Technox Machine & Manufacturing Inc. is a full-service machine shop that specializes in high-quality machined parts and metalworking operations. We offer turnkey solutions for your machining needs, ranging from low- and high-volume productions of small goods to the production of oversized assemblies.
As part of our capabilities, we offer horizontal and vertical milling services. Milling processes use rotating cutters to remove excess material from a workpiece. Here, we’ll go over the differences between horizontal vs. vertical milling to ensure you choose the right option for your needs.
What Is Horizontal Milling?
For horizontal milling processes, the CNC machine has a spindle that’s oriented in a horizontal position. The affixed cutting tool on the spindle will then move from side to side across the length of the available space, removing excess material from the adjacent workpiece. Horizontal milling machines typically use a disc-shaped cutter resembling a saw blade.
Because of the spindle’s orientation, the mill can create deep, heavy cuts in the workpiece. This makes horizontal milling ideal for creating slots, grooves, and angled cuts. Horizontal milling machines are often the preferred choice for heavy-duty or large components because they have large beds and more powerful motors. Other key benefits of horizontal milling machines include:
Versatility. These mills can be used at a wide variety of speeds and with different cutting tools.
Chip evacuation. One common problem with cutting deep grooves and narrow cuts into workpieces is that chips can build up in the cuts and between moving pieces. Horizontal mills are oriented for simple chip removal, resulting in cleaner surface finishes.
Milling on multiple sides. Horizontal mills can cut and machine multiple sides of a workpiece rather than focusing on just one side.
What Is Vertical Milling?
Vertical milling machines also feature rotating cutting tools attached on a spindle. In these machines, the spindle is oriented vertically and moves up and down to make cuts into a workpiece. There are two main types of vertical milling machines: turret mills, which are small, versatile options with a fixed spindle, and bed mills, which have a moving bed to allow for a full, 3-axis range of movement.
Some of the key benefits of vertical milling processes include:
Cost-effectiveness. The machines are more affordable than heavier horizontal milling machines, making the process cheaper both for manufacturers and their clients.
Available expertise. Vertical mills are the default option for most manufacturers. This makes it easier to find expert operators who can manage complex designs or unique projects.
Reduced risk of error. The vertical spindle orientation makes it easier for operators and monitoring systems to detect potential errors or misalignment. This results in higher product quality, less material waste, and faster production overall.
Which One Is Right for Your Application?
Both horizontal mills and vertical mills offer several key benefits, and the best option depends on your project’s particular requirements. Crucial factors to consider when choosing the right process include:
Size and shape of the piece
Number of planes on which the piece needs to be worked
Heavier workpieces or items that need to be worked on several sides are most suitable for horizontal milling, whereas projects like sinking dies are ideal for vertical milling.
Horizontal and Vertical Milling Services at Technox
At Technox, we specialize in both horizontal and vertical milling. We have the equipment and the expertise to create a diverse array of custom parts with different machining techniques. For help determining the right milling process for your needs, contact us today, or request a quote to get started.
An integral process in modern machining, computer numerical control (CNC) milling is capable of much more than generating small parts. In machining, large parts are considered to be any component with size requirements that exceed standard CNC milling equipment or weights that surpass a single employee’s capability to carry. Projects of this size or weight mean that manufacturers must have specialized equipment to handle production on such a scale, backed by a team of experienced operators.
Technox Machine & Manufacturing Inc. is a one-stop shop for all your fabricating and machining needs. With nearly endless options for part size and weight, our team manufactures large-scale parts at the highest levels of quality and precision, customizing our products to fit any application or industry.
Large Part CNC Milling
CNC milling is a subtractive machining process that relies on computer-controlled tooling and instructions to selectively cut and drill materials away from a larger workpiece, ultimately shaping a custom component. CNC milling machines can rotate tools along multiple axes to mechanically remove material from varying planes of the workpiece.
Large CNC milling machines follow similar steps as those in other CNC machining processes, including:
Design creation through computer-aided design (CAD) software
Conversion of CAD files into numerical codes the CNC equipment can digitally read
Preparation and positioning of the tooling and workpiece
Automated part generation
Manufacturers can use CNC mills for a wide array of large parts with numerous material options. However, they should select an effective material best suited for the specific end-product. Brass, aluminum, stainless steel, and strong high-temp alloys are ideal metals for the process, as are several plastic options.
CNC milling offers numerous benefits for even large-scale components, including:
Accuracy. CNC milling machines operate with minimal human intervention, bypassing the possibility of employee error in the manufacturing process. These machines rely on software codes, thus delivering consistent and repeatable precision without flaws. These automated machines can also operate for long hours without compromising the quality or tight tolerances of jobs.
