What Is Machining?
The process of “machining” refers to a number of machine-focussed manufacturing processes whereby there is a controlled removal of material from a selected item to create a specific size or shape by a trained worker known as a machinist. EMSEA machinists are well-trained, and vastly experienced in operating one or more machines, perfectly complementing our wide range of services such as laser cutting, water jet cutting and sheet metal fabrication.
What Materials can be machined?
Machining generally supports a variety of different materials however it’s more commonly performed on metal such as iron, steel, bronze, aluminum and even copper. In addition, workpieces made of alternative materials may also be machined – these traditionally include wood, ceramics, plastic more recently composite materials. As a rule, working items made of harder materials require far more work to machine into a given shape. For example a bronze workpiece will require a sharper cutting tool and far greater force than a plastic workpiece.
What are the different types of machining processes ?
As a rule of thumb, there are three main machining categories: turning, milling and drilling. Turning is a process that uses a stationary cutting tool to cut material off a rotating workpiece. Alternatively, milling uses a spinning cutting tool to cut material from a stationary workpiece. Drilling uses a drill bit to cut a threaded hole.
If you have any questions regarding machining, or if you require machining as part of your fabrication/manufacturing process, then feel free to give the EMSEA team a call today.
