CNC milling machines have great advantages over manual milling machines. You can program a CNC mill to operate automatically from start to finish, so technically if you could keep the machine loaded with raw material the machines could run 24/7.
Once your piece part has been designed with CAD/CAM software, the operator simply selects the program, insures he has the correct material on the material feed end, and turns on the machine. Piece after piece, the CNC milling machine will produce identical, high quality parts. Since CNC milling requires very little operator input, one operator can oversee numerous CNC milling machines. These production efficiencies translate into higher profits. CNC (Computer Numerical Control) milling machines can create parts with higher precision, enhancing your company’s profitability.
One of our salesman admitted, "Ever since my days of schooling, back quite some time ago, the milling machine has been my favorite machine for a number of reasons. Not the least of which is the CNC milling machine."
Shall we take a short jaunt through the history of CNC milling machines? Let’s do it — this history lesson will be painless since we only have to go back about 60-70 years.
Probably the single most interesting thing that came about because of the modernization of the CNC milling machine is the fact that the milling machine took on more than just computer controlled movement, although it did do that as well.
The day the CNC machines came to market they were no longer referred to as CNC mill or CNC lathe. Now the latest technology are referred to as: CNC Machining Center (mill) and CNC Turning Center (lathe). Why all the “hub-bub”? What’s the big deal? Are these new terms designed to raise the cost of these machines through the exotic labeling? Although that makes for an interesting byline, it is not the reason these new terms began to evolve.
The main reason these machine tools undertook a major redefining of their respective definitions is that they became much more than just a computer-controlled piece of equipment. The best example of this is that both the CNC lathe and the CNC mill came out of the gate with integrated tool holder systems already on board with the advent of CNC production machines. Revolutionary!
For the first-time tooling would be kept at the machine so the operator could set-up the tools for possibly the next job coming up, while the current job is still running. Back not so long ago, the typical machine shop had as many machines as there was floor space for. Machines were crammed in every which way if floor space was at a premium. The tooling was kept in an area known as the “tool crib.” When an operator needed to tool up a new job or replace a broken or used up cutting tool, he would go to the crib with the broken tool and get it replaced by the tool crib attendant.
In addition to a tool holder system with sometimes as many as 24 individual tools, any one of which could be selected at random by the control, now more intricate parts could be run because more tools were available to the machine as long as you have the right tools in the magazine. Another easily seen attribute of these new machines is the fact that they were, for the most part, now completely enclosed, very unlike previous types of lathes and mills. This 360-degree enclosure was more for keeping the cutting fluid contained inside the machine housing and to help keep the sound level contained.
There is only one place like it in the entire country. The name's Bud's Machine Tools, located in Salt Lake City, Utah. Our family has been in the machine tools business for decades, doing the same things over and over again. Namely:
Is there a 4, 5 or 6? We suppose so, but do they really matter in light of the the first three? You will always get strong customer service with Bud's Machine Tools!
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