The Essential Manufacturing Glossary
Our glossary makes it easy to understand common CNC machining and 3D printing terms. It’s a quick reference to help designers, engineers, machinists, and clients stay on the same page.
A
Additive Manufacturing (AM):
The process of creating objects by depositing material layer by layer, as opposed to subtractive manufacturing methods. This is the technical term for what is commonly called 3D printing.
Anisotropy:
The directional dependence of material properties in 3D printed parts, where strength and other characteristics vary based on the direction of applied force relative to the print layers.
Axis:
In CNC machining, refers to the directions of movement available to the cutting tool or workpiece. Common configurations include 3-axis, 4-axis, and 5-axis machines, with each additional axis providing greater flexibility in part geometry.
B
Build Platform:
The surface upon which 3D printed objects are constructed. Also known as a print bed, it must be properly leveled and often heated to ensure proper adhesion of the first layer.
Backlash:
The amount of play or lost motion in a mechanical system, particularly relevant in CNC machines where precision is critical. Minimizing backlash is essential for achieving tight tolerances.
Brim:
A 3D printing technique where additional material is printed around the base of an object to improve bed adhesion and prevent warping.
C
CAD (Computer-Aided Design):
Software used to create detailed 2D or 3D models of parts before manufacturing. CAD files serve as the foundation for both CNC machining and 3D printing operations.
CAM (Computer-Aided Manufacturing): Software that translates CAD models into machine-readable instructions (G-code) for CNC machines.
Cooling:
In CNC machining, the application of cutting fluids to reduce heat and extend tool life. In 3D printing, controlled cooling affects layer adhesion and surface finish.
D
DFM (Design for Manufacturing):
The practice of designing parts with manufacturing constraints and capabilities in mind, optimizing both functionality and manufacturability.
Dimensional Accuracy:
The degree to which manufactured parts conform to specified dimensions. Critical for ensuring proper fit and function in assembled products.
Direct Drive:
A 3D printer extruder configuration where the motor directly drives the filament, offering better control over flexible materials compared to Bowden setups.
E
End Mill:
A type of cutting tool used in CNC milling operations, available in various geometries for different material removal tasks.
Extrusion:
In 3D printing, the process of heating and forcing filament through a nozzle to deposit material. The term also refers to a manufacturing process for creating continuous profiles.
Extruder:
The 3D printer component responsible for heating, melting, and depositing filament material through precise movement control.
Electron Beam Melting (EBM):
Similar to SLM but uses an electron beam rather than a laser, suitable for the production of large size metal parts.
F
Feed Rate:
The speed at which a cutting tool advances through material in CNC machining, measured in inches or millimeters per minute.
FDM (Fused Deposition Modeling):
The most common 3D printing technology, where thermoplastic filament is heated and extruded through a moving nozzle to build objects layer by layer.
Fixture:
A work-holding device used in manufacturing to securely position and support workpieces during machining operations.
G
The standardized programming language used to control CNC machines and 3D printers, consisting of commands that specify tool movements, speeds, and other operational parameters.
Glass Transition Temperature (Tg):
The temperature at which a polymer transitions from a hard, glassy state to a more flexible, rubbery state—important for understanding material behavior in 3D printing.
Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing (GD&T):
A system for defining and communicating engineering tolerances and relationships between features on technical drawings.
H
Hot End:
The heated component of a 3D printer extruder where filament is melted before extrusion through the nozzle.
Hybrid Manufacturing:
Systems that combine additive and subtractive manufacturing processes, allowing for complex part creation followed by precision finishing.
Homing:
The process by which CNC machines and 3D printers establish their reference position using limit switches or sensors.
High speed machining (HSM):
Also called trochoidal milling, adaptive clearing, volumill, and more-is a milling technique that can increase material removal rates, reduce cycle time, and increase tool life by reducing tool wear.
I
Infill:
The internal structure of 3D printed parts, typically consisting of a pattern that provides strength while minimizing material usage and print time.
Interpolation:
The process by which CNC controls generate smooth tool paths between programmed points, essential for creating curved surfaces.
ISO (International Organization for Standardization):
Sets global standards for manufacturing processes, quality management, and technical specifications.
J
Jerk:
In CNC and 3D printing, the rate of change of acceleration, affecting machine vibration and surface finish quality.
A manufacturing aid that guides tools and ensures consistent, repeatable operations across multiple workpieces.
Just-in-Time (JIT):
A manufacturing philosophy that aims to reduce inventory and waste by producing items only as they are needed.
