
	Task	
                                  Definition
Abrasive Blasting
A process for cleaning the surface of metals or ceramics which involves using compressed air to blow an abrasive material (e.g., sand) with considerable force through a hose against a surface.
Abrasive Processing
Processes that involve cleaning or altering the surface of metals or ceramics by abrasive action, utilizing natural or manufactured abrasive materials.
Abrasive Sawing
The process of sawing metals or ceramics by abrasive action.
Annealing 
The controlled heating and cooling of a metal to remove stresses and to make the material softer and easier to work with during subsequent operations such as rolling.   
Atomizing
A process used to reduce materials into fine particles or spray.
Attritioning
A manufacturing process that uses friction with a rough surface to make very fine particles or powders from materials.
Blanking
The process of cutting up a large sheet of stock into smaller pieces, or blanks, suitable for the next operation in stamping.   Blanking can be as simple as a cookie-cutter-type die to produce prototype parts, or high-speed dies that run at 1000+ strokes per minute, running coil stock. 
Bonding
The process of joining two materials together by passing the metal between rolls which compresses and bonds the metals together.
Boring 
The formation of a cylindrical hole in a solid material by use of a cutting tool. 
Brazing
Joining metals by the fusion of alloys having a melting temperature above 800 degrees Fahrenheit, but below the melting temperature of the metals being joined. In ceramics, refers to the joining of a plated surface to another metal component at temperatures typically less than 1100 degrees Celsius.
Breaking
The term used to describe operations that fracture larger pieces of material into smaller pieces.
Bright Cleaning
A process in which metallic pieces are dipped into an acid solution in order to achieve a clean, bright surface. 
Broaching 
Multiple milling, accomplished by pushing a tool with stepped cutting edges along the part, usually through holes.
Brushing
The process of cleaning the surface of metal using a brush.  The bristles of the brush can be soft or hard; natural, synthetic or metallic. 
Buffing
The smoothing of a metal surface by means of flexible wheels.
Burnishing 
The process in which a smooth hard tool (using sufficient pressure) is rubbed on the metal surface to flatten the high spots by causing plastic flow of the metal. 
Casting
The process of pouring a heated liquid metal into a mold.  Once the metal cools and solidifies, taking the shape inside the mold, it is removed, resulting in a cast shape.
Centerless Grinding 
A grinding process that differs from other cylindrical processes in that the work piece is not mechanically held in place at the centers.
Chemical Cleaning
The process of removing oil, dirt and scale from the surface of metals or ceramics using caustic chemicals.
Chemical Etching
Involves removing the surface of a metal chemically or electrochemically.
Chemical Milling
The process of controlled removal of metal using corrosive chemicals.
CNC Machining 
Computerized Numerically Controlled (CNC) machining refers to the computer control of machine tools for the purpose of repeatedly manufacturing complex parts. 
Cold Isostatic Pressing (CIP)
A method for the consolidation of metal or ceramic powders mixed with short fibers, whiskers or particulates subjected to uniform pressure in a flexible envelope. 
Cold Pilger 
The drawing technique employed to produce seamless tubing using a die and mandrel.
Crushing
A term used to describe operations used to reduce materials to particles by pounding or grinding.
Cutting 
The process of mechanically shearing metal.
Deburring (grinding) 
A finishing step involving the removal of burrs or surface imperfections from materials using abrasive activities such as grinding or sanding.
Deburring (non-grinding) 
The removal of burrs, sharp edges or fins from metal parts by processes other than grinding, such as filing, machining or tumbling. 
Destructive Testing
Refers to testing a workpiece for comparison to standards, where the testing results in the destruction of the work piece.
Dicing
The process of cutting a ceramic substrate into individual chips using high precision saw with an ultra-thin diamond or abrasive blade. 
Drawing
A manufacturing process for producing a wire, bar or tube by pulling the material through a die to reduce the diameter and increase the length. 
Drilling 
The process of using a drill bit in a drill to produce holes in a solid material.
Dross Handling
The process of physically handling dross produced by the melting of metals and alloys throughout manufacturing, packaging and shipping.
Dry Tumbling
A process used to remove burrs, sharp edges or fins from metal parts by rolling the work in a barrel with other materials.
Electrical Chemical Machining (ECM) 
The process of removing material using electrical energy created in an electrolyte solution to erode metal from the workpiece.
Electrical Discharge Machining (EDM) 
The process of removing material by a series of rapidly recurring electric arcing discharges between an electrode (the cutting tool) and the work piece, in the presence of an energetic electric field.  Sometimes referred to as spark machining or spark eroding.
Extrusion 
The process of shaping metal or ceramic into a chosen continuous form by forcing it through a die of a desired shape.
Filing by hand
The non-mechanized process of using a metalworking hand tool (a file) to shape, smooth, or deburr material.
Firing
The process of applying fire or heat, as in the hardening or glazing of ceramics.
Forging
The process of working a heated metal to a predetermined shape by hammering, upsetting, pressing or rolling.
Grinding 

A process that uses friction with a rough surface such as an abrasive wheel on the workpiece to make very fine finishes or very light cuts.
Heading
A cold forming process that essentially involves applying force with a punch to the end of a metal blank contained in a die.  Heading, which includes upsetting and extruding, is often performed in conjunction with other cold forming operations such as sizing, piercing, trimming, thread rolling, blank rolling and pointing.
Heat Treating (in air) 

The process of heating and cooling solid metals, alloys or ceramics in normal atmosphere to obtain certain desired properties or characteristics.  
Heat Treating (inert atmosphere)

The process of heating and cooling solid metals, alloys or ceramics in an inert atmosphere such as nitrogen gas to obtain certain desired properties or characteristics.  The inert atmosphere excludes oxygen and reduces the generation of oxides on the surface of the metal or alloy.
High Speed Machining (>10,000 rpm)

