In today’s industrial world, metals are widely used in the production and creation of various products. A key aspect of this is metal shaping. Understanding different metals and their various shaping methods is essential. One of the oldest and most effective methods for shaping metal is turning, where controlled rotation is used to create the desired shape.
Moulding is an industrial process in which molds are created to manufacture various parts (often from plastic, metal, aluminum, etc.) with specific shapes, dimensions, and accuracy. The mold serves as a template, guiding the raw material into its final form.
History of turning
While the technique of turning was originally used to shape wood, advancements in technology led to the development of turning machines specifically for metalworking. These machines can create various shapes, including conical, cylindrical, curved, and grooved forms. Other techniques like threading and drilling are also used in metal shaping.
Turning processes
Basic Turning: The initial and most fundamental metal machining step. The workpiece rotates while the cutting tool moves parallel to the axis. This allows the metal to be shaped to a desired form, either externally or internally, depending on the turning type. Taper Turning: Uses CNC machines and specialized tools to create tapered shapes on metals. For easier operation and greater precision, particularly for less experienced turners, hydraulic feeds might be employed. Groove Turning: Involves creating grooves or channels in the outer surface of cylindrical parts using dedicated machine tools and groove cutters. The cutting tool progressively creates the specified groove. Thread Turning: This process involves cutting threads on a workpiece, utilizing a lathe with specialized threading tools. Specific tools and cutting attachments for desired threads ensure precise creation of threads. Chamfering: This process involves creating regular, linear grooves along the workpiece. Commonly used to prep the part for further joining, assembly, or to reduce its weight, chamfiring often produces shallow, precise grooves in metal.
Conclusion
Different turning processes allow craftsmen and engineers to shape metal parts with high precision and according to their specific needs. From conical and cylindrical turning to grooving and screw turning, each of these processes plays an important role in the production of metal parts, allowing metals to be transformed into precise and functional shapes.