An Overview of Machining in Umatilla County, OR

The field of machining includes many different processes, but what binds them all together is that these actions all involve taking a raw material and transforming it into something else of a specific size and shape. This can involve removing materials with actions such as boring, cutting or drilling, or it can involve adding more material to an initial part or substrate.

Machining is most commonly associated with metal products, but it can also be performed with other materials, such as plastic, wood, ceramic and various composites. Here’s some more information about machining and what it entails from our company specializing in machining in Umatilla County, OR.

Today’s machining practices

The term “machining” dates back to the 19^th century, but the processes and technologies used for machining have evolved significantly since then, as one would expect. Still, many of the basic processes are still used in machining today—boring, milling, drilling, tapping, sawing and other processes have all been used in manufacturing going back to the start of the industrial age, but they have simply become more advanced and sophisticated over time. Today there are three primary machining processes that are used in most industrial settings, those being milling, turning and drilling. Let’s take a closer look at each of these, including how they’re performed and the applications in which they are most frequently used:

• Milling: Milling operations involve a stationary work piece being cut and sawed by a rotating cutting tool controlled by a computer. This is perhaps the most common form of machining you’ll find today. If you’re familiar with CNC (computerized numerical control) technology, this is a form of milling that is frequently used for a variety of applications today. The main operations in this process are controlled by a computer instead of having a worker manually moving the cutting device. This allows for much greater precision, efficiency and consistency.
• Turning: Turning operations involve a material getting rotated against a cutting tool. You’d most commonly see this in a lathe. Like with milling, there are applications in which this process can be controlled by a central computer unit, without the need to have a worker stand and manually operate the cutting machine.
• Drilling: While the standard drill press is still used in machining today, a lot of the drilling work that’s done is significantly more sophisticated these days. A drill press may be operated by CNC, with holes being produced or refined with the use of a rotating cutting head coming into direct contact with a stationary work piece. This work piece must be secured to ensure accuracy of the drilling and to prevent the piece from moving while it’s being worked on.

These are just a few examples of some of the most common types of machining in Umatilla County, OR and some of the history behind machining as a trade. To learn more about our machining and water jetting services in Umatilla County, OR and the applications for which they are used, we encourage you to contact NW Metal Fabricators Inc. today.

Categorised in: Machining, Water Jet Cutting Services

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