A top milling machine is a hand-held power tool used to machine materials, most commonly wood and its composites, using a rapidly rotating cutting tool or shank milling cutter. The name "top" comes from the principle of operation, where the machine is guided over the surface of the material from above. The key feature of this type of cutter is the ability to plunge the rotating tool smoothly into the material at any point, not just from the edge. This allows grooves, half grooves, chamfered joints or decorative pockets to be created in the centre of the surface. The milling depth can be precisely adjusted using the depth stop.