Why it is important to carry out this operation in the best way
Among the many processes that can be carried out in the woodworking industry and beyond – thanks also to the use of professional machines designed and manufactured by Volpato – a significant place for the realization of the finished product is occupied by milling operations. This is in fact a process that is carried out through special tools to shape the raw material, providing the shape desired by the customer.
The types of milling can be very different, from simple radiusing to more complex operations, and is used to obtain the desired shape of the material for carpentry in general, from manufacturers of furniture, doors and windows, frames, tables and much more. The same is true for many other materials such as HPL, multilayer, plastics, etc. Not only that: it also allows you to create high quality and creative final products, very well worked and precise in every detail, making wood and other materials, even particular ones. In fact, through milling it is possible to create different shapes and create different artifacts, both on an industrial and a more artisanal level.
What is milling?
It is a precise and very delicate operation, if you want to obtain a quality result. Milling the wood therefore means working on the removal of some parts of the wood, in order to create decorations and shapes of all kinds that give us the wooden element in the shape and with the characteristics we want. Obviously, the result of the milling operation depends on the technical characteristics of the milling machine and, above all, on the strength and structure of the material. Generally, to work wood or particularly resistant materials it can be useful to use metal alloy cutters, since the more usual steel cutters could wear out easily.
It is always good to remember that the machine must be adjusted with the utmost precision; then it is necessary to pay close attention to the stability of the piece of wood to be worked, which must be with maximum safety. Often the cutter, especially those of the most recent manufacture and equipped with the latest technologies, also allows you to set the required number of revolutions. This characteristic must be decided on the basis of the size of the piece of wood to be worked, but obviously there are other factors to take into consideration, such as the type of material (hardness, resistance) and the level of precision of the milling. If the job to be done is of the highest precision, less power and longer machining may be required.
In general, a wood cutter, even if kept at low speed for precision machining, never drops below a certain engine power threshold, the machining speed generally stands at 15,000 rpm.
How does the milling work?
To mill a wooden element, it is necessary to slide the element against the cutting tool of the machine in order to perform the shaping and obtain the right processing. In fact, the cutter basically works through a process of removing the material.
The attachment for the cutter is placed on the axis of the motor. Basically, two types of attachment can be distinguished: one is defined as a fixed clamp, while the other is an interchangeable type. The fixed collet attachment is generally more suitable for cylindrical cutters that have a single diameter measurement.
Obviously, portable cutters are also available on the market, compact and small-sized tools, very useful for creating decorations, restorations, shaping, and which allow you to work with a certain precision – probably more suitable for craftsmanship.
Benefits and next steps
The milling allows you to work the material to make it more rounded, or to remove sharp edges and smooth the corners, so as not to leave them too sharp (just think of furniture for example). It is also possible to make engravings and decorations. In order to proceed with a milling done in the best way, it is necessary to have some experience in processing the material, good dexterity and above all great precision in managing the entire operation. In addition, of course, to knowing perfectly the machinery that is available.
The milling operation has advantages both from an aesthetic and functional point of view, from the point of view of the final product offered to the consumer, which is more refined and, above all, optimally shaped.
The machines produced by Volpato for milling
The milling process is an indispensable phase for finishing the wooden elements. For this reason Volpato produces machinery capable of offering very high performance. Using this type of machine, in fact, it is possible to shape wooden details to prepare them for subsequent operations. Among the different standard machines are available, for example:
- Edge sanders equipped with cutter units
- Profile sanders equipped with milling units
Furthermore, Volpato proposes the design and production of other special machines, customized according to the type of customer’s pieces.
If for your professional or industrial woodworking business you need efficient, safe milling machines that guarantee excellent results over time, Volpato has the right solution for you. In fact, the company has a vast catalog of machines designed and built internally and also deals with the construction of turnkey production plants.