WJEC Level 1 and 2 Engineering – Design, Manufacture, and Problem Solving Practice Exam

In milling, the cutting action is produced by a rotating cutter that removes material as it feeds across a fixed workpiece. The workpiece is held stationary (in a vice or fixture) while the high-speed cutter removes material to shape the part. This distinguishes milling from turning, where the workpiece itself rotates and the cutter is relatively stationary. While you can set up special machines where both parts move, the standard operation described here is a rotating cutter removing material from a stationary workpiece. Milling isn’t limited to plastics; it’s used on metals, plastics, wood, and other materials.