Polygonal turning (or polygon turning) is a
machining
Machining is a process in which a material (often metal) is cut to a desired final shape and size by a controlled material-removal process. The processes that have this common theme are collectively called subtractive manufacturing, which utilizes ...
process which allows non-circular forms (
polygons
In geometry, a polygon () is a plane figure that is described by a finite number of straight line segments connected to form a closed ''polygonal chain'' (or ''polygonal circuit''). The bounded plane region, the bounding circuit, or the two toge ...
) to be
machine turned without interrupting the
rotation
Rotation, or spin, is the circular movement of an object around a '' central axis''. A two-dimensional rotating object has only one possible central axis and can rotate in either a clockwise or counterclockwise direction. A three-dimensional ...
of the raw material.
Technical details
Polygonally turned parts may have several points, teeth, or other forms at the ends or along their
circumference
In geometry, the circumference (from Latin ''circumferens'', meaning "carrying around") is the perimeter of a circle or ellipse. That is, the circumference would be the arc length of the circle, as if it were opened up and straightened out to ...
. The technique requires synchronisation of the movement of the polygonal turning mill and the part being machined. Polygonal turning allows rapid production and clean machining of advanced geometries. The polygon turning unit has a multitude of
inserts, and is synchronized so that when an insert cuts the turning
bar stock
Bar stock, also (colloquially) known as blank, slug or billet, is a common form of raw purified metal, used by industry to manufacture metal parts and products. Bar stock is available in a variety of extrusion shapes and lengths. The most commo ...
, it cuts the bar at the same radial position each time the workpiece rotates. This enables geometries such as
hexes,
square
In Euclidean geometry, a square is a regular quadrilateral, which means that it has four equal sides and four equal angles (90-degree angles, π/2 radian angles, or right angles). It can also be defined as a rectangle with two equal-length adj ...
s and flats to be machined at faster speeds than by
milling.
Historical notes
The Polygonal Turning Corporation of
Marquette, Michigan
Marquette ( ) is a city in Marquette County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 20,629 at the 2020 United States Census, which makes it the largest city in the Upper Peninsula. Marquette serves as the seat of government of Marquett ...
manufactured shaped
joinery
Joinery is a part of woodworking that involves joining pieces of wood, engineered lumber, or synthetic substitutes (such as laminate), to produce more complex items. Some woodworking joints employ mechanical fasteners, bindings, or adhesives, ...
products for domestic use during the 1890s.
References
External links
CNC Turning Services
Turning
Polygons
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