Machining is the art of processing metal, wood, ceramic, or plastic into products of the desired shape, weight, density, and length. However, most industries limit the use of this term to mean producing metal products of different shapes and sizes to suit various industrial needs. In this blog, we’ll be introducing to you the types of machining equipment as well as their processes.
Numerous products can be produced through machining, including automotive parts, bolts, screws, nails, rails, metal rods, and frames. These products are essential in various industries, such as the automotive and construction industries.
Types of machining processes
There are many types of machined components produced from different machining processes. However, modern engineers have adopted five main types of machining to summarize the entire lot. These are:
DrillingÂ
Drilling refers to making holes into metallic products. This is common on products such as rails that have to be fitted together using a screw. Drilling is also performed on bolts and nuts. Modern machining companies utilize automated systems to drill accurately and effectively according to the client’s demands.
The automotive industry requires a lot of drilling as the manufacturer must fit different car parts together. Heavy-duty construction companies also need a host of drilled materials for construction purposes. You can also think of railway construction companies relying on this technology to create screw gaps in the thick rail system.
Turning
Turning is a machining process that rubs and presses a raw material against a sharp surface, shaving it off. The raw material is spun by an automated tool against a harder material which shaves or cuts it off into the desired shape.
Milling
Milling tools work in almost a similar fashion to drilling tools, only that it works by rotating around the object and shaving it into the desired shape. The object is clamped into a fixed position, and a computer-controlled miller is rotated around it, cutting off the upper layer into the desired pattern.
Welding
In most cases, machining may involve joining two or more pieces of metal together through welding. Welding allows you to craft artifacts of different patterns and shapes and reinforce metal piece connections that bolts and screws cannot.
Cutting
Metals, being super hard, require professional metal cutting tools available at top machining operations centers. This process is essential in trimming down metal sizes into desired lengths and shapes that can fit into different spheres of construction.
Automated machining tools are often programmed with special parts that perform several machining processes simultaneously. This equipment is made up of different machining tools pooled together. Here are common machining tools;
Common machining equipment
Several machining tools are designed to perform various processes. They include:
Turning tools
These tools are designed to grasp the raw material and rotate it against a fixed milling or cutting blade.
Milling tools
Technicians use millers in ingraining patterns against metal surfaces. These are a connection of sharp and hard blades that scrape off the layers of the raw material to a desired shape or pattern. Milling tools are mostly fixed onto the machining robot, but you can get small portable ones for domestic use.
Drilling tools
Drilling tools are essential when making holes on metal surfaces for screws and fittings. A drill should be made up of hard material that can withstand the pressure against the raw material being processed. Drills come with chisels of various diameters allowing you to customize the holes to fit the size of screws at hand.
Cutting tools
Cutting tools are mainly used in construction to finely and accurately cut metals. Automated cutting machines use integrated lasers for precise accuracy in high-tech metal products.
Boring tools
Boring is the process of enlarging already drilled holes. This is often done whenever there is a need to use larger and more robust screws to secure the joints. Sometimes, drilled holes may be of small size and may require enlargement.
Computer numerical control (CNC) machining
Most machining processes are repeatable and can be cumbersome if done manually. Computer numerical control (CNC) incorporates computer hardware and programs that perform repeated commands several times. CNC also enhances the accuracy and efficiency of machining processes while reducing waste in raw materials and the workforce.
Hybrid CNC machines can be manually or automatically operated, ensuring continuous processing even if the system is down. Additionally, these machines are fitted with all machining tools and can perform multiple tasks simultaneously, significantly saving time and workforce.
Machining applications
Machining products form the core of industries such as engineering, manufacturing, automobile, and construction, among other sectors. For instance, the petroleum industry requires fine measurements of pipe sizes, hammerheads, drill bits, and structural elements such as beams and rebar. This is why machining has a versatile application accommodating needs from limitless fields.Â
Key Takeaway
Machining tools are essential in running the operation of businesses in various sectors. Your business can thrive better if you partner with a reliable machined products supplier in the US. One machined product dealer is Glenn Metalcraft, which supplies various machined components across the United States.
Glenn Metalcraft is part of the Elemet Group and offers various machining services, including drilling, spinning, cutting, and welding. We also offer fabrication and finishing services under our parent group, Elemet Group. Contact us through our website or visit our offices in Princeton, Minnesota, and Fort Worth, Texas.
