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Metal fabrication shops depend on several types of machinery and equipment for production, two of which are lathe and milling machines. Both follow subtractive manufacturing, a process that entails removing sections from a block of raw material to create something. However, the similarities end there. To know which machine is right for your fabrication needs, here’s a short guide to get you started.    

What’s the Difference Between Them?

The main difference between lathe and milling machines lies in how they work. A lathe spins the material while a stationary tool cuts it. With a milling machine, a spinning blade cuts the material that remains unmoving. Because of the varied techniques, both machines produce different results.    

Why Should You Use One Over the Other?

milling machinesSince a lathe rotates the material you’re working on against an inert cutter, it is best used for cutting, drilling, grooving, threading, turning, sanding, and deforming. Its versatility has made it useful in glass blowing, metalworking, pottery, woodturning, and parts modification. When you need to produce cylindrical parts similar to gun barrels, bolt threads, camshafts, and symmetrical parts in large amounts in the shortest possible time, the lathe machine is your best bet.

A milling machine, on the other hand, clamps down the material while a rotating tool on its axis cuts away to yield a more complicated, precise product such as engine parts, trophies, gears, and metal engravings. It cuts, drills, and bores like a lathe, but can also flatten, rounds off edges, and customizes shapes. There are several cutting tools available for milling machines, which make it possible to create complex parts given the right clearance. While it offers the same functionality as that of a lathe, a milling machine won’t be as speedy, efficient, and affordable.

 

When you need something fabricated from a milling machine for your business, look no further than C & C Machine of La Crosse, WI. As the region’s most trusted machine shop, their highly skilled technicians, top-of-the-line machinery, and keen attention to detail have delivered quality results on metal fabrication projects. Request a free estimate by calling (608) 784-4427 or sending an inquiry via their website.

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