Machine tool

A man uses a milling machine, which is a type of machine tool.

A machine tool is a machine that cuts, shapes, or forms material.^[1]

A machine tool has three basic elements:

A work-holding device for holding the material, or workpiece.
A tool-holding device for holding the tool.
A method for guiding the movement of the tool relevant to the workpiece or material.

A CNC lathe designed for cutting wood

A lathe is one of the oldest types of machine tools. It is most commonly used to make circular cuts in wood or metal. A lathe holds the material to be cut on a rotating spindle, and the spindle is driven by a motor or crank.^[2]

Machine tools are commonly used to cut and form parts out of metal, but can be designed to work with most materials.

Machine tools that are controlled by a computer are called CNC machines.

↑ "Machine tool | Description, History, Types, & Facts | Britannica". www.britannica.com. Retrieved 2024-08-21.
↑
"Lathe | Metalworking, Turning, Shaping == Machine Tool Media ==
- A metal lathe is an example of a machine tool.
- Eli Whitney milling machine, c. 1818
- CNC bridge mill/ saw for cutting/ milling flat materials
| Britannica". www.britannica.com. 2024-07-02. Retrieved 2024-08-21.
{{cite web}}: line feed character in |title= at position 40 (help)

[1] "Machine tool | Description, History, Types, & Facts | Britannica". www.britannica.com. Retrieved 2024-08-21.

[2] "Lathe | Metalworking, Turning, Shaping == Machine Tool Media ==

A metal lathe is an example of a machine tool.

Eli Whitney milling machine, c. 1818

CNC bridge mill/ saw for cutting/ milling flat materials

| Britannica". www.britannica.com. 2024-07-02. Retrieved 2024-08-21. {{cite web}}: line feed character in |title= at position 40 (help)

[3] A metal lathe is an example of a machine tool.

[4] Eli Whitney milling machine, c. 1818

[5] CNC bridge mill/ saw for cutting/ milling flat materials

[1]

[2]