What is Machining, Its Types and Applications?

There are two different types of manufacturing when it comes to metal work, additive manufacturing and subtractive manufacturing. The process where materials are added or combined together with minimal loss is known as additive manufacturing (some examples are sintering and 3D printing). The process where to get the desired shape there needs to be a loss of material, it is known as subtractive manufacturing, and the processes of Machining fall solely within this category.

Machining is a name given to there process where raw materials are cut away from a bulk material until a desired shape and tolerance is achieved. There are different types of machining (which we will go into further) but the end result is the same, materials are removed to get the finished article. Say a sculptor carving a rock to make a statue, but in Machining, as is the name, a machine is involved. Well, machining processes are now used in wood working, stone masonry and other materials, our focus here will solely be on metal work.

As with the development of different manufacturing technologies mass utilization of machining was done during the 20^th century. At the start to middle of 1900s various techniques were developed which have transferred into the modern machining process. And with the advancement technologies we now have computer numeric control machines or CNC which are accurate and efficient. Still, the underlying types of machining and the processes are the same. Parsing through all the branches within machining process, there are three main categories which encompasses the entirety of the manufacturing method and they are as follows;

Turning
The turning process involves moving the workpiece against a cutting tool. The metal material is spun at a high speed and brought closer to the cutting tool which intern uses the spinning motion chip away portions of the material to give it the desired shape. Turning process is mostly used when the workpiece is moderately sized. There is a weight and dimensional limit when working with turning machining type.
Milling
The other half of the turning and milling duo, this process involves a spinning cutting tool coming up against a stationary object. The cutting tool rotates at a high speed so as to create friction and allow the cutting edges on the tool to cut away target areas. Mostly large work pieces are worked on with the milling machines.
Drilling
The third type of machining involves drilling. There are different subdivisions within this type. In drilling, under most circumstances, a drilling press is used but nowadays various work CNC machines provide drilling activity within a single machine. The main purpose of drilling is to make holes, the size, threading, groves, tolerance level requirements, that is where other types of machining come into play.

Some of the other subtypes of machining are cutting, grinding, boring, reaming, deburring, chamfer, and in some cases burnishing. All of this in one way or the other fall within the turning, milling and drilling types. And most of the machining types mentioned here are available within one roof in Eurobalt.

Some Applications of Machining

Machining is an expensive and time-consuming process, a single block needs to be worked on non-stop unless the desired shape and tolerance is achieved. Still, industries seeking turned and milled parts has only grown over the years. There are a few reasons for that, the main one being the quality of machined parts. Since they are made from a single block material, machined parts are extremely durable for the desired work. And that is why these industries are still looking for good machined components;

Automotive Industry
There are various parts in a vehicle which require the precision of machining. From engines to steering and transmission systems, you can find machined components all over. This is why automotive industry is one of the largest users of machined components.
Consumer Goods
Competing with automotive industry for the consumption of machined components are consumer goods. From light fixtures to laptops and mobile phones, from different kitchen appliances to smart home equipment, there are various metallic as well as non-metallic consumer goods utilizing the precision of machining.
Aerospace Industry
One of the reasons for the overall adoption of machining technology in standard production in the 1900s was because of the use of the tech to facilitate spare parts production for military vehicles and planes during the second world war. And that heritage of using machined components in planes and flaying machines has not gone even. Even more so now as consumer drones are utilizing the technology to construct long lasting and sturdy machines.
Medical Industry
The thing with medical instruments are they need to be extremely reliable and produced in a controlled environment. While there are ways to sterilize equipment, most doctors prefer machined parts for their tools whether it is operating on a patient or just simply taking care of them in the ward. You can also find machined components in surgical machines, beds and other hospital equipment.

Precision Machining at Eurobalt

At Eurobalt we offer turning, milling and drilling operation for all our clients. With multiple CNC machines at our disposal, Eurobalt has been offer timely delivery and high-quality products for all of our machining parts requiring clients. We have even recently added a new production line so if you are worrying with what is happening to European Manufacturers in line with the energy costs, we are offering our clients 3 years of price guarantee.

For machining technology, we are offering to hold prices at quoted and negotiated level for up to 3 years. So, depending on the contract length (anywhere from 6 to 36 months) we are offering to hold the prices for our customers. That way, no matter what happens in the world, one thing you will never have to worry about is us increasing the prices during the contractual period. So, send us your drawings and yearly requirements and one of our sale specialists will send you a price offer in no time.