Elementary processes of a machine shop

A machine shop is a workshop where huge and influential machine tools and equipments are used to cut, shape, drill, and finish metals, plastics, glass, wood and other similar materials. Machining means to create a useful component (such as an engine block) from raw materials like aluminum, iron, glass etc. The procedures carried out in a machine shop are several elementary processes essential for the functioning of a developed society.

Whereas, there are numerous specialized machine shop processes that are specific to particular industries, there are a few fundamental machine shop processes that are general and used commonly in most of the machine shops.  Some principal machine shop processes are: 

Turning

Turning is performed on a machine names as lathe which has a revolving spindle to hold the raw material. When the raw material rotates, different tools are employed to cut, shape and drill the material; for instance, to convert a simple cylinder of plastic into a tapered and shaped table leg.

Grinding

Grinding is one of the last but very important processes in machining of materials. Grinding recovers the exterior of the material being machined; smoothes the rough edges, and ensures the uniformity of surface.
 
Drilling

Drilling with a drill press in machine shop is a comparable process to the drilling done during do-it-yourself projects at home. While drilling a hole at home we move the drill to the material where we need a hole but drilling in a machine shop using a drill press is slightly different as the material to be drilled is placed in a vise and secured underneath a drill head that moves up and down. 

Milling

Milling of solid materials requires a horizontal or a vertical milling machine, depending on the orientation of the cutting tool. In milling machine, the work material moves in opposition to a rotating cutter. 

The fundamental machining procedures carried out in a machine shop may seem normal and easy, but they have a huge influence on the improvement of modern society.