Business / Machine Shop Glossary

Abrasive: (sandstone, emery, corundum, diamonds) or artificial (silicon carbide, aluminum oxide) material used for making grinding wheels, sandpaper, abrasive cloth and lapping compounds.

Abrasive Wheels: Wheels of a hard abrasive, such as Carborundum used for grinding.

Acetone: A colorless, flammable, volatile liquid used as a paint remover and as a solvent for oils and other organic compounds.

Acme Thread: A screw thread having a 29 degree included angle. Used largely for feed and adjusting screws on machine tools.

Acute Angle: An angle that is less than 90 degrees.

Adapter: A tool holding device for fitting together various types or sizes of cutting tools to make them interchangeable on different machines.

Align: To adjust or set to a line or center.

Alloy: A substance with metallic properties, composed of two or more chemical elements of which at least one is a metal.

Alloy Steel: A plain carbon steel to which another element, other than iron and carbon, has been added in a percentage large enough to alter its characteristics.

Allthread: Steel or stainless steel rod threaded from end to end. It is available in a wide range of diameters and thread specifications.

Aluminum: One of the chemical elements, a silvery, lightweight, easily worked metal that resists corrosion.

Angle Plate: A precision holding fixture made of cast iron, steel or granite. The two principal faces are at right angles and may be slotted for holding the work or clamping to a table.

Annealing: The controlled heating and cooling of a metal to remove stresses and to make it softer and easier to work with.

Anvil: A heavy iron or steel block upon which metal is forged or hammered: also the fixed jaw on a micrometer against which parts are measured.

Apron: That portion of a lathe carriage that contains the clutches, gears and levers for moving the carriage. It also protects the mechanism.

Arbor: A shaft or spindle for holding cutting tools: most usually on a milling machine.

Arbor Press: A hand-operated machine tool designed for applying high pressure for the purpose of pressing together or removing parts.

Assembly: A unit of fitted parts that make up a mechanism or machine, such as the headstock assemble of a lathe.

Page: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22