Glossary Terms

Indentation hardness test uses a calibrated machine that utilizes the depth of indentation, under constant load, as a measure of hardness. There are 15 standard hardness scales. The most common are the A, B and C scales.

Indentation hardness test uses a calibrated machine that utilizes the depth of indentation, under constant load, as a measure of hardness. There are five superficial hardness scales (N, T, W, X and Y) and three different loads (15, 30 and 45 kgf) that can be applied to the appropriate indenter.

Rotation about an axis, as with a rotatable wrist.

Bolts to a milling machine to permit machining such shapes as circular T-slots and cams.

Type of CNC machine tool for high-volume, extended-length production runs of a family of parts. A workpiece is transferred from station to station in a rotary fashion and a tool or tools at each station performs one or more operations until the part is completed.

Tool for high-volume metal removal; normally followed by finishing passes. See finishing tool.

Irregularities on the surface of a workpiece caused by production process. Includes traverse feed marks within the limits of the instrument cutoff setting (sampling length). See flows; lay; waviness.

Plot showing the relationship of stress, S, and the number of cycles, N, before fracture in fatigue testing.

Accelerated corrosion test in which specimens are exposed to a fine mist of a solution usually containing sodium chloride but sometimes modified with other chemicals. Used to determine resistance to, and rates of, corrosion exhibited by various materials.

Machining operation in which a powered machine, usually equipped with a blade having milled or ground teeth, is used to part material (cutoff) or give it a new shape (contour bandsawing, band machining).

Machine designed to use a serrated-tooth blade to cut metal or other material.

Wavy surface condition caused by deflection, unbalanced tool, loose workpiece or tooling or worn machine.