CNC Machining Terminology
1.5S Methodology: a systematic form of visual management that maximizes efficiency and minimizes waste. Originating in Japan, 5S stands for: Sort, Set in Order, Shine, Standardize, and Sustain.
2.Acid Bath: a type of passivation that immerses parts in citric or nitric acid to increase performance and durability of the parts.
3.Alloy: metal formed by mixing 2 or more different metals.
4.Annealing: the controlled heating and cooling of metal to remove stresses and make it easier to work with (machine).
5.Anodizing: to coat a metal with a protective oxide layer. The finish can be decorative, durable, and corrosion resistant, and provides a better surface for paint and adhesion. Aluminum is the most common metal used for anodizing, but titanium and magnesium can also be treated this way. The process is actually an electrolytic passivation process used to increase the thickness of the natural oxide layer on the surface of the metal. Anodizing is available in a number of colors.
6.Bar Feeder: an automated machine that is typically paired with a Swiss screw machine. The bar feeder delivers material to the lathe tool in the machine as needed, which in turn minimizes operator supervision.
7.Bar Stock: metal bars of various lengths. It can be purchased in a variety of shapes (hexagon, flat, octagon, round and square), but for CNC Swiss machining and turning, round bar stock is almost always specified.
8.Barrel Plating: Used for small, light weight machined components. Parts are put in a barrel with the plating solution and then rotated around (tumbled) while the electric current plates the parts with the required material.
9.Black Oxide: a conversion coating that is produced through a chemical reaction when component parts are dipped in an alkaline salt solution. Learn more about black oxide.
10.Bolt: a bar that slides into a socket to fasten one piece to another.
11.Bore: a hole milled through material.
12.Boring: process that is used to enlarge a hole with the use of single point tool.