Machine Shop

(The picture above is a lathe. A cutting tool can be seen creating a thread by removing material from a rotating piece of cold rolled steel)

This past semester I took a course in Machine Shop practice; a course traditionally associated with those who want to go into the manufacturing industry. The basics of this course taught us students the machining practices of three common machines used for manufacturing parts: lathes, milling machines, and drill presses.

For those unfamiliar, machining is a manufacturing process where material (i.e. steel, aluminum ... etc.) is removed via a cutting tool. An engineering drawing is referenced, giving the machinist the specifications on where and how much material is needed to be removed.

A common example of machining include the removing of material to make holes using a hand power drill.

A rather interesting course, and well deserved brake from the theoretical aspect of engineering. There is a satisfaction of having designed a piece through manufacturing. After taking the course, I see human-made objects more easily from a different perspective and how they are designed through manufacturing such as door knobs, and metal bars.