Speed. The automation of the CNC milling process and the ability for simultaneous cuts allow for faster and more efficient production, as well as increased productivity overall. Machines can operate rapidly to match the demand for products without breaking or tiring.
Versatility. In addition to the wide array of material choices that this process offers, once the CAD software translates a design into programmed instructions for the CNC mill, the equipment can produce parts for even the most complex of components.
Safety. CNC mills isolate machines from most human contact, reducing the risks that result from direct interaction between humans and traditional milling machines. Also, modern CNC machines can automatically change tools during processing, which can potentially eliminate the human aspect from the tooling preparation stage. This allows employees to execute software program updates and utilize preventive measures to keep the machines running.
Cost-effectiveness. When you combine the above benefits, it’s clear that CNC milling machines can significantly cut down on production costs, all while maintaining high levels of quality and performance. For instance, they improve productivity, with higher output in less time than manual or standard operations. CNC milling services also offload financial liabilities and downtime costs incurred through common accidents with machines that rely on human-machine interaction.
At Technox, we can help you mill any large part up to 113″ x 336″ x 84″ with tolerances of ±0.0005″ of the design specifications. We’re also capable of milling all kinds of materials, including copper, cast iron, bronze, aluminum, plastics, and wood. Our three facilities are equipped with state-of-the-art machines such as:
Planer milling machinery
3- and 4-axis CNC vertical milling equipment
35 high-capacity forklifts, cranes, and hoisting machines for lifting up to 15 tons
Technox also offers planer milling services. In this process, the mill shapes the outer profile of a component by making linear cuts to achieve grooves and notches. This works differently than CNC milling since the planer mill moves a workpiece back and forth against the tool, whereas CNC mills rotate the cutting tools against the workpiece. Planer milling processes often create end-products such as rings, castings, segments, shafts, and dial plate drums.
Industries Served
Our cutting-edge large CNC machining and planer equipment can handle the manufacture of large parts for a variety of industries. CNC milling services work well in the following industries:
Aerospace
Automotive and transportation
Consumer goods
Electronics
Healthcare
Military and defense
Robotics and automation
As for planer milling, the process has applications in the following sectors:
Automation
Bulk conveying
Food handling
Packaging machinery
Oil & pipeline equipment
Plastic and steel processing
Printing machinery
Types of Large Milled Parts
While milling machines can produce smaller components for the above industries, large parts are also highly valued in these sectors. For example, the aerospace industry requires large, high-performance parts for turbines, satellites, and airplanes. The power generation sector also utilizes gas and wind turbines. In automotive and transportation applications, trucks, tractors, cranes, bulldozers, ship components, and other heavy-duty equipment require large and heavy fabricated parts. Machine tables or bases, fixture plates, and other components also necessitate services for oversized workpieces. Once again, versatility is a definite advantage in milling processes.
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Why Technox?
We believe that our clients deserve the best quality in their products, and we’ve built a repertoire of comprehensive fabrication services to meet your exacting design needs. In addition to planer and CNC vertical milling, we also offer turning, boring, countersinking, knurling, tapping, and threading. Technox also provides secondary and finishing services including welding, assembly, heat treating, saw cutting, shot blasting, part repair, painting, plating, and powder coating to meet all our customers’ needs.
Our team can assist you in choosing the material and machining process that best fits your application while also providing access to our expertise in oversized and complex parts. Coordinate measuring machines (CMMs) assist us in assuring that completed components match up with the initial design specifications for superior accuracy. We aim to reduce manufacturing costs without sacrificing quality, and so Technox is in compliance with all industry standards.
Certifications
Technox is committed to strict quality management, and so we ensure that our processes are compliant with the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) standards, maintaining an ISO 9001:2015 certification. As an Occupational Safety and Health (OSHA)-compliant company, we also value a safe working environment for our team of experienced machinists. Finally, Technox’s American Welding Society (AWS)-certified professionals thoroughly inspect and test your welded products to guarantee optimal quality.
Contact Technox, Your Trusted Large Part Fabrication Partner
CNC milling machines have undoubtedly revolutionized large part fabrication processes. However, the quality of your large parts depends on the manufacturing team that you trust. Technox offers superior, customizable CNC and planer milling services to best meet our customers’ exacting specifications.Contact us today and let us help you maintain the highest quality with your large part fabrication project, or request a quote to get started.
For applications requiring holes drilled in workpieces of various sizes, horizontal boring services may apply. Horizontal boring machines are compatible with many types of workpieces and can efficiently drill into workpieces while achieving tight tolerances.
