The metalworking industry is dedicated solely to processing metals in their various forms and for their different uses. This sector supplies the raw material (metallurgical) to the other links in a production chain. Metalworking machinery therefore specialises in making custom parts for the rest of the productive sectors.
Metalworking machinery: what is metalworking?
Metalworking is an entire industry specialising in working metals (in their different variants and alloys) using a machine tool, as well as cutting tools to transform metals into custom parts.
In this industry, for example, metals are worked to turn them into sheets, flat bars, bearings and other products that will later be used by companies in different sectors, such as food, automotive, construction, agriculture, and so on.
Without the metalworking industry, other industries could not exist as we know them, since they receive from it the inputs they need for production. Metalworking not only provides custom parts, but also supplies specialised machines and tools for working metals.
This is a complex sector which requires not only specialised machines and tools, but also qualified staff who know how to use them with the necessary precision. The industry employs turners, millers, grinders, foundry workers, welders, forgers and CNC machine specialists, among others.
The most widely used industrial machines
Lathe
One of the most widely used machine tools in the metal industries is the lathe. This complex machine can carry out various processes such as chip-removal machining, but it can also cut, rough and drill parts, among many other functions.
The workpiece is clamped in a rotating headstock. The cutting tools are then engaged; they are held on a movable carriage that can travel parallel or perpendicular to the workpiece, approaching it to make the cuts. There are different types of lathe, the most common being horizontal, vertical and CNC lathes.
Milling machine
Among the metalworking machinery essential to the sector is the milling machine. Milling provides high-precision chip-removal machining of parts. It is one of the most important machines because it has three different movements (X, Y, Z) that can be combined to achieve a better finish. The rotating tool is called a milling cutter and has several cutting edges.
Drilling machine
The drilling machine is used, among other things, for machining parts by drilling; that is, making cylindrical holes in the workpiece. The finish is very precise and the tool can penetrate deep into the metal. The essential part of the drilling machine that makes the holes is the drill bit. There are different types of drill, and although the best known is the hand drill (corded and cordless), there are also bench, radial and pillar drills, which are more complex.
Press
Presses are widely used in the metalworking industry, as they are responsible for forming the parts to be machined. Unlike the lathe, the milling machine and the drill, presses do not produce chips. These machines have a piston and a fixed bed; the piston moves parallel to the bed, but can also move at a right angle. What a press does is pierce the metal part using its various punches and dies.
Grinding machine
The grinding machine is a machine tool used for machining parts by abrasion (wear that causes erosion); it is a very precise machine whose results show less roughness than chip-removal machining. To complete the grinding process, special abrasive wheels are used. The grinding machine consists of a table on which the material to be ground is clamped, and works with a hydraulic mechanism that drives the wheels.
Polishing machine
The purpose of the polishing machine is to remove residue after abrasive machining. Polishing machines work with rotating abrasive discs that move at high speed. Metals that go through the polishing machine have a smooth, detailed and highly polished finish. Using a polishing machine requires an expert operator, as it calls for very careful and precise handling.
Slotting machine
Among metalworking machinery is the vertical shaper or slotting machine, used to create notches or slots. It has a rotary table that makes it easier to handle the workpieces; on this machine, parts can also be positioned at different angles.
Boring mill
This machine tool is used to enlarge previously made holes. A series of tools are introduced into these holes and, as they rotate, remove chips to enlarge the holes. The boring mill can move horizontally and vertically and consists of a fixed table, as well as the rotating tool. Although a lathe can do the same job, the boring mill is much easier to use.