highest precision possible.
Consistency. CNC machines can reproduce parts with the same measurements multiple times.
Safety. The use of computer-based machinery implies that no human intervention during the process is needed, which results in the complete protectionof employees.
Cost-effectiveness. Despite the high amount of initial capital needed to purchase and install CNC mills, they do not require as many operators as machines for manual milling. Moreover, computer-based pieces of machinery produce less waste. Thus, they are more cost-effective in the long run.
High production. CNC mills are optimal for producing large-sized orders consisting of thousands of pieces. The process is automated and less time-consuming.
Manual Milling
Manual milling is known as the labor-based one, and it implies the use of tools intended for manual metal-shaping by workers themselves. It has the following distinctive features:
Fast production. Manual milling does not require as much preparation, such as programming, before manufacturing. Thus, small-sized orders can be finished quickly.
CNC Milling vs CNC Lathe Machine
Both CNC milling machines and CNC lathe turning machines are computer-based tools for shaping workpieces. Their distinctive functions are often mixed up because they are utilized in the same processes with a similar purpose. Read below to know the differences in CNC technologies between these two types of milling centers.
CNC Milling Machine
The techniques CNC milling can apply with the use of their tools include outside cuts, drilling, chamfering, interior cuts, hollowed-out spaces, and spherical and round shaping.
CNC milling machines are flexible and can work with asymmetrical designs.
CNC Lathe
CNC Lathe is a machine that shapes workpieces by spinning them on an axis while shaping with a cutting tool. It is intended to shape longer, horizontal pieces from different materials. Such machines are perfect for parts that are symmetrical around an axis. An example of CNC Lathe is shown in the image below.

Lathe machines that include additional options such as Y-axis and sub-spindles are called CNC turning centers.
In one sentence, a CNC milling machine uses a spinning tool with a fixed workpiece, while a CNC lathe’s operation involves spinning the material.
Compared to a CNC mill, a CNC lathe is less versatile.
What are the main components of a CNC Milling Machine?

Base / frame. The structure supports the milling center and makes it stable and rigid. It usually is accompanied by detachable columns.
Tool holders. It is the component that precisely and firmly holds the end mill in place. Examples of tool holders are quick change tap holders, custom tool holders, and Jacobs taper tooling.
Workholding / vice. It is a slinging, locking mechanism that enables securing a part and its holding during machining operations.
Machine interface / control panel. A computer-based milling center is controlled by this panel containing the main electronics and implementing cutting functions in accordance with a program set. CNC control panel has a monitor and programming buttons.
What are the cutting tools used by a CNC Milling Machine

End mill. It is the most widely used, collaboratively with vertical CNC mills, tool. It has cutting teeth at one end and on its sides.
Roughing end mill. It is similar to the end mill nut that has serrated teeth intended to remove large sections of material with less precision.
Face mill. Such a device is a solid body with interchangeable cutter inserts. The purpose of the face mill is to make flat sections on the workpiece.
Fly cutter. It is a solid body within which there are one or two tool bits that make broad and cuts intended smooth surface finish.
Thread mill. Such mills are widely used to cut internal or external threads in hard materials or asymmetrical parts.
Side-and-face cutter. Such mills have teeth on their sides and around their circumference and are intended to make unbalanced cuts such as slots and grooves.
What are the different types of CNC Milling Machines?
The contemporary market is presented with numerous types of CNC milling machines adapted for one or another purpose. Here is the list of the existing ones.
Horizontal milling machines. These centers’ tolling spins horizontally while removing material from a component.
Multi-axis milling machines. Some machines are equipped with additional axes that expand the capability of a CNC machine. 4, 5, 6 and 7 axes machines are not rare and known to be effective for shaping the most complex parts.
Turret milling machines. Unlike the vertical mill’s spindles, which can be mobile or not, turret ones have stationary spindles. Turret milling centers’ worktables move perpendicular and parallel to the spindle axis to enable the cutting.
Bed milling machines. Such centers are considered to be more rigid than turret milling machines, and their worktables move only perpendicular to the spindle, opposed to perpendicular, and parallel.
Traveling column milling machines. In this type of CNC mill, both the worktable and workpiece are stationary, while the traveling column makes three linear axes movements. The traveling column is composed of the spindle and the cutting tool.
It is vital to carefully choose the type of CNC milling machine based on the type of components intended to produce.
How do you build a CNC milling program?
Writing G-code
CNC machines have their coordinate system with three axes which are X, Y, and Z. Plane designations for CNC mills are described in the image below.

The planes for the 3 axes (Source: Siemens)
G-code is a part of the command structure and is not separated from M-code.
Writing M-code
M-code consists of an “M” and a number. The examples of commands can be “M00” – program stop, “M06” – tool change, “M30” – end of the program (Reset), and others.
You can see an example of command structure, which incorporates both G-coding and M-coding on the image below.

How much does a CNC Milling Machine cost?
There is no upper limit that can be spent on such centers as multi-axis, multi-spindle mills with automated pallet changers. A median would be approximately $200k.
You can see some examples of costs by type of CNC machines in the image below.

Here is the list of the key factors that affect the cost of the CNC milling machine.
5. Number of revolutions per minute (RPM) supported and the spindle power.
6. The degree of closeness between measurements and the actual values (accuracy).
It is recommended to focus on a particular manufacturer’s necessities while choosing the optimal CNC milling machine.
Final word
CNC milling is a more advanced, precise, and safe process compared to manual milling. In contrast to CNC lathe, CNC milling centers can work on asymmetrical designs.
The costs of CNC milling centers can vary from $5k to $500k+ depending on the scope of functions they can fulfill.