Horizontal Boring 101
Boring enables operators to further process cast, forged, or drilled holes that exist within a workpiece, enlarging them, improving their dimensional accuracy, or increasing the diameter of the hole. These processes can also increase surface smoothness and ensure the original hole axis’s deviation is correct.
This process relies on horizontal boring machines, which include a column, bed, spindle, saddle, and ram. The machine travels horizontally on the X-axis along the bed. Meanwhile, the saddle travels along the row vertically on the Y-axis. The plunger and boring tool then move inward on the Z-axis and outward on the W-axis. The machine then cuts around a stationary workpiece installed on the front side of the boring machine. This is what makes horizontal boring different from vertical boring, in which the workpiece turns while the tool remains stationary.
Advantages of Horizontal Boring
Horizontal boring manufacturing offers many benefits, such as:
The Ability to Produce Large-Format Elements: The right horizontal boring equipment works with large workpieces, enabling the production of large-format parts for various industries. This is especially useful for industrial and agricultural applications.
The Ability to Produce Large Numbers of Parts: Due to their ability to make multiple cuts simultaneously and their high speed of cutting, horizontal boring machining can produce many parts for applications requiring a high volume of components quickly.
Minimized Tool Deflection: If a tool faces more resistance than it can handle, deflection may occur. As a result, the tool may initiate an improper drilling angle due to the application of excessive force. However, horizontal boring machines help prevent this because they maintain a closer distance between the drill and the anchor point during drilling.
The Ability to Apply CNC Boring Technology: Computer numerical control (CNC) is a type of technology that controls certain machining tools through software programming. This enables operators to enter specific commands that machines must follow, including horizontal boring machines. These CNC machines help maximize precision while minimizing the risk for human error during the boring process.
At Technox Machine & Manufacturing Inc., we provide reliable horizontal boring services to help ensure accurate, high-quality, and timely component orders. We perform these services with some of the best horizontal boring equipment, including machines with a maximum of 120″ x 152″ x 70″ work envelope, along with a five-axis capacity. These capabilities enable us to machine some of the most complex parts at consistently fast speeds. At the same time, we can maintain precision with tolerances of ± 0.0005″.
We have the equipment and skills required to complete many machining processes and work with a wide variety of materials, including engineering plastics, high-performance alloys, and standard metals.
Contact Our Experts for Premium Horizontal Boring Solutions
If you require horizontal boring services, turn to the professionals at Technox. We’ve provided premier horizontal boring services and more to customers since 1976. With customers across a wide range of industries, including steel mills, fluid power, oil and gas, and equipment, we have a reputation for delivering quality products.
Since our humble beginnings in 1976 as a job shop and repair company, Technox Machine & Manufacturing has grown into one of the largest complete metal fabrication operations in Chicago. As a one-stop shop, we offer machining, fabricating, grinding, and welding services for a wide range of industries, including steel, food, oil and gas, plastics, paper, textiles, and recycling.
Two of our most popular services are boring and turning. Both processes cut material away from a workpiece to create a new shape, but they do so in different ways. To select the right method for your application, learn more about each process here.
Boring
In boring, a non-rotating cutting tool—like a drill—removes internal material from a workpiece to create or enlarge holes. Boring must achieve tight tolerances and precise results, requiring the expertise of a skilled technician. The process is performed on a lathe, boring miller, or conventional milling machine.
There are horizontal and vertical boring processes, but horizontal boring is generally more versatile. Vertical boring requires the workpiece to move while the tool is held in place, which translates to limitations in workpiece size. In horizontal boring, the workpiece is kept stationary, enabling larger part sizes, increased production speed, reduced tool deflection, and compatibility with CNC machining. With complex projects, these benefits add up to faster turnaround times and lower price points.
Turning
Like boring, turning uses a stationary, non-rotating cutting tool. However, instead of removing internal material and increasing inner diameter, turning removes external material from the workpiece, thereby reducing the outer diameter.
CNC turning centers are available in 3-, 4-, and 5-axis varieties. The more axes, the more complex geometries the machine can produce. All turning subtypes—tapered, hard, and spherical—require a cutting tool to remove material. Lathes are best for simple turning projects, while CNC turning centers are ideal for more complex capabilities that require multiple tool changers and chip conveyors.