Material-working processes that involve using a power-driven machine tool, such as a router or drill, at speeds in excess of 10,000 rpm to shape metal.
Honing 
The process of finishing ground surfaces to a high degree of accuracy and smoothness with abrasive blocks applied to the surface under a light controlled pressure, with a combination of rotary and reciprocating motions.  
Hot Isostatic Pressing (HIP) 
The process of consolidating metal powders into specific shapes using both elevated temperature and isostatic gas pressure in a chamber. 
Hot rolling
A metallurgical process in which the metal is passed through a pair of rolls while the metal is above its recrystallization temperature.
Lapping 
An abrasive machining operation that scours the surface of the work piece with an abrasive in fluid.
Laser Cutting
A process which uses a laser to cut materials.  The material to be cut either melts, burns or vaporizes away.
Laser Machining
A process which uses a laser to machine materials.  The material either melts, burns or vaporizes away.
Laser Scribing
A process that uses a laser to cut grooves into the surface of thin material to facilitate mechanical breaking.
Laser Marking
A process that uses a laser to mark the surface of a material for identification purposes.
Machining
Material-working processes that involve using a power-driven machine tool, such as a lathe, milling machine or drill, to shape metal.
Melting
The processes of heating a solid substance to a point where it turns liquid.
Milling
The machining or cutting of metal products with revolving cutters.
Mixing
The process of combining powders and fillers to produce a part or product.
Photo-Etching
A chemical etching process that dissolves material from unmasked areas of metallic parts.  The design is photographically exposed on the workpiece using ultraviolet light.
Pickling 
The process of chemically removing oxides and scale from the surface of metal using inorganic acids.
Piercing
The process of cutting internal features (holes or slots) in stock.
Pilger
The process employed to produce seamless tubing using a die and mandrel
Plasma Spray

A thermal spraying process in which a non-transferred arc of a plasma torch is utilized to create gas plasma.  The plasma acts as the source of heat for melting and propelling the surfacing material to the substrate.
Point and chamfer
A process used to grind or machine a point or bevel on the end of a rod or wire which facilitates insertion into a drawing machine.
Polishing
The process of creating a smooth and shiny surface by rubbing the surface with a fine abrasive material. 
Powder Handling
The routine handling, transfer, transport or processing, including pressing, of metal or metal oxide powders and particulate.
Powder Pressing
The process of consolidating metal or metal oxide powder into a specific shape prior to subsequent processing such as firing.
Pressing
The process in which metal is deformed by plastically deforming the material and changing its shape.  The material is stressed beyond the yield strength but below the ultimate tensile strength. The surface area of the material does not change much.
Reaming 
To enlarge or dress out a hole in metal with a reamer.
Roll Bonding
The process of bonding two metals together by passing the metals between rolls which compresses and bonds the metals together.
Rolling
A term applied to the operation of shaping and reducing metal in thickness by passing the metal between rolls which compresses, shapes and lengthens the metal.
Sanding 
A process used to smooth or dress the surface of a workpiece using an abrasive surface.
Sawing (tooth blade)
A manufacturing process that involves cutting or severing of metal or other materials with a serrated blade. 
Sectioning
The process of obtaining a smaller piece of material from a larger sample of the material.  The process can involve fracturing, sawing and/or abrasive cutting.
Shearing 
The process of severing of metal, usually cold, between sharpened blades, as in a shear; to severe or rupture a part as a result of forces in parallel planes that slide across each other at right angles to a major axis of the part.
Sintering
The process of converting powder into a solid by heating, usually after pressure compacting.  
Sizing
Refers to the various mechanical processes to bring a work piece to the proper shape and dimensions.
Skiving
A continuous shaving process which results in a smoother surface finish than is possible by milling. 
Slab Milling
The milling process used to remove large amounts of material, leaving a flat finished surface, or slab. 
Slitting 
The operation of cutting wide sheets of metal into narrower strips by passing them through rotary shears that cut it to a finished width.
Snapping
The term used to describe operations that fracture larger pieces of material into smaller pieces.
Spray Drying
The process of mixing and drying a slurry to form a homogeneous mixture of powders. 
Sputtering
The physical process where atoms of a solid target material are ejected due to bombardment of the material by energetic ions and deposited on a substrate.
StampingThe formation of light metal parts from metal sheet, strip or thin plate, using dies.SwagingThe process of using a die and mandrel along with hammering to change the size and shape of the outer and inter diameters of tubes and/or rods. Tape CastingThe process of applying a slurry of metal oxide onto a clear acetate tape to produce a long sheet of materials for subsequent processing such as firing.Tapping The process of cutting screw threads in a round hole with a tap (an internal thread cutting tool).Tensile TestingA standard test piece is gripped at either end in a testing machine, which slowly exerts an axial pull so that the metal is stretched until it breaks.Torch Cutting (i.e. oxy-acetylene)The process of cutting metals by using an oxygen/fuel mixture to heat the metal above the melting point.TrepanningA type of boring where an annular cut is made into a solid material with the coincidental formation of a plug or solid cylinder. TumblingA deburring operation that involves rolling the work in a barrel containing abrasives suspended in a liquid medium.TurningThe process used to produce cylindrical components in a lathe.  A cylindrical piece of stock is rotated and a cutting tool is traversed along 2 axes of motion to produce precise diameters and depths. Vapor DepositionThe process used to deposit thin films of various materials onto various surfaces by physical means.Water-Jet CuttingA process to cut metal parts using a very high-pressure stream of water. Welding (ARC, TIG, MIG, etc.) A process used to join metals by the application of heat. Source: Materion's Beryllium Safety Interactive Guide Glossary, available at https://www.berylliumsafety.com/interactive-guide/xml/task.xml (last visited September 10, 2018).
