machine tool

Table of Contents

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

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Science & Tech

machine tool

Written by Willard J. McCarthy, Joseph A. McGeoughSee All

Fact-checked by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Article History

drill press

Category: Science & Tech

Key People:: Johann Georg Bodmer; Sir Joseph Whitworth, Baronet; James Nasmyth; Henry Maudslay; Joseph Bramah

Related Topics:: grinding machine; reamer; lathe; drill press; boring machine

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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 processes for machining ultrahard metals not machinable by older methods. Machine tools that form parts by removing metal chips from a workpiece include lathes, shapers ...(100 of 6816 words)

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