Glossary Terms

Highly productive method of metal removal in which an axial machining operation is performed in a single tool sequence. The tool makes a series of overlapping, drill-like plunges to remove part of a cylindrical plug of material one after another. Because of the increased rigidity of a Z-axis move, the tool can cover a large cross-section of material.

Form of hard turning that uses the entire cutting edge or a portion of the cutting edge to create an orthogonal cut.

Included angle at the point of a twist drill or similar tool; for general-purpose tools, the point angle is typically 118°.

NC system normally used for drilling and other operations where center-point location is readily determined. Tool is rapidly moved to a position, then drills, taps, reams, bores, counterbores, countersinks or performs some other task.

Animal, vegetable or synthetic oil that, when added to a mineral oil, improves its ability to penetrate the tool/workpiece interface.

Abrasive process that improves surface finish and blends contours. Abrasive particles attached to a flexible backing abrade the workpiece.

Abrasive grinding device that mounts on a contour bandsaw and uses fine-grit belts to grind and polish.

Cutting tool material consisting of polycrystalline cubic boron nitride with a metallic or ceramic binder. PCBN is available either as a tip brazed to a carbide insert carrier or as a solid insert. Primarily used for cutting hardened ferrous alloys.

Cutting tool material consisting of natural or synthetic diamond crystals bonded together under high pressure at elevated temperatures. PCD is available as a tip brazed to a carbide insert carrier. Used for machining nonferrous alloys and nonmetallic materials at high cutting speeds.

Processes in which metallic particles are fused under various combinations of heat and pressure to create solid metals.

Any process that uses a power-driven, rotating industrial brush to deburr, clean or finish a metal part. Depending on the application, the brush fibers, collectively known as brush fill material, may be metal wires; fiberglass-coated, abrasive-filled plastics; synthetics such as nylon and polypropylene; natural animal hairs such as horsehair; or vegetable fibers such as tampico and bahia.

Machine fitted with serrated blade held taut in a reciprocating frame that cuts in one direction, either on the forward or return stroke. See saw, sawing machine.