Screw Machine Tooling
Machine tools are powered mechanical devices such as drill presses, gear shapers, lathes, milling machines, saws, planers and screw machines that use several techniques to fabricate or shape parts including abrasive cutting, electrical discharge machining and cutting tools with single or multiple edge tools. Screw machines are made of titanium, brass or stainless steel and are used to remove similar materials when making screws. Other commonly used metals include aluminum, bronze, copper, nickel, hardened metals, precious metals, steel and steel alloys. Screw machines that specialize in turning plastic parts or working with composite materials are also available. The screw machining process is actually relatively straightforward; though there are many components used in screw machine tooling, the basic parts are spindles that hold the material and the tool attachments that machine it. The motors that power the machine can be obtained from various sources because they are mostly standard electric motors.
To produce screw machine components, computer numerical control systems (CNC) systems are frequently used. CNC tooling allows for precision tooling because it minimizes the opportunity for human error. The process begins with the placement of the workpiece, a round, square or hexagonal blank. It is turned, faced and cut to size. Depending on the system, the tool may be switched out, the part may be transferred to another machine or the process may continue automatically. A drill machine, for instance, could have a magazine with a variety of drill bits that either an operator or computer would change. CNC machining has become the predominant method and the systems continue to make technological advances. Various tools grind, cut and shear away the necessary metal in steps in accordance with the CAD, or computer-aided design. Smoothing and finishing is completed and the part is removed from the machine. Turning and milling are two major machining techniques. Turned parts are rotated while a stationary tool is applied; milled parts are held stationary and worked by a rotating tool. Lathes are used for turning parts; milling machines include drill presses and other machines. Screw machines require similar parts and tools to the very machines that tool them.