K
Knurling:
A manufacturing process that creates a textured surface pattern, often for improved grip or aesthetic purposes.
Kerf:
The width of material removed by a cutting process, important for dimensional accuracy in both machining and laser cutting operations.
L
Layer Height:
In 3D printing, the thickness of each deposited layer, directly affecting print resolution, strength, and printing time.
Light Curing (SLA):
Uses an ultraviolet laser to cure photosensitive resins and is suitable for high-precision parts.
Lead Time:
The time required to complete a manufacturing order from receipt to delivery, crucial for production planning.
Live Tooling:
CNC lathe capability that allows powered tools to perform milling operations while the workpiece rotates.
M
Machining Center:
A CNC machine tool capable of performing multiple operations (milling, drilling, tapping) with automatic tool changes.
Material Extrusion:
The technical term for FDM-style 3D printing, where material is selectively dispensed through a nozzle or orifice.
Mesh:
In 3D printing, the digital representation of a model’s surface, typically stored in STL format for processing by slicing software.
N
Nozzle:
The component through which molten material is extruded in 3D printing, available in various diameters affecting resolution and speed.
NC (Numerical Control):
The automation of machine tools through programmed commands, the foundation of modern CNC technology.
Non-Destructive Testing (NDT):
Methods for evaluating material properties without damaging the part, including ultrasonic and radiographic inspection.
O
Overhang:
In 3D printing, features that extend beyond the layer below, often requiring support structures for successful printing.
OEE (Overall Equipment Effectiveness):
A metric that measures manufacturing productivity by considering availability, performance, and quality factors.
Offset:
The programmed distance between the cutting tool center and the desired cut path, compensating for tool radius.
P
Parametric Design:
CAD modeling approach where dimensions and features are defined by parameters and relationships, enabling easy design modifications.
Operations performed after the primary manufacturing process, such as surface finishing, heat treatment, or support removal.
Print Bed:
The surface upon which 3D printed objects are built, requiring proper preparation and maintenance for successful prints.
Q
Quality Assurance (QA):
Systematic processes implemented to ensure manufactured products meet specified requirements and standards.
Quenching:
A heat treatment process involving rapid cooling to achieve desired material properties in metal parts.
R
The quick fabrication of physical models using 3D printing or other additive manufacturing technologies.
Retraction:
In 3D printing, the temporary reversal of filament feed to prevent oozing during non-printing moves.
A measure of surface texture, typically specified in micrometers or microinches, critical for functional and aesthetic requirements.
Roughness Parameter(Ra):
It’s a measurement of surface roughness, representing the arithmetic average of the absolute values of the height deviations of a surface from its mean line.
S
Slicing:
The process of converting 3D models into layered instructions for 3D printing, performed by specialized software.
SLA (Stereolithography):
A 3D printing technology that uses light to cure liquid photopolymer resin into solid plastic.
Selective Laser Melting (SLM):
Uses a laser to melt metal powders, widely used in aerospace and automotive applications.
Spindle:
The rotating shaft in CNC machines that holds and drives cutting tools, available in various speeds and power ratings.
T
Tolerance:
The permissible variation in a dimension, crucial for ensuring proper fit and function in manufactured assemblies.
The programmed route that a cutting tool or print head follows during manufacturing operations.
Tensile Strength:
A material property indicating the maximum stress it can withstand while being stretched or pulled before breaking.
U
A recessed feature that cannot be directly accessed by standard machining operations, often requiring special tooling or multi-axis capabilities.
Uniform Scaling:
Proportional resizing of a 3D model while maintaining its geometric relationships.
V
Viscosity:
A fluid’s resistance to flow, relevant in both cutting fluid selection for CNC operations and material behavior in 3D printing.
Void:
An unwanted air pocket or empty space within a manufactured part that can compromise structural integrity.
W
Warping:
The distortion of 3D printed parts due to uneven cooling and thermal stresses, often addressed through proper bed preparation and controlled cooling.
Work Coordinate System:
The reference frame used to define part geometry and tool movements in CNC programming.
The methods and devices used to secure workpieces during manufacturing operations, essential for accuracy and safety.
X,Y,Z
XYZ Coordinates:
The three-dimensional coordinate system used to define positions and movements in CNC machining and 3D printing.
X-axis, Y-axis, Z-axis:
The primary linear axes of movement in manufacturing equipment, typically corresponding to length, width, and height respectively.
