An Overview of the Major Machining Processes Involved in Metal Parts Manufacture
Apart from casting and forming, machining processes are also widely used in metal parts manufacture. They help you to achieve intricate shapes, holes, threading, etc. Almost every metal part whether big or small, requires these machining processes to get the desired product at the end. Without these processes, you cannot use a part or assemble it with other parts. So, in this article, we shall discuss the major machining processes that are widely used in the manufacture of metal parts.
Major Machining Processes and Their Types
In the fabricacion de piezas metalicas, the following machining processes are commonly used. Either all of them or some of them are used in every industry.
Turning
The most widely used process to shape metal parts, especially cylindrical metal parts is through Turning. This process uses a Lathe machine which rotates the workpiece and a cutting tool shapes the metal part in the desired shape. The tool is usually a single point and it is used for producing parts like shafts, pins, and bushings.
Milling
While turning is for cylindrical shaped parts, milling is for planar surfaces where you can cut and create intricate shapes as per the requirement. There are different types of milling which are as follows:
•Face Milling – Metal part surfaces are cut using a rotating cutter and create a desired shape only on the surface.
•Contour Milling – The rotating cutter follows a specific path and creates complex shapes and contours on the metal parts.
•Peripheral milling – This type involves the removal of material from the periphery to achieve slots.
Drilling
In this process, you simply create a hole through the metal surface so that other parts can be assembled into it or you can create threads by tapping into the holes. The process is done with the help of a drilling machine and with a drill bit of the desired thickness.
Grinding
Grinding is the process that finely removes material to achieve the perfect size and surface finish. There are several types of grindings which include:
•Surface Grinding – Removes material only on the plane surface of the metal part to achieve high precision and a smooth finish
•Cylindrical Grinding – It involves creating perfect cylindrical shapes that ensure tight tolerances
•Centerless Grinding – This involves the removal of material on the outer surface of the cylindrical metal parts.
Apart from these types, you also get boring, broaching, lapping, and several other types of processes. However, we are mentioning only the major types used in common industrial applications.
Conclusion
All the machining processes are important to create a metal part used in machinery or our daily lives. These metal parts are achieved only through these extensive processes and by understanding them you can get an idea about how parts are obtained to the end user.