machine tool

Introduction
History
Machine-tool characteristics
Cutting tools
- Tool materials
  - Carbon steel
  - High-speed steel
  - Cast alloys
  - Cemented tungsten carbide
  - Oxides
  - Diamonds
- Cutting fluids
Basic machine tools
- Turning machines
- Shapers and planers
- Drilling machines
- Milling machines
- Grinding machines
- Power saws
- Presses
Modifications of basic machines
- Turret lathes
- Multiple-station machines
- Gang drills
- Production millers
Special-purpose machines
- Gear-cutting machines
- Broaching machines
- Lapping and honing machines
- Boring machines
Automatic control
- Tracer techniques
- Numerical control (NC)
Computer-aided machining
- Computer numerical control (CNC)
  - Adaptive control
  - Machining centres
  - Computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM)
- Robots
- Flexible manufacturing system (FMS)
- Computer-integrated manufacturing
Nonconventional methods of machining
- Electrical methods of machining
  - Electron-beam machining (EBM)
  - Electrical-discharge machining (EDM)
  - Electrochemical machining (ECM)
  - Ion beam machining (IBM)
  - Laser machining (LM)
  - Plasma arc machining (PAM)
- Other methods of machining
  - Ultrasonic machining (USM)
  - Chemical machining (CHM)
  - Photochemical machining (PCM)
  - Water-jet machining

References & Edit History Related Topics

Images & Videos

Close-up of a metal lathe cutting a cylindrical metal piece, with the cutting tool in contact and the workpiece spinning rapidly.

Learn from a saw filer what working in a saw mill is like

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At a Glance

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machine tool summary

Related Questions

machine tool

Written by

Willard J. McCarthyAll

Fact-checked by

Britannica Editors

machine tool, any stationary power-driven machine that is used to shape or form parts made of metal or other materials. The shaping is accomplished in four general ways: (1) by cutting excess material in the form of chips from the part; (2) by shearing the material; (3) by squeezing metallic parts to the desired shape; and (4) by applying electricity, ultrasound, or corrosive chemicals to the material. The fourth category covers modern machine tools and...

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