User:ClifV/Machine tool

A machine tool is a machine that cuts, shapes, or forms material.

A machine tool has three basic elements:

• A work-holding device for holding the material, or workpiece.
• A tool-holding device for holding the tool.
• A method for guiding the movement of the tool relevant to the workpiece or material.

A lathe is one of the oldest types of machine tools. It is most commonly used to make circular cuts in wood or metal. A lathe holds the material to be cut on a rotating spindle, and the spindle is driven by a motor or crank.

Machine tools are commonly used to cut and form parts out of metal, but can designed to work with any material.

Machine tools that are controlled by a computer are called CNC machines.