Machining is the process of removing unwanted material from a part in the form of chips. Machining is generally done on either a manual or CNC (computer numerical control) machines. The most common machines being used are the lathe and the vertical or horizontal mill.

Lathe: the machine tool “lathe” is generally used for decreasing the size of a cylindrical workpiece during machining. With the lathe, the workpiece is either held in a three or four jaw chuck or with a faceplate and dog. The workpiece is then rotated and machined with a single point tool.

Mill: the machine tool “mill” is a multipoint tool where the cutter has more than one cutting edge. In a mill machine the workpiece is mounted to a movable table with a cutter that is able to move up and down, the material being machined. The multipoint cutter is forced into the work piece allowing for either climb or conventional machining.