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When looking through our website, there may have been some
terms that you were not completely familiar with. Here are
some of the words that you may have encountered:
Burr: A burr is a rough edge as a result of a
freshly cut or drilled piece of metal.
CNC: "CNC" is an acronym that is found in
almost every modern machine shop. The acronym stands for
"Computer Numerical Control," and the design stands
for a dramatic increase in production capabilities. CNC allows
for very large product runs to be run with minimal error. CNC
also increases efficiency, as the machine operator serves as a
supervisor, which allows multiple machines to be run
simultaneously.
Chuck: The chuck is a device on a lathe that clamps
down the piece of material that is being drilled or tapped.
The chuck typically has three or four "jaws"--the
device that actually makes physical contact with the material.
However, some chucks have up to eight jaws, although fewer are
more common. Because each of the jaws moves in and out at the
same rate, they automatically center the work piece within the
chuck, which prevents wobbling and inaccuracy.
Collet: A collet is a hollow clamping device that
allows material of a certain diameter to be passed through.
The machine tightens around the collet, which in turn clamps
down on the material being rotated. With a CNC lathe, it
allows long bars of material to pass through to the cutting
area within the lathe. When multiple parts are cut from a
single bar, the raw material does not have to be cut
beforehand, so multiple pieces can be cut without
interruption.
(dial) Calipers: There are two main types of
calipers; dial calipers, which are strictly mechanical, and
electronic, which read out a measurement onto a LCD (liquid
crystal display), similar to a digital watch. Calipers, unlike
micrometers, read a large range of measurements, such as 0-6",
or 0-12". With electronic calipers, measurements are
almost instantaneous, as the measurement is taken as soon as
the jaws are closed for a second or so. However, they are not
as accurate as micrometers, and as such, they should not be
used for precision measurements.
Deburring tool: To deburr is to take off the burred
edge of a metal. A deburring tool is a small (oftentimes
approximately 0.25 inches long) curved blade, which is able to
rotate around a handle. Deburring is an important safety and
finishing practice, as it can eradicate a sharp outer or inner
edge of a metal.
Lathe: The lathe is a tool that is used primarily to
drill and tap. The material remains clamped down within the
chuck, and the cutting device is moved towards the material.
However, unlike most other cutting tools, the lathe is unique
in that the material that is being cut rotates, while the
drill bit or tap remains stationary. Because of this, it is
primarily used for holes cut in the center of the rotating
material, as it results in semmetry around the hole being cut.
Micrometer: A micrometer is a hand-held measuring
tool that allows one to take a measurement (whether it be
length, diameter, etc.) with precision. Typically, micrometers
read to four decimal places (ten thousandths) within a range
of an inch, for example, 0-1", 1-2", or 11-12".
Milling Machine: The milling machine is in a way the
opposite of a lathe, as instead of the product being rotated,
the tool bit is rotated instead. This makes the milling
machines a bit more versatile, as the tool can be placed
anywhere in reference to the part, as long as it is within the
boundaries of the cutting area.
Tap: Upon first glance, a tap looks similar to a
drill bit, but upon closer inspection, it can be seen that
they serve different purposes. A drill bit simply cuts a hole
in the material, and a tap creates a thread; either within a
hole (such as the inside of a nut), or outside of a cylinder
(such as with a bolt).
Wire EDM: Otherwise known as wire "Electrical
Discharge Machining," Wire EDM is a cutting system that
bypasses traditional cutting bits for removing material.
Instead, Wire EDM uses a CNC-controlled charged wire to "cut"
away the material. EDM allows for extremely accurate cutting;
moreso than almost any other method, which makes cutting
radii, numerous small angles (such as sprockets), and curved
shapes much more manageable.
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Ph. (904) 579-1835
Fax (904 579-1836
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Alpha Machining
20 Knight Boxx Rd.
#106
Orange Park, FL 32065
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alpha_mach@clearwire.net
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