



In an end milling operation, a small cusp of material, called a scallop, sometimes remains between adjacent cuts. Scallops along vertical walls can be removed through a profiling operation. Scallops on horizontal surfaces result from using a ball end mill and can be minimized by using a smaller step-over distance relative to the tool diameter.

Scallop - Scallop

Separating force

The outward force exerted on the mold halves caused by the injection of molten material during the mold filling stage. The separating force is the product of the cavity pressure and the projected area of the shot. The clamp force applied to the mold must be greater than this separating force in order to keep it securely closed while the material is injected.

Separating force - Separating force
Separating force


In bending, the setback refers to the distance from the bend line to the outside mold line.

Setback - Bending diagram
Bending diagram

Setup time

The amount of time required to setup a process before production begins. The setup time may include the preparation of the material, machine, and tooling, as well as any testing or calibration that is needed.

Shearing force

The amount of force required to cut or remove a piece of material through shear, as is done in cutting, blanking or punching operations. The applied force must create enough shear stress in the material to exceed the ultimate shear strength, causing the material to fail and separate.

Shearing force - Shearing
Shearing force - Punching

Shear strength

The amount of shear stress a material can sustain, measured in units of force per unit area. Shear strength is commonly expressed as megapascals (MPa) or pounds per square inch (psi) of original cross section. The maximum shear stress that a material can withstand before eventually failing is called the ultimate shear strength.

Sheet border

The sheet border, or stock border, refers to the space between the edge of a piece of sheet stock and the blanks or parts closest to the edge that will be cut. This border may be different along the length and width of the sheet. After all parts have been cut, the sheet border will remain as scrap material. The sheet border is used in determining how many parts a single piece of sheet stock will yield.

Sheet border - Sheet stock (Rectangular blanks)
Sheet stock (Rectangular blanks)
Sheet border - Sheet stock (Round blanks)
Sheet stock (Round blanks)


The amount of material that is injected or poured into a mold. The shot volume includes the volume of all part cavities, as well as the feed system which delivers the material. The amount of material forming the parts relative to the total shot volume is the material yield. The shot volume must be less than the shot capacity of the machine being used. The projected area of the shot describes the projected area of all mold space that fills with material.


When a part is formed from molten material, the part will shrink as the material cools and solidifies. As a result, a shrinkage allowance is usually added to the size of the part.


An additional mold device, such as a side-core, that is actuated through one of the four sides of the mold. One or more side-actions can act through any of the four sides of the mold. The number of sides with such a device, referred to as side-action directions, limits the number of possible cavities in the mold.

Side-action - 4 side-actions in 2 directions
4 side-actions in 2 directions


An additional mold piece that is used to form features that cannot be formed by the two mold halves, such as an external undercut. A side-core slides into the mold along one of its four sides and forms the shape of the undercut. A single side-core can be used to form multiple undercuts if they are accessible along the same side of the mold and are close together. An internal undercut can be formed by a side-core if it is accessible from the side of the part.

Side-core - Molding an external protrusion
Molding an external protrusion
Side-core - Molding an external hole
Molding an external hole
Side-core - 2 undercuts requiring 1 side-core
2 undercuts requiring 1 side-core
Side-core - Internal undercut requiring side-cores
Internal undercut requiring side-cores

Sink marks

When molten material is injected into a mold, voids can occur if certain sections solidify first, caused by a low injection pressure or non-uniform wall thickness. The remaining material will fill these voids as it continues to cool and shrink. This shrinkage causes marks on the part where the material sunk into the void.


Components that are placed between a fastener and a part to create a more precise or secure fit. (Includes: bushings, collars, grommets, rings, seals, sleeves, washers, etc)

Specific cutting energy

The amount of energy per unit volume to remove material from the workpiece during a machining operation, measured in horsepower per cubic inches per minute. The specific cutting energy, also known as unit power, is a material property but is also affected by the type of machining operation and the material and sharpness of the cutting tool. Values for specific cutting energy are typically in the range of 0.1 -2.5 hp/in^3/min (most steels have a value of 1.0-1.5 hp/in^3/min).

Specific heat

Specific heat capacity, or just specific heat, is the amount of energy that is required to raise the temperature of a given amount of material by one degree, typically measured in J/g-K or BTU/lb-F.

Speed control

In some turning operations, the diameter of the workpiece changes so the spindle speed (RPM) and cutting speed (SFM) can not both remain constant. Constant RPM will cause the cutting speed to decrease as the tool moves towards the center of the workpiece. In order to maintain constant SFM, the RPM is increased as the diameter decreases.

Spindle horsepower

The power required from the spindle to rotate a cutting tool (milling machine) or workpiece (turning machine) during a machining operation. The spindle horsepower is typically less than the machine's motor horsepower due to the machine efficiency being less than 100%.

