CNC milling uses computer controlled cutting tools to shape metal and plastic parts with precision. Milan’s Machining runs both horizontal and vertical CNC milling for manufacturers, fabricators, and OEMs in the Midwest, and around the country handling various size parts and components up to 80 inches wide by 158 inches long. All parts go through our quality assurance department ensuring it reaches specifications before it leaves our facility.
What Does CNC Milling Services Involve?
CNC milling services cover the whole job from your specifications to a finished part. An experienced machinist loads your design into the machine’s control system. Next, the machine follows the programmed paths to cut, drill, bore, and shape the material until it adheres to your specifications. We can work with a variety of materials including steel, aluminum, stainless, and various types of engineering plastics.
Horizontal vs Vertical CNC Milling
Horizontal milling and vertical milling both remove material with a spinning cutter, but the direction the spindle takes changes based on what we’re to accomplish for your job.
A vertical mill holds its spindle straight up and down. This is a great solution for flat surfaces, drilling, and parts that need detailed features cut into the material.
A horizontal mill turns the spindle on its side. This can handle deeper cuts, and machine large or heavy parts from multiple sides without moving the part around.
| Feature | Vertical Milling | Horizontal Milling |
| Spindle position | Straight up and down | Turned on its side |
| What it does best | Flat surfaces, drilling, detailed features | Heavy stock removal, parts with multiple sides |
| Chip clearing | Decent | Excellent, since gravity helps pull chips away |
| Typical parts | Plates, molds, brackets | Weldments, structural frames, tooling plates |
| Best fit for volume | Prototype through medium volume | Prototype through medium volume, including large or heavy parts |
Milling for Large Parts
Milan’s Machining uses both horizontal milling and vertical milling using the most efficient solution for the desired outcome. We support jobs such as:
• Oversized weldments
• Large structural frames
• Mold bases
• Tooling plates
• Heavy equipment components
How We Approach a Milling Project
Every project starts with the specifications you send us. Our experienced team reviews it before we ever make a cut, ensuring an accurate set-up. We check the tolerances, tooling access problems, or material concerns.
We stay in direct contact with you providing statuses along the way. If questions arise, our staff flags it right away and reaches out for clarification or discussion. This keeps projects on schedule, cuts down on rework, and gets you a final product that we all can be proud of.
Quality Assurance and CMM Inspection
Precision matters. That is where our Coordinate Measuring Machine, or CMM, comes in. It gives us data from the inspection of complex geometries and tight tolerance features. It then checks it against your original requirements. That means every measurement is documented and traceable, ensuring a smooth audit process.
The CMM performance testing follows a national standard, ASME B89.4.10360.2, developed by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers together with the National Institute of Standards and Technology to evaluate how accurately a coordinate measuring machine reads linear dimensions.
We check parts at several points along the way.
• Confirms the part meets spec before we run full production.
• In process inspection catches tool wear or drift while a running.
• Final verification confirms every part that ships matches the print.
From that first check through final sign off, this layered inspection process is what gives you confidence in every part that leaves our Cicero, Illinois facility.
Tolerances and Surface Finish
Milan’s Machining specializes in tight tolerances and a strong surface finish Parts with multiple machined faces, bores, or interlocking features need real tooling strategy and fixture planning before the first cut ever happens.
We plan fixturing and toolpaths around each part’s actual geometry. That planning is exactly why tight tolerance, high finish parts come off our machines right the first time.
Who We Work With
Milan’s Machining works with manufacturers, fabricators, and OEMs. Project scope varies from simple single operation components all the way to complex parts with demanding tolerance and finishing requirements.
Industries we serve include the following.
• Heavy equipment manufacturing
• Industrial fabrication
• Mold and tooling production
• OEM component supply
• Structural and weldment assembly
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the largest part Milan’s Machining can mill?
Our large part milling capacity reaches up to 80 inches wide by 158 inches long, which covers oversized weldments, structural frames, mold bases, tooling plates, and heavy equipment components.
Does Milan’s Machining offer both horizontal and vertical milling?
Yes. Horizontal and vertical CNC milling are both core capabilities here, so a project can use whichever method fits the part’s shape and volume best.
How does Milan’s Machining verify part accuracy?
Through Coordinate Measuring Machine inspection at first article, in process, and final verification stages, which gives every measurement a documented and traceable record.
Can Milan’s Machining handle low volume projects?
Yes. We take on low part jobs as well as small to large production runs.
Where is Milan’s Machining located?
Milan’s Machining operates out of Cicero, Illinois, and serves manufacturers, fabricators, and OEMs throughout the Midwest and around the country.
Why Manufacturers Choose Milan’s Machining
Three things set us apart. We bring an engineering first mindset to every job. Next, we communicate with you directly and clearly. Finally, our regional locations keep large format work close to home.
Add in decades of hands on milling experience, our own CMM inspection, and large format capacity, and you get a shop that can handle any project.
If you have a job that needs large format milling, tight tolerances, or complex, multi feature work, Milan’s Machining has the equipment and the experience to get it done right. Contact us and let’s talk about your project.