Machining Operation

Summary

Boring

Process involving the enlarging of existing holes in a workpiece.

Deep Hole Drilling

Several different processes can achieve deep-hole drilling. Trepanning cuts a narrow grooved surface in to a workpiece. Gun drilling is a quick and efficient method of producing deep or shallow close tolerance holes with smooth surface finishes - usually in one pass. The boring process uses a lathe, boring machine, or boring mill to make or enlarge a cylindrical hole.

Jig Boring

Jig boring is a precision machining process that includes centering, drilling, reaming, counter boring, contouring, through-boring and step boring. Jig boring machines are similar to jig grinders, but use boring tools instead of high-speed grinding wheels.

Milling

Milling machines are versatile devices that can perform many different cutting, shaping, boring, and forming operations.

Broaching

Broaching is a specific type of milling involving a toothed cutting tool for precision machining of odd shapes like holes, splines, and keyways. Broaching can be used to enlarge, shape, or smooth a bored or drilled hole, and to remove material between two adjacent drilled holes. For example, a round hole can be broached to a square or other shape.

Drilling

The drilling process produces cylindrical holes of various sizes into parts.

Lathe Machining

Machining processes involving the use of a lathe, used to shape and cut cylindrical parts.

Turning

Turning is performed on a lathe, used to reduce the diameter of a part to a desired dimension.

Screw Machining

Screw machining is a high volume turning process used for the rapid and accurate production of parts from a variety of materials.

Swiss Machining

Swiss screw machining is another high volume turning process used for the close-tolerance production of very small parts.

Abrasive Machining

Machining processes involving the use of abrasive materials to polish, cut, and form parts.

Abrasive Flow

Abrasive flow machining (AFM) uses a mixture of abrasive grain in a high-viscosity carrier media to deburr, polish and generate controlled-radius geometry in components.

Orbital AFM processes are used for external finishing and geometry control. Micro-AFM processes are used to radius, deburr and improve the surface finish of orifices in nozzles, fuel injectors, spray tips or other parts with very small or micro-sized holes.

Abrasive Jet

In abrasive jet machining, the cutting action is done by a high velocity stream of abrasive filled water or gas. The result is a very small width cut, allowing for precise machining heat sensitive, brittle, thin, or hard materials.

Honing

Honing uses abrasive stones or silicon-carbide slips to obtain a specified finish or dimensional tolerance on the surface of a workpiece through a scrubbing action.

Grinding

Process that uses an abrasive grinding stone or wheel to remove material from a workpiece, typically for polishing or cutting/shaping of harder materials.

Centerless Grinding

Centerless grinding is a machining operation which does not require a center hole, driver, or workhead fixture. It is used to grind and finish parts without mechanically constraining the workpiece for stability.

Creep Feed Grinding

Creep feed grinding is a type of plunge grinding that uses specialized grinding equipment to remove material at higher rates than a typical grinding process.

Double-disc Grinding

Disc grinding is used to produce flat, parallel parts in high-volume production. Most disc grinding machines have two independent grinding wheels and are called double-disc grinders.

ID / Internal Grinding

Internal grinding or ID grinding uses a small, high-speed grinding wheel and is used to grind the inner diameter (ID) of holes or surfaces.

OD / External Grinding

External grinding or outer diameter (OD) grinding is used to grind the external or outside surfaces of cylindrical parts.

Jig Grinding

Jig grinding uses very precise machines for locating and generating very accurate holes, contours, and surfaces to tolerances of .0001" or less. Jig grinders are similar to jig borers, but use high-speed spindles and grinding wheels instead of boring tools.

Surface Grinding

Surface grinders are used to produce flat and parallel surfaces. The work is mounted to a table and fed back and forth under the grinding wheel.

Electrical Discharge Machining (EDM)

Low-volume process that uses electrical discharges (sparks) to machine parts, providing the ability to create complex shapes at extremely close tolerances.

Electrode EDM

Electrode EDM is a type of electric discharge machine (EDM) that uses a shaped die sinker or electrode to cut complex shapes with odd angles.

Wire EDM

Wire EDM is a type of electric discharge machine (EDM) that uses a wire to cut parts. Wire EDM is typically used to cut plates up to 300mm thick and to make tools and dies from hard metals.

Laser Machining

Laser machining is a material removal process accomplished by laser / material interaction. It is used to create precise cuts with easier workholding and reduced contamination (no solid cutting edge).

Etching / Chemical Milling

Process involving the use of strong acid or other chemicals to cut into unprotected parts of material. Electrochemical reaction removes material and creates a recessed image or design. It is used commonly for PCB and semiconductor manufacturing and for metal and glass designs.

Electrochemical / Photochemical Machining

Electrochemical machining and photochemical machining is used to etch or create unstressed, high-precision parts. It is a high volume process typically used for extremely hard or difficult materials.