Vertical Milling describes the process where the spindle axis is vertically oriented. Milling cutters are held in the spindle and rotate on its axis. The spindle can be lowered, or the table can be raised, allowing plunge cuts and drilling.

• A Turret Mill – our Bridgeport – has a fixed spindle and the table is moved both perpendicular and parallel to the spindle axis to accomplish cutting. Some turret mills have a quill which allows the milling cutter (or a drill) to be raised and lowered in a manner similar to a drill press. This provides two methods of cutting in the vertical (Z) direction: by raising or lowering the quill, and by moving the knee.
• With the Bed Mill (our Huron NU4 Universal Mill), however, the table moves only perpendicular to the spindle’s axis, while the spindle itself moves parallel to its own axis.