| V & L Machine and Tool Co., Inc. 30 Sherwood Lane, Unit 11 Fairfield, NJ 07004 973-808-5858 (Phone) 973-808-5848 (Fax) vandlmachinetool@verizon.net Email |
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| Term |
Definition |
| Axis |
A principal direction along which the relative movements of a tool or work piece occur. Three linear axes, occurring at 90 degree angles from each other, named X, Y and Z. |
| Axis of rotation |
of a rotating body is a line such that for every point of the body its distance to the line remains constant under the rotation, and the point remains in the same plane perpendicular to the axis. Thus the point moves in a circle in that plane (also see lathe) |
| Broach |
a series of chisel points mounted on one piece of steel, typically used to enlarge a circular hole into a larger noncircular shape such as a square or other desired shape. Another typical use of a broach is to cut splines or a square keyway on objects such as gears, driveshafts, pulleys etc. The amount of material removed by each broach tooth (or chisel) varies with the material being cut. |
| CAD (Computer Aided Design) |
The use of computers to assist in design of mechanical parts and other items. |
| CAM (Computer Aided Manufacturing) |
The use of a computer software process that can directly convert an object (product drawing) into code so that a machine, such as a lathe or milling machine, can manufacture the product. CAM simplifies the machining and design process in CNC manufacturing. |
| CNC (Computerized Numerical Control) |
The computer control of machine tools for the purpose of (repeatedly) manufacturing complex parts in metal as well as other materials, using a program written in a notation conforming to the EIA-274-D standard and commonly called G-code. |
| Drawing |
A “blueprint” or the like that is technical in nature, used to fully and clearly define requirements for the engineered item to be produced. It is usually created in accordance with standardized conventions for layout, dimension, and product specifications. |
| EDM (Electrical Discharge Machining) |
A machining method primarily used for hard metals or those that would be impossible to machine with traditional techniques. One critical limitation, however, is that EDM only works with materials that are electrically conductive. EDM can cut small or odd-shaped angles, intricate contours or cavities in extremely hard steel and exotic metals such as titanium, hastelloy, kovar, inconel and carbide. Sometimes referred to as spark machining or spark eroding, EDM is a nontraditional method of removing material by a series of rapidly recurring electric arcing discharges between an electrode (the cutting tool) and the work piece, in the presence of an energetic electric field. |
| Fabrication |
The building of machines and structures by cutting, shaping and assembling components made from raw materials, it is a process that generally involves the earlier stages of product manufacture. |
| G-Code |
G-code is a common name for the programming language that is used for NC and CNC machine tools. |
| Grinding Machine (Grinder) |
A machine tool used for producing very fine finishes or making very light cuts, using an abrasive wheel as the cutting device. This wheel can be made up of various sizes and types of stones, diamonds or of inorganic materials. There are several types of grinders including: a bench grinder, a cylindrical grinder, a surface grinder, and a tool and cutter grinder. |
| Job Shop |
* See Machine Shop * |
| Lathe |
A machine tool which spins a block of material so that when abrasive, cutting, or deformation tools are applied to the block, it can be shaped to produce an object which has rotational symmetry about an axis of rotation. |
| Machine Shop (or Job shop) |
Job shops are typically small manufacturing operations that handle specialized manufacturing processes such as small customer orders or small batch jobs. Job shops typically move on to different jobs (possibly with different customers) when each job is completed. By nature of this type of manufacturing operation, job shops are usually specialized in skill and processes. The opposite would be continuous flow manufactures such as textile, steel, and food manufacturing. A Machine shop consists of one or more workrooms containing major machine tools. Although a machine shop can be a stand alone operation, some businesses maintain internal machine shops which support specialized needs of the business. |
| Machine Tool |
A machine tool is a powered mechanical device, typically used to fabricate metal components of machines by the selective removal of metal. The term machine tool is usually reserved for tools that used a power source other than human movement, but they can be powered by people if appropriately set up. They can be operated manually, or under automatic control. Examples of machine tools are: Broach Drill (like mill, but optimized to make holes) Gear shaper Hobbing machine Lathe (work rotates, single-edge cutter is fixed) Milling machine (work is fixed, multi-edge cutter rotates) Shaper Stewart platform mills Grinders |
| Machining |
Machining is an occupation or hobby that involves using a power-driven machine tool, such as a lathe, milling machine or drill, to shape metal. Machining is a part of the manufacture of almost all metal products. Some plastic parts are machined. |
| Machining Center |
Machine tools, normally Numerically Controlled, capable of automatically repeating many operations such as drilling, reaming, tapping, milling, and boring multiple faces on a work piece. Basically, the combination of several different machine tools together, all under computer control. |
| Machinist |
A person who specializes in machining. |
| Manufacturing |
Manufacturing is the transformation of raw materials into finished goods. |
| Milling Machine (Mill) |
A power-driven machine used for the complex shaping of metal (or possibly other materials) parts. Its basic form is that of a rotating cutter or mill bit which rotates about the spindle axis (like a drill), and a worktable that can move in multiple directions (often three dimensions relative to the work piece, whereas a drill can only move in one dimension while cutting). The motion across the surface of the workpiece is usually accomplished by having a movable table on which the workpiece is mounted, arranged to move in two dimensions. Milling machines may be operated manually or under computer numerical control (see CNC). They can perform a vast number of complex operations, such as slot cutting, planing, drilling, rebating, routing, etc. There are two main types of mill: the vertical mill and the horizontal mill. |
| NC (Numerical Control) |
The technique of controlling a machine or process by using command instructions in coded numerical format. |
| OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) |
a company that builds products or components that are used in products sold by another company. |
| Prototyping |
the process of quickly putting together a working model (a prototype) in order to test various aspects of the design, illustrate ideas or features and gather early user feedback. Prototypes are made in a process of incremental development where each prototype is influenced by the performance of previous designs, in this way problems or deficiencies in design can be corrected. When the prototype is sufficiently refined and meets the functionality, robustness, manufacture-ability and other design goals, the product is ready for production. |
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| Glossary of Some Common Metalworking or Machining Terms: |