Fundamentals of Machine Tools

Machine tools have paved the way for technological advancement in numerous fields. These fundamental tools have enabled great strides forward in industrial efficiency and productivity—the success of industries such as farming, drilling, and building relies heavily on the use of machine tools.

Introduction to a Machine Shop

Machine Shop Work: A detailed explanation of machine shop work, including an introduction and descriptions of some different tools and how to use them.
Introduction to Machine Tools: Descriptions of several basic machine-shop tools, compiled by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Each section includes graphics and/or videos.

All About Metals

Properties, Identification, and Heat Treatment of Metals: An article that compares the properties of various metals, including differences in their strength and elasticity. It also explains how changing the temperature of the metal can affect these properties.
Objectives of Heat Treatments: A definition and explanation of various heat treatments and how they are used.

Portable Machine Tools

Portable Machine Tools: A document that lists safety precautions to follow when using portable machine tools. The paper explains how to use many specific portable tools safely, and it describes many of these tools in detail.
Climax Portable Machine Tools, Inc.: A website devoted to the portable machine tools used in many different industries.
Equipment Financing: A convenient guide to financing portable machine tools and other equipment.

Drilling Machines

Drilling and Tapping Machines Information: A document which gives a basic introduction to drilling and tapping machines.
Drilling Machines: An in-depth history of drilling machines. It includes pictures and descriptions of machines designed for heavy drilling and for lighter drilling.
Basic Types of Drilling Machines: An introduction to several popular drilling machines. The page includes pictures and descriptions of each machine.

Grinding Machines

Types of Grinding Machines: An article that explains three different types of grinding machines, and what each one is capable of doing.
Grinding Machines: A directory that lists all grinding machine manufacturers in alphabetical order, including a website if one is available.
Grinding Machine: A description of the features and history of the grinding process.

Sawing Machines

Taiwan Machine Sources: A library of sawing machine videos, plus an extensive alphabetized list of manufacturers. This page also includes a list of the different kinds of saws.
Sawing Machine Setters: Information on how to operate wood-sawing machines.
Tube & Pipe Cutting Machine Buyers' Guide: A list of all the different brands of sawing machines. The list's data-sheet format makes the machines easy to compare.

Lathes

Wood Lathes: A page that explores the different sizes lathes come in, from the smallest to the largest.
Lathe: A Wikipedia article that provides a detailed explanation of the lathe and a brief history of its use. The article includes photographs of several different kinds of lathes, as well as descriptions of how they are used.

Milling Machines

Milling Machine Types: A page that describes several different varieties of milling machines. The website also includes pages on many aspects of the milling process.
Milling: An in-depth look at exactly what milling is.

Versa-Mils (Milling, Grinding, Drilling, and Slotting Attachments)

Milling-Grinding-Drilling and Slotting Attachment: A document that explains the different types of milling attachments.
Lathe Operations: An informed look at milling that describes the different attachments that can be used with machine shop tools.

Weights and Measures

Weights and Measures: Charts explaining and comparing many different weights and measures used in the machine shop.
Introduction to Weights and Measures: The California government's training booklet for officials involved in enforcing measurement standards throughout the state.

Formulas

Milling Formula Interactive Calculator: A calculator that offers a series of formulas commonly used in milling.
General Milling Formulas: A chart that matches the variable(s) you need to calculate, the information you already have, and the correct formula to use.