Definition
Why milling shows up in a process plan
Milling rarely gets chosen in isolation. It is normally what a process-planning judgment lands on once the manufacturing features on a part (pockets, slots, flat faces, drilled and tapped holes) are checked against what a specific factory's machines can actually reach. The same pocket that is a routine three-axis operation on one machine can need a five-axis setup, an extra fixture, or a different tool strategy on another, which is why milling's cost model depends as much on machine capability and factory capability as on the geometry itself.
Frequently asked questions
Is milling the same as CNC machining?
Milling is one CNC machining process; turning, EDM and grinding are others.
What decides how many setups a milled part needs?
Which faces and features need machining, and whether they can all be reached from one orientation.
Does a tighter tolerance always mean more milling time?
Not always by itself, but it often forces a finishing pass or a different tool, which adds time.