Machine Tools
Machine tools play a major role in the manufacture of products in modern industry. A machine tool is a machine instrument that uses power to shape or form parts out of metal or other materials by the use of cutting tools or shaping tools. Machine tools are used to cut, shape, form and finish a variety of materials.
Machine tools come in three basic categories: cutting, forming and finishing. Cutting machines cut and shape the material into the desired shape. Forming machines create the shape of the material by applying external forces or heat with tools or presses. Finishing machines can polish or treat the final product to create desired aesthetic effects.
Cutting machines include milling machines, lathes, routers, grinders, and machining centers. Cutting machines are used to shape metal and other materials into the desired shape. A milling machine is a type of machine tool that uses a rotating cutter to create different shapes and sizes of parts. A lathe is a machine tool which rotates the workpiece on its axis to perform various operations such as cutting, drilling, knurling, and sanding. A router is a machine tool which uses a spinning bit to cut and shape material. Grinders are used to shape, sharpen, and polish metal or other materials to the desired size and shape. Machining centers are capable of performing multiple operations on metal and other materials with one machine.
Forming machines use a combination of tools and presses to shape the material into the desired shape. These machines include punch presses, die casting machines, forging presses, and specialty machines like deep drawing presses and hydroforming presses. Punch presses are used to shape metal with a punch and die set. Die casting machines inject molten metal into a die to create a desired shape. Forging presses use extreme pressure to shape metal into desired shapes. Specialty machines are used to create specific shapes such as deep drawn parts and hydroforming parts.
Finishing machines are used to polish, treat, and buff the material to obtain the desired finish level. These machines include buffing machines, sander polishers, and abrasive jet machines. Buffing machines use abrasive polishing wheels to shape and polish metal and other materials. Sander polishers use sandpaper and a spinning wheel to remove surface imperfections and create the desired finish. Abrasive jet machines use a combination of air pressure and abrasive particles to remove material and create the desired surface finish.
Machine tools play an integral role in the manufacture of products and components in modern industry for both small and large scale production. These machine tools are capable of performing a wide variety of tasks from cutting, forming and finishing operations to create parts that meet the desired specifications. Machine tools are an essential element of modern manufacturing production.
