What is the difference between an horizontal and an vertical milling machine?
The terms horizontal and vertical refer to the axis of the cutting spindle. In a vertical mill, like a bridgeport or a cincinnati, the axis of the spindle that the cutting tool mounts in is vertical and is single ended. One end of the tool has a tapered shaft (morse taper on non-metric machines) and the other end has the cutting teeth. The teeth are formed so that they cut on the end of the tool and the sides of the tool. In a horizontal mill, the axis of the cutting spindle is horizontal and typically the spindle has a bearing on each end. The cutting tool is a wheel that has teeth around the periphery and the teeth cut on both sides and around the periphery of the cutter. The cutting tool is attached to the spindle with a key and spacers. These cutters are available in different diameters and widths.
