These are the physical entities involved in the machining process: Machine tools: Provide the necessary energy and movements (e.g., lathes, milling machines). Cutting tools (Tools): Must have higher hardness than the workpiece and a suitable cutting-edge geometry. Workpiece (Machining material): The object from which excess metal needs to be removed. Fixtures: Used to position and clamp the workpiece, ensuring accuracy during machining. Cutting movements (Movements) The surface shaping process only occurs when there is relative movement between the tool and the workpiece: Main movement (Cutting movement): This is the movement that creates the cutting speed and consumes the most power (e.g., workpiece rotation in turning, tool rotation in milling). Feed movement: This is the movement that moves the cutting edge to new areas of metal for continuous cutting (e.g., tool translation along the longitudinal or transverse direction). Cutting Parameters (Quantitative) To optimize the process, the operator needs to determine 3 main parameters: Cutting speed. Relative speed of the cutting edge on the workpiece surface (m/min). Feed rate: Distance the tool moves after one revolution or one workpiece stroke (mm/revolution). Cutting depth: Thickness of metal removed in one movement of the tool (mm).