August 2026

Need a handy list of manufacturing acronyms for CNC machining? Whether you’re new to the industry or just want to brush up, we got you covered with many of the top abbreviations! This is a great list for engineers, purchasing managers, supply chain managers, and even aspiring machinists. Bookmark this link for easy access!

A

  • AL: Aluminum A commonly used metal material for CNC machining. High Tech Turning machines a lot of AL and all kinds of metals and plastics.
  • AML: Automatic Magazine (bar) Loader An industrial device that continuously feeds raw material—such as bars, rods, or tubes—into CNC machine tools (lathes) to enable, high-volume production.
  • ASM: Automatic Screw Machine High-speed, automated lathes designed for the mass production of small, precise metal or plastic components, such as fasteners, bushings, and fittings.
  • ASME: American Society of Mechanical Engineers
  • ATC: Automatic Tool Changer A mechanism that switches tools automatically, increasing efficiency.

B

  • BP: Blueprint A drawing design with all of the dimensions, specs, and details.
  • BUE: Built Up Edge The adhesion or welding of workpiece material onto the rake face of a cutting tool during machining, caused by high pressure and heat.

C

  • CAD: Computer-Aided Design Software used to create 2D or 3D digital designs of parts.
  • CAM: Computer-Aided Manufacturing Software that translates CAD designs into G-Code.
  • Chfr.: Chamfer A beveled or sloped edge, typically at a 45-degree angle, connecting two surfaces, usually at a 90-degree corner.
  • CMM: Coordinate Measuring Machine A high-tech device used to measure the physical geometry of parts. 
  • CRES: Corrosion Resistant A material’s ability to withstand damage, deterioration, or chemical breakdown caused by oxidation, moisture, or chemical exposure over time.
  • CNC: Computer Numerical Control Automated control of machining tools via computer, often used in milling and turning.

D

  • DFM: Design for Manufacturability The engineering practice of designing products to be easily and cost-effectively manufactured, optimized for production efficiency, material selection, and assembly.
  • DOC: Depth of Cut The depth the tool penetrates the material.
  • DPM: Degrees per Minute An angular velocity unit measuring how many degrees an object or tool turns or traverses in one minute.
  • DTI: Dial Test Indicator A precision measuring instrument used in machining to measure small linear distances, runout, and surface flatness by detecting tiny deflections with a stylus.
  • DWG: Drawing
  • DXF: Drawing Exchange Format A 2D format commonly used for CNC routers and plasma cutters.

E-F

  • FR: Feed Rate In CNC machining, this refers to how fast the machine cutting tool moves through and removes material.

G

  • G-Code: Geometric Code The programming language used to command CNC machines, including movements like tool changes. 
  • GD&T: Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing A system for defining and communicating engineering tolerances via a symbolic language on engineering drawings and computer-generated 3D models that describes a physical object’s nominal geometry and the permissible variation thereof.
  • GPM: Gallons per Minute Often used to describe the flow rate of coolants for CNC machines.
  • GT(L): Gang Tool Lathe A CNC gang tool lathe is a high-speed, high-precision turning center where multiple cutting tools are mounted in a row (a “gang”) on a flat, linear carriage or tool plate, rather than on a rotary turret.

H

  • HMC: Horizontal Machining Center A CNC machine tool featuring a spindle that rotates parallel to the ground (horizontally) and a workpiece fixed to a rotary table. HMCs are designed for high-speed, high-precision, and continuous, multi-face machining of complex components, using gravity to efficiently remove chips from the cutting area.
  • HPC: Hot Pressed Cermet High-performance CNC cutting tools combining ceramic particles in a metal binder.
  • HSM: High Speed Machining An ultra-fast machining strategy that uses very high spindle speeds, fast feed rates, and light cutting passes to achieve high material‑removal rates while maintaining accuracy and reducing heat buildup.
  • HTT: High Tech Turning 😊

I

  • ID / OD: Inside diameter/ Outside diameter This is most common with lathes/turning centers, and is measuring the diameter of a given dimension on a blueprint.
  • ISO: Industry Organization for Standardization For example, High Tech Turning’s Quality Management System is ISO 9001:2015 and 13485:2016 certified.
  • IPM: Inches Per Minute The speed at which the cutting tool moves along its path.
  • IPR: Inches Per Revolution Feed rate based on the rotation of the spindle.

J

  • JIT: Just-in-Time This term is often used to describe stocking & delivery capabilities, like High Tech Turning’s Kan Ban program for customers.        

K-L-M

  • LOL: Lots of Lathes High Tech Turning currently has 30 advanced Swiss CNC Lathes! Haha
  • MM: Millimeters a small unit of length in the metric system, equal to one-thousandth (\(0.001\)) of a meter. It also stands for Many Mills, High Tech Turning currently has 11 advanced CNC Milling Centers!
  • MS: Multi Spindle This capability increases production efficiency by using multiple spindles to work on one or more parts simultaneously.
  • MSO: Multiple Second Operation The process of taking a part that has already completed its primary machining (first operation) and performing additional, separate, and often simultaneous, machining tasks on it.
  • MT: Morse Taper a standardized, self-holding conical fastening system used in machining to connect tools—like drill bits, reamers, and lathe centers—to spindles or tailstocks.

N-O

  • NURBS: Non-Uniform Rational B-Splines Mathematical models for representing smooth curves and surfaces, widely used in CAD/CAM for designing complex, precise 3D shapes.
  • OD / ID – Outside diameter/Inside diameter This is most common with lathes/turning centers, and is measuring the diameter of a given dimension on a blueprint.

P

  • PCD: Poly Crystaline Diamond are high-performance cutters featuring diamond particles sintered to a carbide substrate, offering superior hardness and wear resistance compared to carbide. 
  • PDF: Portable Document Format A type of document file often used for drawings.

Q

R

  • Ra: Roughness Average The measurement often used for surface finishing. For example, see it used in our Fine Finishing Capabilities page.
  • RFQ: Request for Quote Documentation required to get pricing from suppliers.
  • RPM: Revolutions Per Minute The rotational speed of the spindle and tool.

S

  • SS: Stainless Steel A commonly used metal material for CNC machining. High Tech Turning machines a ton of SS and all kinds of metals and plastics.
  • STL: Stereolithography File format often used for 3D modeling and printing.
  • STEP: Standard for the Exchange of Product A universal 3D file format for CAD data exchange.

T-U

  • Ti: Titanium A commonly used metal material for CNC machining. High Tech Turning specializes in machining Ti and all kinds of metals and plastics.
  • TIR: Total Indicator Reading A measurement that describes the maximum variation of a rotating part’s surface. Measured with a dial indicator, it shows the absolute difference between the highest and lowest points of a cylindrical surface as it completes one full 360° rotation. It ensures shafts are perfectly round and straight.
  • TNR: Tool Nose Radius In CNC turning, this is the small radius on the tip of a cutting insert, which causes dimensional inaccuracies during tapers, arcs, and chamfers if not compensated.
  • TPI: Threads per Inch

V

  • VMC: Vertical Machining Center A CNC machine with a vertically oriented spindle.

W-X-Y-Z

  • WOC: Width of Cut
  • WCS: Work Coordinate System Defines the part’s position relative to the machine’s axes, allowing the tool to know where the workpiece is located.