Spindle speed

The rotational speed of the spindle in revolutions per minute (RPM). In a milling machine, the spindle speed describes the rotation of the attached cutting tool. In a turning machine, it describes the rotation of the attached workpiece.

Spindle torque

The torque produced by the spindle based upon the spindle horsepower and the spindle speed at which it is rotating.


In bending, residual stresses cause the material to spring back slightly after the bending operation. Due to this elastic recovery, it is necessary to over-bend a precise amount to achieve the desired bend radius and bend angle. The final bend radius will be greater than initially formed and the final bend angle will be smaller. The ratio of the final bend angle to the initial bend angle is defined as the springback factor, Ks. The amount of springback depends upon several factors, including the material, bending operation, and the initial bend angle and bend radius.

Springback - Springback


The main channel through which molten material enters a mold. The sprue often connects to a series of runners that deliver the material into the mold cavities.

Stainless Steel

Strictly speaking, stainless steel is a trade name, an alloy originally patented in 1916 by English metallurgist Harry Brearley, containing a maximum of 0.70% carbon and 9-16% chromium. In the United States, American Stainless Steel Co. of Pittsburgh, PA, produces a chrome-iron alloy under the "stainless steel" patent which it owns. In more general terms, stainless steel is a corrosion resistant steel containing at least 10% chromium.Â According to the American Iron and Steel Institure (AISI), a steel is considered "Stainless" if it contains 4% or more chromium. Stainless Steels are characterized by their resistance to organic acids, weak mineral acids, and atmospheric oxidation, and their ability to retain their strength at high temperatures. The most common grades of stainless steel in the US are: Type 304, austenitic (chromium-nickel); Type 316, austenitic with 2%-3% molybdenum; Type 409, ferritic (low chromium) for high-temperature use; Type 410, heat-treatable martensitic (medium chromium) with a high strength level; and Type 430, a ferritic general-purpose grade with some corrosion resistance.

Step-over distance

In order to machine a feature that is wider than the width of a single cut, the tool must make several cuts, stepping to the side after each one. This step-over distance is equal to the radial depth of cut for each cut and must be less than or equal to the tool diameter. The size of the step-over distance will determine the scallop height between each step.

Step-over distance - Peripheral cut
Peripheral cut
Step-over distance - Slot cut
Slot cut


The piece of material from which the workpieces or blanks are cut. If the workpieces are available in the desired size, the stock dimensions will equal those of the workpiece. However, a larger piece of bar stock or sheet stock is typically purchased and the workpieces are cut from it. The number of workpieces that can be cut from a piece of stock depend on the workpiece size and other spacing parameters (sheet border, web width, bar end, cutoff width, facing stock).

Stock - Sheet stock (Rectangular blanks)
Sheet stock (Rectangular blanks)
Stock - Bar stock
Bar stock
Stock - Sheet stock (Round blanks)
Sheet stock (Round blanks)

Stock utilization

The percentage of material from a piece of stock that is used as a workpiece/blank or final part. When cutting from a piece of stock, any material left attached to the stock or lost in the cutting process is considered scrap. Such scrap material includes the sheet border and web width in the case of sheet stock, and the bar end and cutoff width in the case of bar stock.

Storage containers

Large containers that are used for storing multiple items. (Includes: baskets, bins, boxes, cases, containers, crates, drawers, receptacles, etc)


Force per unit area. True stress denotes stress determined by measuring force and area at the same time. Conventional stress, as applied to tension and compression tests, is force divided by original area. Nominal stress is stress computed by simple elasticity formula. It can be divided into components, normal and parallel to the plane, called normal stress and shear stress, receptively. Nominal stress, ignoring stress raisers and disregarding plastic flow, in a notch bend test, for example, it is bending moment divided by minimum section modulus. See also residual stress.

Stress Strain Curve

A graph in which stress (load divided by the original cross sectional area of the test piece) is plotted against strain (the extension divided by the length over which it is measured). The slope of the sress strain curve, in the elastic region, is used to determine the modulus of elasticity.

Structural elements

Parts whose primary function is to form the shape of a product and/or support the weight of other parts.

Surface area

The total area of all surfaces that compose a part.

Surface patch

A portion of a part’s surface that is either flat or smoothly curved. The boundary of a surface patch is a sharp corner or curve, where another surface patch begins. The number of surface patches that comprise a part is an indication of the part’s complexity.

Surface roughness

The roughness of a part's surface resulting from a manufacturing process. Surface roughness is typically measured as the arithmetic average (Ra) or root mean square (RMS) of the surface variations, measured in microinches or micrometers. A typical primary manufacturing process results in an Ra surface roughness of 32-250 microinches and finishing operations can lower the roughness to 1-32 microinches.


Small interfaces that are designed to be pushed or rotated by the user’s fingers or hand. (Includes: buttons, dials, knobs, triggers, wheels, etc)

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