Glossary Terms

Feeding in small increments for finishing the part.

Any of many different processes employed for surface, edge and corner preparation, as well as conditioning, cleaning and coating. In machining, usually constitutes a final operation.

Tool, belt, wheel or other cutting implement that completes the final, precision machining step/cut on a workpiece. Often takes the form of a grinding, honing, lapping or polishing tool. See roughing cutter.

Device, often made in-house, that holds a specific workpiece. See jig; modular fixturing.

Hardening process in which an intense flame is applied to the surfaces of hardenable ferrous alloys, heating the surface layers above the upper transformation temperature, whereupon the workpiece is immediately quenched.

Reduction in clearance on the tool’s flank caused by contact with the workpiece. Ultimately causes tool failure.

Thin web or film of metal on a casting that occurs at die partings and around air vents and movable cores. This excess metal is due to necessary working and operating clearances in a die. Flash also is the excess material squeezed out of the cavity as a compression mold closes or as pressure is applied to the cavity.

Flat surface machined into the shank of a cutting tool for enhanced holding of the tool.

System that can be programmed to assemble a family or group of similar assemblies. This typically is done with programmable robots. This system is contrasted to dedicated or fixed assembly systems.

Automated manufacturing system designed to machine a variety of similar parts. System is designed to minimize production changeover time. Computers link machine tools with the workhandling system and peripherals. Also associated with machine tools grouped in cells for efficient production. See cell manufacturing.

Fluid applied in volume by means of a recirculating system composed of a reservoir, filters, chip-removal components, pump, hoses and positionable application nozzles, along with movable splash shields, valves for adjusting flow and other controls. Fluids normally permit the highest metal-removal rates possible.

Uniaxial true stress at the onset of plastic deformation in a metal.