Jun. 30, 2025
A machine tool is a device used to shape and cut metal and other materials. Their uses are in a fab shop for machining operations, such as cutting and drilling. Grinding, and shaping can also be undertaken with the correct tooling. Machine tools use electricity or compressed air for power. With any cutting tools being made from carbide, high-speed steel (HSS), or diamond. They process a variety of materials, such as aluminium, iron, steel, brass, copper and plastics. Machine tools can be used for a variety of tasks. These include drilling holes in parts for assembly, or creating intricate shapes for decorative purposes. With the help of modern technology such as Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machines, machine tools can be automated. This helps to produce consistent results with precision accuracy.
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Machine tools are essential for any industrial production. They make it easier to produce components with a high level of accuracy and precision. Many different types and size of machine tools are available. Each designed to perform specific tasks in the manufacturing process. Depending on the application, these can include metalworking machinery and woodworking machinery. Industrial machine tool types include:
Machine tools are crucial for the manufacturing industry. They enable the production of a wide range of products with precision and efficiency. By using machine tools, manufacturers can reduce costs, increase productivity and improve quality. Additionally, machine tools can be used to create complex parts. Components that would otherwise be impossible to make by hand. CNC machining is one of the most popular machining processes used today. Allowing for precise control over all aspects of the machining process. The benefits of using a machine tool in manufacturing include greater accuracy and consistency. As well as increased productivity, cost savings, and greater flexibility in design.
There are a variety of machine tools available, ranging from manual to CNC machines. The most popular types of machine tools used in industry today include common manual machine tools. Machines such as lathes and milling machines are a great addition to many fab shops. They make everyday tasks easier compared to working by hand. CNC machine tools like routers and laser cutters offer versatile working options. Automation from the Computer Numerical Control increases production in manufacturing environments.
In today’s digital world, businesses rely on machine tools to increase productivity and efficiency. Machine tools can be computer-controlled systems that can automate the production process. This allows for faster and more accurate results. They can also reduce labour costs, and improve quality control. By understanding how these tools work, businesses can make better decisions about which ones to use. This will maximise their respected productivity and efficiency. The right combination of machine tools will also help to keep costs down, without sacrificing performance.
Everyone has a basic familiarity with what is metalworking. Metalworking processes have been driving the world even before the earliest civilizations. In fact, eras of ancient times were named after metalworking processes they used, such as the Iron Age and Bronze Age.
Metalworking processes have evolved into a complex science in this industrial age. The industrial revolution has incorporated exponential growth in the scale of modern metalworking processes. Additionally, the technologies used in these processes have become increasingly complex.
This article will provide a detailed answer to the question ‘What is Metalworking?’ It will go through all the different metalworking techniques and the advantages of the process. The information provided here is invaluable to beginner hobbyists and professional metalworkers alike.
Metalworking is the process of changing the shape of metal to fit the required application. Metalworking techniques can alter the form, area, length, thickness, shape, and even the surface finish of metal objects. The shaping can be done by force, temperature, or removing excess material from the metal objects.
Traditionally, metalworking was done by professionals in dedicated workshops. However, the last few decades saw many advancements in machining processes and technologies like CNC. This has led to metalworking becoming an integrated part of modern assembly lines.
Metalworking predates earliest civilizations for a long time. Metal objects of copper have been dated back to as early as BC. Early metalworking processes were very basic, such as hammering. In later millennia, metalworking began incorporating heat to melt and reform the molten metal.
The Middle East is often speculated as the region where metalworking was invented. The earliest known metal object in Israel dates back to BC. However, there is no concrete evidence of metalworking invention because ancient metalworking processes have been indicated in Southwest Asia, Greece, and Egypt.
African civilizations started working with steel around BC. In 600 BC, Copper found popular use in the American region. Fast forward two millennia, and the first iron foundries opened up in Great Britain. This became the driving factor towards the industrial revolution.
Metalworking processes are the basis of the operations of every other industry. Most manufacturing industries directly use materials output from one or more metalworking processes. If an industry does not use metal raw materials, it definitely uses tools and products of metalworking processes.
There are many different types of metalworking processes, categorized by their class. Common metalworking classes are joining, cutting, casting, and forming processes. Let us go through all the different techniques that fall under these classes of metalworking:
Metal-cutting processes divide metal sheets or blocks in multiple pieces by removing a small amount of material from the cut location. Metal cutting processes also shape metal workpieces into the desired object. The material removal can be done with force, friction, heat, or electricity. Here are some of the metal-cutting techniques:
Milling is one of the common mechanical cutting techniques. It uses high-speed rotary cutting tool to remove material from a workpiece. The workpiece is typically stationary. The cutting tools come in various shapes to fulfill the required purpose. Common types are end mills, face mills, and thread mills.