Premium Boring and Turning Services from Technox
At Technox Machine & Manufacturing, we provide many types of boring and turning services. Our state-of-the-art facility houses cutting-edge machinery and technology, including 15-ton lifting cranes to manage especially large parts. Ourhorizontal boring and CNC horizontal boring machines offer 5-axis capacity and a maximum work envelope of 120” x 152” x 70”, allowing us to produce complex parts with tolerances of ± 0.0005”. We work with a vast array of materials, including:
Through stringent testing and inspecting during all phases of production, Technox consistently demonstrates a commitment to high quality with every project. We work closely with our clients to deliver complete metal fabrication solutions and finishing services, which include painting, powder coating, plating, and more. From prototypes to high-volume production runs, we manage everything in-house to keep your costs low and ensure quick delivery. Contact us to learn more about our services, orrequest a quote to start your project today.
Welding is a popular manufacturing process that uses heat and filler material to bond materials. While several different welding methods are available, two of the most versatile and precise techniques for joining metals are Metal Inert Gas (MIG) welding and Tungsten Inert Gas (TIG) welding. Though both utilize an inert shielding gas and externally supplied filler material to join base metals, MIG and TIG welding differ in key application areas such as workpiece thickness capabilities, quality of welds produced, and operator skill requirements.
Let’s explore the fundamentals of MIG and TIG welding, its advantages and limitations, and differences in weld characteristics where one process may be preferred. With a deep understanding of these welding methods, you can confidently select the optimal solution for your specific application needs and production goals.
What’s the MIG Welding Process?
The MIG welding method utilizes a semi-automatic or fully automatic arc and a continuous, consumable wire electrode to produce the weld. A shielding gas is also essential as it protects the weld, promotes weld penetration, and reduces weld bead porosity. The shielding gas is commonly a mixture of 75% argon and 25% CO2, though several variables and metals require different mixtures.
The process starts with the wire electrode and shielding gas being fed through the welding gun or torch. Remember, the wire diameter and composition will vary depending on the joint configuration, part thickness, and types of metal being joined. Furthermore, the wire feed speed (WFS) settings determine the pace and the amount of the wire being fed.
MIG welding benefits:
Good for thicker metals
Less complex
Lower overall costs
What Happens During the TIG Welding Process?
The TIG welding technique also incorporates an arc. However, it uses a non-consumable tungsten electrode and a separate filler material to create the weld. The filler is mostly a rod manually fed into the weld pool. It means both hands are used during this process, one for the tungsten electrode and the other for the filler material.
The shielding gas mixture is 100% argon. CO2 isn’t utilized in TIG welding because of its reactive properties that cause tungsten oxide formation. Tungsten oxide breaks down the tungsten electrode, which contaminates the weld.
TIG welding benefits:
Joins a wide variety of small and thin metals
Greater control over the welding operation
TIG welds are precise and more robust
MIG vs TIG Welding Distinctions
The differences between MIG and TIG welding don’t stop there. Many other factors differentiate their weld characteristics. Below is a breakdown of these distinctions:
Weld strength: TIG welds are stronger than welds produced through MIG. It’s mainly due to the narrow arc used in TIG welding that’s better at penetrating the metal. In addition, TIG beads have fewer defects than MIG beads, so the joints are more resilient.
Weld speed: MIG welding is faster than TIG welding, which is why the latter is more expensive. Since welders must use two hands to operate the TIG process, it’s more time-consuming than MIG welding.
Welding gas: TIG welding uses argon gas to prevent tungsten deterioration. Meanwhile, MIG welding uses a blend of argon and CO2 because carbon dioxide stabilizes the arc and provides better penetration.
Weld aesthetics: TIG beads are professional and good-looking because there are fewer splatters and discolorations, which can be solved with light polishing. However, it doesn’t mean that MIG welds are ugly because a good welder can produce beads that match the project’s requirements.
Let Technox Achieve Your Welding Goals
MIG and TIG welding are versatile processes that offer multiple benefits and applications. Both techniques have their strengths, although they also have weaknesses in some areas that make them more suitable for some welding projects than others.
So if you’re looking for professionals to help you choose the proper welding technique for your unique projects, choose Technox. Our team consists of certified welders in both MIG and TIG welding, ensuring that your project meets its full potential in terms of quality and efficiency while being cost-effective.
Contact us today to learn more about our capabilities. You can also request a quote, and we’ll develop a solution tailored to your needs!
An integral process in modern machining, computer numerical control (CNC) milling is capable of much more than generating small parts. In machining, large parts are considered to be any component with size requirements that exceed standard CNC milling equipment or weights that surpass a single employee’s capability to carry. Projects of this size or weight mean that manufacturers must have specialized equipment to handle production on such a scale, backed by a team of experienced operators. 
Turning
