A machine tool is a powered mechanical device, typically used to fabricate metal components of machines by the selective removal of metal.
Examples of machine tools are:
- lathe (work rotates, single-edge cutter is fixed)
- mill (work is fixed, multi-edge cutter rotates)
- drill (like mill, but optimized to make holes)
- surface grinder
- broach
- gear shaper
- shaper
- Stewart Platform mills
- hobbing machine
When fabricating or shaping parts, several techniques are used to remove unwanted metal. Among these are:
- single edge cutting tools
- multiple edge cutting tools
- grinding
- EDM (electrical discharge machining)