Outline of metalworking

This article is a list of terms commonly used in the practice of metalworking – the science, art, industry, and craft of shaping metal.

The following is a categorical list of metalworking processes: operations, procedures, techniques, and other actions performed that pertain to or consist of metalworking.

Casting is the process of creating objects by filling a mold with molten metal and allowing it to cool.

• Centrifugal
• Continuous
• Die
• Evaporative-pattern
  • Full-mold
  • Lost-foam
• Investment
  • in art: Lost-wax
• Permanent mold
• Plaster mold
• Sand
• Semi-solid metal
• Shaw process
• Shell molding
• Spin

Related terms

• Foundry
• Crucible
• Molding sand
• Refractory materials

Forming is the process of reshaping metal without adding or removing material.

• Hot working
  • Hot rolling
  • Carburizing
  • Drawing
  • Forging
  • Forge weld
  • Oxidising
  • Extruding
• Cold working
  • Coining
  • Cutting
  • Electrohydraulic forming
  • Electromagnetic forming
  • Explosive forming
  • Hydroforming
  • Progressive stamping
  • Punching
  • Rolling
  • Sinking
  • Spinning
  • Swaging
  • Tube bending
  • Bending
  • Shearing
  • Stamping
  • Milling
  • Sanding
  • Grinding
  • Cold forging
  • Cold rolling

Cutting is the process of reshaping metal by removing material.

• Machining
  • Boring
  • Broaching
  • Drilling
  • Electrical discharge machining
  • Electrochemical machining
  • Electron beam machining
  • Engraving
  • Facing
  • Grinding
  • Hobbing
  • Milling
  • Photochemical machining
  • Turning
  • Ultrasonic machining

Joining is the process of creating metal objects by combining pieces of material.

• Brazing
• Crimping
• Riveting
• Soldering
• Welding

Finishing covers all processes that affect the properties or performance of an object without affecting its form or structure.

• Anodizing
• Galvanizing
• Heat treating
  • Annealing
  • Precipitation strengthening
• Mass finishing
• Patination
• Peening
• Plating
• Polishing

• Arc welding
• MIG welding
• TIG welding
• Oxyacetylene welding
• Soldering
• Brazing
• Thermite welding

• Power tool
• Machine tools
• Anvil
• Forge
• Arbor press
• Drill press
• Lathe
• Milling machine
• Shaper
• Guillotine
• Bender
• Grinding machine
• Band saw

• Ductility
• Malleability
• Hardness
• Hardenability
  • Air hardening
  • Water hardening
  • Oil hardening
• Work hardening
• Case hardening
• Brittle fracture
• Grain size
• Grain orientation
• Crystal twinning

• Metal dust
• Metal swarf
• Shavings
• Filings
• Fines (metal working)
• Scrap
• Grindings
• Turnings
• Dross
• Chips
• Metal powder
• Sparks

This section is empty. You can help by adding to it. (September 2024)

This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (September 2024)

• Local exhaust ventilation (LEV)
• On-tool extraction

• Grade of hardware
• Steel abbreviations
• Alloy steel
• Carbon steel
• High-speed steel
• Tool steel
• Stainless steel
• Pickling
• Smooth clean surface

• Bed
• Carriage
• Compound rest
• Cross-slide
• Headstock
• Leadscrew
• Spindle
• Tailstock
• Toolpost

• 1-2-3 blocks
• Boring head
• Chuck
• Collets
• Dial indicator
• Indexing head
• Rotary table
• Sine bar
• Vise

• Draw
• Hand scrape (flatness)
• Pitch
• Rivet
• Blue brittleness
• Etching