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Machine Tool Practices, 12th edition

Published by Pearson (April 2, 2025) © 2026

  • Jon Stenerson Fox Valley Technical
  • Kelly Curran Oxnard College
  • Erich Krowas
  • Richard R. Kibbe Oxnard College

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  • More flexible. Start learning right away, on any device.
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  • More understandable. Translate text into 100+ languages with one tap.

In this eTextbook — More ways to learn

  • More flexible. Start learning right away, on any device.
  • More supportive. Get AI explanations and practice questions (select titles).
  • More interactive. Bring learning to life with audio, videos, and diagrams.
  • More memorable. Make concepts stick with highlights, search, notes, and flashcards.
  • More understandable. Translate text into 100+ languages with one tap.

Title overview

Machine Tool Practices is an all-in-one solution for teaching machine, BPR, GD&T and CNC courses. A definitive text in the field for 30+ years, it provides the background you’ll need to understand and operate manual and CNC machines and to earn NIMS certification. Built for flexibility, the text lends itself to both self-paced classes and courses with a combined lecture/laboratory approach.

The 12th Edition is a significant update incorporating the latest NIMS requirements and changes in machining. Updated GD&T and CNC sections reflect revised standards and best practices; when paired with supplements, they provide enough coverage to form the basis for distinct blueprint reading/GD&T and CNC courses.

Table of contents

SECTION A: INTRODUCTION

  • Unit 1: Careers and the Machinist’s Role in Process Plans
  • Unit 2: Manufacturing Competitiveness and Improvement
  • Unit 3: Shop Safety
  • Unit 4: Threads and Fasteners
  • Unit 5: Blueprint Reading Fundamentals
  • Unit 6: Views and Line Types
  • Unit 7: Dimensions, Tolerances, and Fits
  • Unit 8: Fundamentals of GD&T
  • Unit 9: Geometric Tolerancing

SECTION B: HAND TOOLS

  • Unit 1: Arbor and Shop Presses
  • Unit 2: Work-Holding and Hand Tools
  • Unit 3: Hacksaws
  • Unit 4: Files
  • Unit 5: Hand Reamers
  • Unit 6: Identification and Use of Taps
  • Unit 7: Tapping Procedures
  • Unit 8: Thread-Cutting Dies and Their Uses
  • Unit 9: Off-Hand Grinding

SECTION C: DIMENSIONAL MEASUREMENT

  • Unit 1: Measurement and Common Measuring Tools
  • Unit 2: Systems of Measurement
  • Unit 3: Using Steel Rules
  • Unit 4: Using Vernier, Dial, and Digital Instruments for Direct Measurements
  • Unit 5: Using Micrometers
  • Unit 6: Using Comparison Measuring Instruments
  • Unit 7: Using Gage Blocks
  • Unit 8: Using Angular Measuring Instruments
  • Unit 9: Quality in Manufacturing
  • Unit 10: Statistics in Manufacturing

SECTION D: MATERIALS

  • Unit 1: Selection and Identification of Steels
  • Unit 2: Selection and Identification of Nonferrous Metals
  • Unit 3: Hardening, Case Hardening, and Tempering
  • Unit 4: Annealing, Normalizing, and Stress Relieving
  • Unit 5: Rockwell and Brinell Hardness Testers

SECTION E: LAYOUT

  • Unit 1: Layout Tools
  • Unit 2: Basic Semiprecision Layout Practice
  • Unit 3: Basic Precision Layout Practice

SECTION F: PREPARATION FOR MACHINING OPERATIONS

  • Unit 1: Machinability and Chip Formation
  • Unit 2: Speeds and Feeds for Machine Tools
  • Unit 3: Cutting Fluids
  • Unit 4: Carbide Tooling Specification and Selection

SECTION G: SAWING MACHINES

  • Unit 1: Types of Cutoff Machines and Safety
  • Unit 2: Using Horizontal Cutoff Saws
  • Unit 3: Preparing a Vertical Band Saw for Use
  • Unit 4: Using a Vertical Band Saw

