What is the process of removing material from a workpiece called?

The process of removing material from a workpiece is known as machining. This is a fundamental manufacturing process that involves cutting, drilling, milling, or grinding material to achieve desired dimensions and surface finishes. Machining is employed to create precise parts with high tolerances and is commonly used in various industries, such as automotive, aerospace, and manufacturing.

Machining encompasses various methods, including turning, where a cutting tool is used to remove material from a rotating workpiece, and milling, which uses a rotating tool to remove material from a stationary workpiece. The importance of machining lies in its ability to produce complex shapes and features that are difficult to achieve with other manufacturing processes.

The alternatives mentioned, such as coating, welding, and forging, serve different purposes. Coating involves applying a layer of material onto a surface for protection or aesthetics, welding is a joining process used to fuse materials together, and forging is a shaping process that deforms materials using compressive forces rather than removing material.