Kinds of job work
What each kind of engineering job work involves, the tolerances it holds, what decides the price and what to send a workshop.
- CNC turningWhat CNC turning is, which parts and materials suit it, the tolerances it holds, what decides the price and what to send a workshop for a quotation.
- VMC / CNC millingWhat VMC and CNC milling job work involves, the parts and tolerances it suits, what decides the price, design tips and what to send a workshop for a quotation.
- Wire-cut EDMWhat wire-cut EDM job work involves, the accuracy and finish it gives on hardened steel, how it is priced (per square inch), and what to send a workshop.
- Laser cuttingWhat laser cutting job work involves, the materials and thicknesses it suits, accuracy, how it is priced (per metre, per piece or per kg), and what file to send.
- Cylindrical grindingWhat cylindrical, centreless and internal grinding job work involves, the tolerances and finishes it gives, grinding allowance after hardening, and what to send.
- Sheet metal stamping (press work)What sheet metal stamping and press job work involves: blanking, piercing, bending and drawing, progressive dies, tooling cost versus volume, and what to send.
- Investment castingWhat investment (lost wax) casting is, the process steps, sizes and tolerances, materials, wax die cost and when to choose it over sand casting or machining.
- Hardening and temperingWhat hardening and tempering heat treatment does, which steels it suits, hardness checks (HRC, HB), distortion, and what to tell a heat-treatment shop.
- Drilling, boring and tappingWhat drilling, reaming, boring and tapping job work involves, the hole tolerances each gives, the machines used, and how to specify holes and threads on a drawing.
- Injection mould makingHow a plastic injection mould is designed and made, single and multi-cavity moulds, mould steels, what decides the mould price and lead time, and what to send a mould maker.
- ForgingWhat forging job work involves, closed-die and open-die forging, the materials and parts it suits, tolerances, die cost and what to send a forging shop.
- Gear cuttingWhat gear cutting job work involves: hobbing, shaping and grinding, the gear details a shop needs (module, teeth, pressure angle), heat treatment and accuracy classes.
- Sand castingHow sand casting works, the metals it suits (grey iron, SG iron, steel, aluminium, brass), tolerances and finish, pattern cost, and what to send a foundry.
- Pressure die castingHow high-pressure die casting makes aluminium and zinc parts, typical alloys, tolerances and finish, die cost versus volume, and what to send a die caster.
- Powder coatingWhat powder coating involves: pre-treatment, spraying and curing, epoxy and polyester powders, typical thickness, colours and finishes, and what to tell a coating shop.
- Zinc platingWhat zinc electroplating does, passivation colours (clear/blue, yellow, black), typical thickness, salt-spray resistance, hydrogen embrittlement, and what to tell a plating shop.
More pages are being added. See also: Machine types · Material grades
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