SECTION H: DRILLING MACHINES

  • Unit 1: Drill Press Fundamentals
  • Unit 2: Drilling Tools
  • Unit 3: Hand Grinding of Drills on the Pedestal Grinder
  • Unit 4: Operating Drilling Machines
  • Unit 5: Countersinking and Counterboring
  • Unit 6: Reaming in the Drill Press

SECTION I: TURNING MACHINES

  • Unit 1: Engine Lathe Fundamentals
  • Unit 2: Toolholders and Toolholding
  • Unit 3: Cutting Tools for the Lathe
  • Unit 4: Lathe Spindle Tooling
  • Unit 5: Operating Lathe Controls
  • Unit 6: Facing and Center Drilling
  • Unit 7: Turning between Centers
  • Unit 8: Alignment of Lathe Centers
  • Unit 9: Other Lathe Operations
  • Unit 10: Sixty-Degree Thread Information and Calculations
  • Unit 11: Cutting Unified External Threads
  • Unit 12: Cutting Unified Internal Threads
  • Unit 13: Cutting Tapers
  • Unit 14: Using Steady and Follower Rests
  • Unit 15: Additional Thread Forms
  • Unit 16: Cutting Acme Threads on the Lathe

SECTION J: VERTICAL MILLING MACHINES

  • Unit 1: Vertical Milling Machines
  • Unit 2: Cutting Tools and Cutting Toolholders for the Vertical Milling Machine
  • Unit 3: Setups on the Vertical Milling Machine
  • Unit 4: Vertical Milling Machine Operations
  • Unit 5: Using an Offset Boring Head

SECTION K: HORIZONTAL SPINDLE MILLING MACHINES

  • Unit 1: Horizontal Spindle Milling Machines
  • Unit 2: Types of Spindles, Arbors, and Adapters
  • Unit 3: Arbor-Driven Milling Cutters
  • Unit 4: Work-Holding Methods and Standard Setups
  • Unit 5: Machine Setup and Plain Milling
  • Unit 6: Using Side Milling Cutters

SECTION L: GRINDING AND ABRASIVE MACHINING PROCESSES

  • Unit 1: Types of Grinders
  • Unit 2: Selection and Use of Grinding Wheels
  • Unit 3: Setup of Surface Grinders
  • Unit 4: Using a Surface Grinder
  • Unit 5: Cylindrical Grinding
  • Unit 6: Using a Cylindrical Grinder
  • Unit 7: Universal Tool and Cutter Grinder

SECTION M: COMPUTER NUMERICAL CONTROL AND OTHER ADVANCED MACHINING PROCESSES

  • Unit 1: Fundamentals of Computer Numerical Control (CNC)
  • Unit 2: Fundamentals of Machining Centers
  • Unit 3: Fundamentals of Programming Machining Centers
  • Unit 4: Programming Examples
  • Unit 5: Programming Canned Cycles for Machining Centers
  • Unit 6: CNC Turning Machines
  • Unit 7: Programming CNC Turning Centers
  • Unit 8: Programming Canned Cycles for CNC Turning Centers
  • Unit 9: Advanced Machining Processes

APPENDICES & TABLES

  • Appendix 1: Answers to Self-Tests
  • Appendix 2: General Tables
  • Table 1: Decimal Equivalents of Fractional Inches
  • Table 2: Inch/Metric Conversion Table
  • Table 3: Tap Drill Sizes
  • Table 4: Metric Tap Drill Sizes
  • Table 5A: Tapers
  • Table 5B: Tapers and Angles
  • Table 6: General Measurements
  • Table 7A: Density or Specific Gravity of Metals and Alloys
  • Table 7B: Approximate Melting Points of Metals and Various Substances
  • Table 8: Right-Triangle Solution Formulas
  • Table 9: Wire Gages and Metric Equivalents
  • Table 10: Cutting Speeds for Commonly Used Materials
  • Table 10A: Feeds for High-Speed Steel End Mills
  • Table 10B: Coolants and Cutting Oils Used for General Machining
  • Appendix 3: Precision Vise Project Drawings

Glossary

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