milling machine

Machine used to shape solid material. Unlike a lathe, the finished items are not cylindrical but are based on a larger rectangular area. The material is held securely in place whilst a specialized high-speed tool (similar to a drill or router) is moved over and into it. The result can be a finished item or may be a mould for vacuum forming, for example.

Most milling machines are not capable of cutting underneath the top surface, but can be used to create a series of components that may form a more complex object. Computer Numerical Control (CNC) milling machines include the necessary hardware to interface with a computer, allowing 3-D CAD tools to generate physical models of the items designed on screen.