Within precision CNC machining, there is a wide variety of mills that offer different capabilities, from 3-axis mills suitable for simpler parts to advanced 5-axis mills capable of producing intricate features and complex geometries. As you might expect from a metal manufacturing company of our size and caliber, we certainly rely on these in our Knoxville machine shop.

However, somewhere in the middle, there’s a less common CNC machining process that we also leverage — 4-axis horizontal milling. Though not as widely used as other CNC machining processes, horizontal milling allows us to help our customers achieve their goals when it comes to the volume production of precision parts while also keeping machine time to a minimum. 

So, with these benefits, why isn’t horizontal milling more popular? It’s largely due to the size and cost of the machine. But at Axis Fab, leveraging our capacity and broad range of capabilities has allowed us to help our customers simplify their supply chains. And that requires both versatility and unmatched precision. With horizontal milling, we’ve greatly augmented both of these aspects of our CNC milling services, allowing us to manufacture precision parts at scale and be better partners to our customers for all their custom manufacturing needs.

Our Horizontal Milling Capabilities Unlock Capacity for Our Customers

In contrast to 3-axis milling or 5-axis milling, where you can only manufacture one part at a time, horizontal mills are capable of machining multiple parts at once. In fact, the number of parts that our horizontal mill can simultaneously machine is only limited by each part’s size and volume and the fixtures it requires. While this is impressive in itself, what it really allows us to do is take on projects that require manufacturing high production volumes of smaller parts with tight tolerances, expanding our capacity to manufacture precision parts while continuing to achieve short lead times.

In addition to machining multiple parts at once, horizontal mills have incredibly fast spindle speeds. We run our horizontal mills at 20,000 RPM, almost twice as fast as other CNC mills, which typically run closer to 12,000 RPM. With these faster speeds, our horizontal mills perform exceptionally well with softer materials like aluminum, copper, and most plastics. Their speed, combined with the ability to manufacture multiple parts at once, allows for significantly greater throughput.

Leveraging Horizontal Milling for Complex Parts With Tight Tolerances

At Axis Fabrication & Machine, we excel at manufacturing complex parts with tight tolerances, and our horizontal mills are well-suited for these types of jobs. Our horizontal milling machines are capable of producing complex parts with intricate features at tolerances of 0.0005”. While parts with 3D features will naturally require using our 5-axis machining capabilities, for parts that don’t require use of the fifth axis, horizontal milling is often the most efficient, accurate, and cost-effective precision CNC machining method.

Though some manufacturers may not want to take on jobs that require such tight tolerances, this is one of our specialties, and is often required by our customers within the firearms manufacturing and defense industries. With horizontal milling, we’ve been able to serve customers in these industries by manufacturing large volumes of critical components like copper contacts for missile defense systems, as well as firearms parts for suppressors. 

Taking On Volume Production With Precision and Speed

Horizontal milling is a fairly unique CNC machining process, and not one that all shops can offer. However, with its impeccable precision, rapid spindle speeds, and ability to manufacture multiple parts at a time, horizontal milling helps us unlock capacity for our customers, enabling us to meet their precision CNC machining needs with short lead times. 

But volume production of precision parts is just one of the ways we work to help our customers solve their problems and achieve their goals. Within our Knoxville machine shop, we offer a full range of precision CNC machining and sheet metal fabrication services and excel at manufacturing complex parts that require tight tolerances. With deep experience collaborating with customers across industries, our skilled engineers and machinists can work with you and offer guidance on part design, manufacturability, and how to achieve cost savings as well. 

If you’re looking to simplify your supply chain and require the expertise of a metal manufacturing company that offers unmatched precision and efficiency at every stage of production, reach out to our team and request a quote today.