Turning uses a non-rotary cutting tool working on a rotating workpiece. The workpiece for turning processes usually has circular elements. The turning process inscribes a helical path on the workpiece.
Metal grinding uses rotary discs with an abrasive surface. The discs remove minimal material from the workpiece to smooth the surface. Grinding is also done to make micro-adjustments to a workpiece’s dimensions to make it fit into the required application.
Drilling is one of the most common metalworking process. It uses a rotary drill bit to create holes in the workpiece. The holes can be of varying sizes based on the thickness of the drilling bit. Drilling machines have varying scales, from handheld manual options to large-scale structures operating on CNC.
Threading tools create the helical line on the metal workpieces. The lines are used to fit the workpiece’s screws, nuts, and bolts. The helical grooves made by threading also help assemble two workpieces together.
Metal filing is similar to the grinding process. It removes minimal amount of material from the workpiece for minute adjustments or surface finishing. Filing is also used for same applications as grinding, i.e. smoothening surface finishes. However, filing is more versatile and can easily work on surfaces where grinding wheels cannot reach.
Sawing is more commonly used for wood but also applies to metalworking processes. Metal sawing uses a blade with sharp, toothed edges. The blade is usually flexible and rotates quickly between two wheels. There are many different configurations of metal saws, such as horizontal and vertical band saws.
Shaping and planing are two different metalworking tools with very similar principles. Shaping consists of a cutting tool moving across a stationary workpiece. In planing, the workpiece is moved along a stationary cutting tool. Either case uses a single-point cutting tool to accomplish the job.
Broaching uses a moving cutting tool with toothed edges. The particular design of the cutting tool varies based on application. Broaching can be done on the exterior of the workpiece as well as its interior. Exterior broaching is known as surface broaching. Broaching done inside the workpiece is called internal broaching. A broaching machine is referred to as a broach.
Laser cutting technology uses high-energy sources of light for melting the metal. The melted material is removed with airflow, which creates smooth and clean cuts. The width of the light beam is very narrow. The accuracy of the process is very good due to the narrow beam.
Waterjet cutting is one of the most popular metalworking process. It uses the high force of water for metal erosion and cutting. The water jet can be adjusted to any direction, making it usable for linear, non-linear, and 3-dimensional cuts. Waterjet cutting does not have thickness limits for metal objects. This provides it a huge edge over any other metalworking process.
Joining is a metalworking process of merging two workpieces together using heat techniques. Joining processes are fundamental in every metalworking industry, be it aerospace, automobile, or electronics.
The different metal joining techniques are:
Welding is one of the most common metal joining process. Welding machines are everywhere, from small-scale workshops to large manufacturing industries. There are many types of welding, such as TIG and MIG. Welding processes melt a filler metal and use it to fuse the two workpieces together. The choice of filler material and the process of fusion varies based on the type of welding method.
Soldering is similar to welding but on a very smaller scale. It uses a filler metal that is melted and placed between the target metals. The target metals are fused due to the high heat and the action of the filler metal. Soldering is one of the oldest metal fabrication processes, with applications as early as BC.
Brazing is another metal joining process similar to welding. The main defining factor of brazing is that it does not melt the workpiece materials. It melts only the filler material and pushes the molten metal between the workpieces. However, welding melts the workpiece as well as the filler metal.
Application of Brazing
Riveting is a mechanical joining process. This is very different from the joining processes like welding and soldering, which are based on using molten metal. The rivets are drilled or punched into the workpieces. The tail of the rivet is then forced to expand. This creates a tight and secure joint with a lot of tensile strength.
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Bolting is a non-permanent type of metal joining process. The other processes mentioned above join materials permanently. However, bolted materials can be unscrewed and assembled again, leading to better portability and management. Bolting can use bolts, screws, and nuts.
The forming process relies on deforming metal to shape it into the required part. There is no metal addition or removal to the workpiece material. The deforming occurs through physical processes and force applied to the metal.
There are many different types of metal-forming processes like:
The bulk metal forming process is used when the volume of the metal workpiece is larger than its surface area. The amount of plastic deformation in this technique is large. The deformation is accomplished by using tensile, compressive, and shearing forces together or individually.
