Major Mill Components

A typical manual mill is the knee mill. While these machines can vary significantly, the parts shown here are typical of most mills.

Column

The primary casting that positions the working parts of the mill is called the column. Often, the base and column are integrated into a single component. Here the base is simply a feature of the column. More…

The column is the primary structural element of the vertical knee mill.

Knee

The component for which the knee mill takes its name is shown here. The knee moves vertically, and supports the saddle and table. More…

The knee supports the saddle and the table.

Saddle

The saddle supports the table on the knee, and provides movement left, right, in, and out from the operator’s perspective. More…

The saddle moves in and out on the knee, and allows the table to move in and out.

Table

On a typical knee mill, the table is able to move in three axes of motion. Work is mounted on the table by means of strap clamps, vises, chucks, or other workholding devices. More…

Work is mounted on the table by means of various workholding devices.

Ram

The ram allows the milling machine to be adapted to a variety of workpiece configurations and sizes. The ram is sometimes mounted to a turret as shown here. More…

The ram allows the mill to be adapted to a wider variety of workpiece geometry and size.

The head houses the milling machine spindle and connects it to the motor. It also acts as a gearbox for the quill feed mechanism. More…