The Metal Working Machine Tool Operator

This chapter concentrates on metal working machines. Machine tools exist to facilitate the production of components: Compared with the engineer’s hand tools they offer greater power, speed and accuracy. They are nearly always driven by individual electric motors (for power and speed) and are based on massive, rigid frames (for accuracy). In metal cutting the aim is to provide close control over the relative motion of a tool or cutter and a workpiece. In metal forming, accuracy is obtained by the use of carefully aligned and shaped pairs of tools, known as dies, between which metal is shaped under pressure. Components are designed to suit metal cutting when very high accuracy is required, or only a small number of identical components is to be produced. For long runs of less accurate work the faster and less wasteful forming processes are preferred.