What is the primary purpose of a milling machine?

The primary purpose of a milling machine is to remove material from a workpiece to produce a desired shape or finish. Milling machines utilize a rotating cutting tool to achieve this, effectively shaping and contouring the material to meet specific design requirements. The process allows for a high degree of precision and versatility, enabling the creation of complex shapes and features on a variety of materials, including metals and plastics.

In contrast, polishing a workpiece is typically achieved through a different equipment or process, focusing on enhancing surface finish rather than shaping the material. Assembling components pertains to fabrication or assembly processes that are distinct from milling operations, which are solely focused on material removal. Lastly, measuring the dimensions of a workpiece is an inspection activity rather than a machining process, also outside the primary operational scope of a milling machine.