There are many different types of bulk metal forming processes, such as:
Sheet metal forming processes apply to metals with a large surface area but smaller relative volume. Examples of these metals are sheets, strips, and plates. Sheet metal forming requires lesser compressive force than bulk forming.
Some of the common sheet metal forming processes are:
Casting processes involve pouring molten metal in an indented shape. The molten metal, when cooled, turns into the required part. Metal casting is one of the earliest forms of metalworking. Earliest metal objects and weapons were commonly crafted with this method.
Commonly used metal casting processes are:
In lost wax casting, molds of the required part are made using wax. The wax mold makes shells in which melted metal is poured. The final product can be a very intricate copy of the required part.
Sand casting technique uses molds made of solidified sand. The sand molds are manufactured in special foundries. This technique is one of the cheapest metalworking operations. Majority of the metal parts made by casting use sand molds.
Die casting requires pouring high-pressure molten metal into mold cavities. The castings are made of metals like aluminum and magnesium. This process produces parts with exceptional surface finishing. The casting process is short and simple.
Shell casting uses sand-based molds covered with resin materials. Shell casting provides better results in terms of accuracy and productivity when compared to sand casting. Additionally, the labor requirement in this method is lower.
Heat treatment processes alter the structure of the metal workpiece on a particle level. This induces new required properties or improves the already present characteristics of the material. Commonly seen improvements are hardness, strength, and corrosion resistance.
There are many different heat treatment processes, like:
The annealing process requires heating the workpiece and then cooling it. The heating is done beyond the recrystallization temperature for a preset time. These temperature changes cause rearrangement of the metal molecules, leading to the required effect.
Tempering is done on metal alloys that are based on iron. Tempering reduces the hardness of the metal alloy but increases its strength. Carbon steel is one of the common alloys that undergo tempering.
There are many different metalworking tools used based on the type of process. Some commonly used metalworking tools are:
All metals work well with most metal fabrication processes. Some of the commonly used metals and metal alloys are:
Metalworking processes are the backbone of many different industries. These processes create parts with the desired shape for the most niche applications. Some of the common use cases of these processes are:
Metalworking is extensively used in the aviation sector for making aircraft frames, engine parts, and many internal components. These processes also create the frames, structures, and parts for aerospace equipment like space shuttles, rockets, and entire space stations.
Metalworking processes are the basis of the entire automotive industry. Frames of cars, motorcycles, and other methods of transport are made with metalworking processing. Components like exhaust systems and engines are entirely manufactured with these processes.
Basic metalworking processes find use in the construction sector for making structural integrity components. Common examples are beams and pillars, which utilize metal reinforcements.
Metalworking processes find use in making surgical equipment, prosthetics, implants, and other healthcare products.
Metalworking is used in the electronics industry for making printed circuit boards. Computer casing commonly uses metal forming techniques. Soldering is extensively used throughout the electronics sector.
The oil and gas industry uses metalworking for pipelines, pumps, valves, and drilling equipment. The metalworking methods used in this sector require high standards and materials that can withstand extreme conditions.
AI is optimizing the metalworking industry in many ways. AI processes have made metal fabrication techniques more cost-efficient with a higher production rate. The material wastage of these processes has decreased significantly.
AI processes can automatically calculate to identify the processes that can provide the desired results. For instance, AI can reveal the amount of annealing or tempering an alloy needs to withstand any particular metalworking process.
AI also enhances the operation of metal fabrication machinery. These machines are heavy duty equipment that requires regular maintenance. AI can predict the maintenance requirements, enabling the smooth operation of these processes.
Having a basic familiarity with what is metalworking becomes crucial for every manufacturer and professional in the industry. Metalworking technologies are the leading principal machine tool for production. Choosing the right manufacturing processes can ease difficulties, save costs, and improve production.
Techni Waterjet machines are the most preferred metal fabrication solution for professionals in the industry. These machines come with many capabilities, from cutting large portions of sheet metals to creating the finished product entirely. The software control of these machines ensure unimaginable productivity without requiring any labor.
Here are the answers to some of the common queries regarding the metalworking process:
No, metalworking is not a difficult task to accomplish. The only requirement is to choose the right machine for the job. With the correct metalworking machine, the desired part can be created very easily.
Rolling is the most widely used metalworking process. Every metal raw material goes through rollers multiple times during raw material processing. In many cases, achieving the final shape requires additional cycles of rolling.
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