Precision Machining Manufacturing

Machining is group of processes used to remove material in processing. It is most commonly used in metalworking, but is also used in shaping plastic, wood, and other materials. It is usually used in part manufacturing for larger pieces of machinery. It follows the design and drafting of the project, and is the phase of production that produces the accurate shape, size, and fit of parts.

There are usually five types of processes that are used in machining. Drilling is the most common. In drilling, a large drill is used to create circular cylinders in a work piece. Excess material leaves out of the hole through the flutes on the outside of the drill. Turning is the process that helps shape the outside of the part and is usually done with use of a lathe. Lathes rotate the work piece while a turning piece chips off excess materials on the outside. Milling is very similar to drilling, only not as precise. Grinding is used in finishing a product. An abrasive substance is rubbed on the work piece to file it down and get the perfect shape. These final cuts also help in finishing the surface, making it smooth and easily workable.

There have been many advances in machining technology, including use of lasers and water jets to form materials. There is also photochemical machining, which uses a delicate process of printing the shape of the part on a piece of mylar and it uses an acidic chemical compound to eat away the excess material, producing the accurate part shape.