To start talking about what is the difference between CNC milling and CNC drilling, it is essential to understand the concept of the process, as well as how the CNC machine (máquina CNC) works.
CNC Milling
This is the process in which a CNC milling machine is used, which is controlled by the computer, where a final component that has been designed from the beginning will be obtained. For this, its surface, the material and above all the movement that has to be done to obtain it must be taken into account.
In the transformation process where it takes place with the chip removal, it proceeds to rotate a rotating and cutting instrument, which is known as a milling cutter, with which the final piece is obtained.
Milling cutter movement:
It is a CNC milling process that is carried out with 2 types of milling machines. One of the milling machines is horizontal and the other milling machine is vertical.
The horizontal milling machine is where the milling cutter has a side-to-side motion, thus making it easier for the person to move the machine away from or towards the face of the part. In the horizontal milling machine, the spindle axis is, as the name implies, horizontal.
The vertical milling machine is when the machine moves from top to bottom or vice versa. So it allows it to move away from or closer to the top or surface of the workpiece. This means that the vertical milling machine as the name suggests the spindle axis is vertical.
CNC Drill:
These are those machines that are automated industrial production, which are used to drill predetermined designs of raw materials. This component has Computer Numerical Control (CNC). Which refers to several computer programs that are responsible for controlling the various operating cycles of the machine.
This kind of instruments are tower type machines, which are composed of 3 main modules: 1 Power Tower, 1 Bed for the die, which move in 2 dimensions and 1 group of controls including the computer area.
The material process refers to the punching of a work piece, which is typically a very thin sheet of metal, which moves to the impact position along an X and Y axis that is programmed by a computer.
Now when the workpiece is in position, the program instructs the mold to perform the downward motion by forming or cutting the predetermined shape and subsequently the cycle is repeated.
In this type of automated operation, it is generally very fast and accurate, with the typical drilling cycle measured in milliseconds, which allows for excellent levels of accuracy, as well as an excellent production rate. CNC drills have the advantage that they are relatively inexpensive, as their program can minimize the amount of waste or the creation of small amounts of scrap from any given work item.
What are the differences between CNC drilling and CNC milling?
As we have already observed, the main difference between CNC milling and CNC drilling is that the drill creates cylindrical shaped parts, whereas with the milling machine you can make parts of all kinds of shapes.
While in the drill the material to be modified rotates on a chuck and the tool is cutting and giving the corresponding shape, in the milling machine the material is fixed while the milling cutter is rotating, which eliminates the excess.
In the milling machine, it usually works on three axes (X, Y and Z), however, in the drill works on the X and Y axes.