Milling machines are used to remove material from a workpiece. They accomplish this by rotating a cutting tool (usually a multi-point cutter) at high speeds. The cutter is then fed into the workpiece, removing material in the direction of the cutter's rotation. Depending on the desired result, a wide variety of cutter shapes and sizes can be used, including end mills, face mills, and ball nose cutters. Ultimately, the goal of milling is to create a finished piece with a particular shape or surface texture.

Finally, there is the matter of flexibility. Milling machines can be programmed to perform a wide variety of tasks, making them highly versatile. They can be used to create everything from simple shapes to complex three-dimensional models. Drilling machines, on the other hand, are more limited in their applications and are primarily used for creating holes.