Machining For Dummies

Chapter 3

Rounding Out the Rest of the Machining Processes

IN THIS CHAPTER

Looking beyond lathes and machining centers

Taking a look at toolmaking

Making and improving holes

Mentioning some honorable mentions

Not forgetting about sheet metal

Oh the nerves, the nerves; the mysteries of this machine called man! Oh the little that unhinges it, poor creatures that we are!

—CHARLES DICKENS

For all their incredible awesomeness, few would argue that milling and turning machines aren’t the only tools in the machining toolshed. In fact, many machined parts couldn’t be made without supporting processes such as sawing, hobbing, and honing. Nor could tools like progressive dies and injection molds be produced without electrical discharge machining (EDM) and grinding, the key elements of any tool and die room. Without them, there’d be no stamped clips and brackets, no molded toothbrushes, and no plastic Easter eggs. After all the applause showered on turning and milling machines in the past two ...