There are of course quite a few tools that are self explanatory such as the bandsaw or the hydraulic press, whose characteristics are rather easy to comprehend (even though before purchase some time should be talen to make the perfect choice), but there are also a lot of cases in which further documentation is mandatory even if wanting just to comprehend the concept.
A relevant example is the milling machine, a power tool used to build parts from solid materials. The modern variants are highly regarded for their usefulness, being constructed to undertake a large variety of activities such as cutting and drilling or even contouring and die-sinking. They can be manually operated, mechanically automated or computer numerically controlled.
Even if the main element of differentiation is the position of the spindle axis (which directly influences the kinds of procedures that the power tool can do) that determines the two most important types of milling machines, horizontal and vertical, there are a lot different variants of milling machines from you to choose from. Before choosing on a specific mill, you ought to read as much as you can about bed mills (quite hard to use with an movable spindle), box mills (ideal for the garage workbench), floor mills, knee mills and quite a few more.
One more important detail that you must decide on (in particular if buying the milling machines for intense professional usage) is in what way would you like it to be operated. As expected, smaller models of the milling machine are generally operated mechanically, but if you require a tool that can easily guarantee higher productivity for your company, the cnc milling machines are the ideal alternative for you. Being without any doubt the most reliable and risk-free from all other kinds of power tools due to the fact that they are controlled by a computer, any cnc equipment will surely increase any parameter you desire.
Never forget that there is no ideal alternative and that in-depth documentation is mandatory before making a final decision on which machine tool to purchase.