What are the functions of turning, boring, milling, grinding, planing, drilling and wire‑cutting equipment in machining?

 

Here is a clear explanation of turning, boring, milling, grinding, planing, drilling and wire‑cutting, together with their key characteristics:

 

Turning (Lathe Machining)

The workpiece is clamped onto a rotating spindle, while the cutting tool remains stationary and travels along the axis of rotation. This process is ideal for producing cylindrical‑shaped parts. Multi‑step cylinders can be achieved by turning different diameters on the same workpiece. Thread turning is also a common application, though threading can be completed via many other methods besides turning.

 

Boring & Drilling

Both processes are used for hole‑making. Drilling creates new holes in solid material, typically perpendicular to the workpiece surface, with variation only in hole diameter. Boring enlarges or reshapes an existing hole through lateral cutting. For example, it can widen a round hole into a slot. For both operations, the workpiece stays fixed while the cutting tool spins. A drill machine moves straight up and down purely for hole punching. A boring machine enters an existing hole and moves multi‑directionally to transform simple round holes into complex‑profiled bores.

 

Milling

In milling, the workpiece remains stationary and the cutting tool rotates. Unlike drilling and boring, the rotational plane of the milling cutter sits perpendicular (or at an angle) to the workpiece surface. The cutter resembles a ratchet wheel and mainly performs radial cutting around the spindle, with axial cutting also available. Most gears are produced by milling. A specialized variant called hobbing requires simultaneous workpiece rotation but is still categorized as milling.

 

Grinding

Grinding machines employ a high‑speed rotating grinding wheel. Material removal per pass is minimal, making grinding perfect for surface finishing and achieving precise dimensional tolerances.

 

Planing

Working similarly to hand‑planing wood, the planer holds the workpiece steady while the planing tool performs reciprocating linear cutting strokes.

 

Wire‑cutting (Wire‑EDM) Also known as wire electrical discharge machining (distinct from general EDM). Unlike the above mechanical‑cutting processes, wire‑cutting relies on high‑temperature electrical discharge between a molybdenum wire and the workpiece for material removal. The workpiece (mostly sheet material) is secured on the worktable. A thin molybdenum wire runs vertically through the workpiece. Voltage generates electrical sparks between the wire and workpiece; spark heat erodes and cuts through the material. No physical shearing force from the molybdenum wire is involved — it is not a metal bandsaw. Molybdenum wire is selected for its excellent discharge performance and long service life.