•     Nozzle 
Fitting in a powder metallurgy molding machine, used to eject molten mineral powder from the barrel into the mold.

•     OES 
Optical Emission Spectroscopy. A method of positive material identification (PMI).

•    Outsert Molding
Method of stamping molding in which the molded material is formed inside of a metal fitting. Compare to insert molding.

•    Packing
In stamping molding, a secondary application of pressure to a filled mold to ensure full part density and close dimensional tolerances.

•    Parting Line
The parting line is the physical break or split between the two halves of a stamping parts or pressure die casting mold.

•    Pin Gauge
Precision ground, hardened metal pins of known diameter and tolerance used for measurement.

•    Pin Push
A defect in powder metallurgy molding that usually presents as stress marks on the A-surface of the part directly opposite the ejector pins.

•    Platten
The large fixed and moving plates in an powder metallurgy molding machine. The mold halves are clamped to these plates.

•    Pressure Die Casting
PDC. Technique for creating solid parts by injecting molten metal under pressure into the cavity of a die casting mold.

•    Process Control
Controlling the parameters of the metal parts processing cycle to ensure optimal and repeatable part quality.

•    Quality Control
Processes and procedures for measuring and recording numerical and subjective parameters affecting the visual and physical attributes of a manufactured metal part.

•    Quenching
This is the rapid cooling of a workpiece to achieve specific material properties such as hardness. Normally part of the heat treatment process of metal used for stamping mold tooling.

•    Ribs
Support structures in stamping molded parts, usually placed at right angles to walls or bosses.

•    Rockwell
An industry standard method for specifying metal material hardness.

•    Short Shot
An Powder metallurgy molding defect where material has failed to completely fill the cavity.

•    Shot
Total volume of mineral powder material injected into a mold cavity during one cycle.

•    Shot Weight
The total weight of all mineral powder parts, sprues, runners and gates produced in a single molding cycle

•    Shrink Fit
Using heat to expand a collet, which then shrinks to form a tight mechanical fit with a cutting tool.

•    Sleeve Ejector
A cylindrical ejector pin with a precision bore cut through the center allowing the sleeve to pass over a fixed core pin.

•    Slider/Sliding Core
An automatic mechanism built into an  stamping die to form undercuts or holes on the part. The opening and closing action of the mold pushes and retracts the undercut detail using angled pins and wedges.

•    Spark Erosion
Method for removing small amounts of metal from a work surface through a series of high-energy discharges of current from a charged electrode within a dielectric or insulating bath.

•    Split Line
Mark left on a stamping molded part indicating where the two halves of the stamping mold separate or the edges of a sliding core form an undercut.

•    Sprue
The portion of the runner system between the nozzle of the powder metallurgy molding machine and the runner system in the mold.

•    Sprue Bush
A bushing in a mold which presses agains the nozzle of the powder metallurgy machine to give passage to the runner system within the mold.

•    Sprue Puller
An undercut opposite the sprue which causes the sprue to be pulled out of the sprue bush ready for ejection.

•    STP/STEP
An ISO-standard data file format for creating and distributing CAD files.

•    Stress Marks
Visual marks on an powder metallurgy molded part where unequal heating and cooling during manufacture caused local distortion.

•    Stripper Plate
Moveable plate used to stamping parts off of a mold core after stamping.

•    Sub Gate
A type of gate from the runner sytem into the component which goes below the parting lines, generally into a sidewall of the component, thus giving the advantage of automatic degating during ejection.

•    Subtractive Manufacturing
Conventional manufacturing processes where successive amounts of material are removed from a workpiece with cnc, cutting, drilling or grinding tools. Compare to additive manufacturing.

•    Surface Coating
An application of metal material on the surface of a workpiece to alter its physical, chemical or cosmetic properties.

•    Surface Finish
The texture of a metal part's surface, which can be measured as a roughness (Ra) value. Also, a subjective determination of surface appearance.

•    Surface Plate
A very flat and hard horizontal surface forming the base for measurement, tool setup and layout.

•    Surfometer
Device for measuring metal parts surface roughness by dragging a sensitive stylus across the workpiece and recording the electronic wavelength so generated.

•   Tap
Male cnc cutting tool used to create internal threads.

•   Texture
An organized and repeating pattern applied to the surface of a stamping mold tool or finished part. Compare to Roughness.

 
•   Thumbnail/Toenail Ejector
A round ejector pin that overlaps the side wall or edge of the component thus stamping parts contacting the edge of the cavity.

•   Tolerance
Allowable deviation away from a nominal value.

•   Two Stage Ejection
Ejection of a molded or die cast part from a mold tool, requiring more than one releasing step per cycle.

•   Undercut
A hole or feature in a metal stamping molded part design that is not in line of draw. Typically an undercut will trap the part in the mold if undercut release mechanisms aren't used.

•   Undercut Release Mechanism
A moving component in a metal stamping mold tool to allow the molding and subsequent release of the formed part at the undercut location.

•   Vacuum Casting
Method of creating copies of a master pattern, using liquid resin poured into a silicon mold which is then cured in a vacuum chamber.

•   Vacuum Fixture
Holding fixture for CNC machining making use of vacuum pressure. Often used on thin, flat sheets of material where other clamping methods would be ineffective.

•    Vacuum Hardening 
Method of heat treating steel alloys within a vacuum chamber to prevent oxidation during the heating cycle.

•     Valve Gate 
A mechanical valve used in a hot runner system of an powder metallurgy mold tool which closes off the gate between injection cycles.

•     VD I
Society of German Engineers. Comparator templates used for grading EDM surface textures.

•     V ernier Calliper 
Precise measuring device comprised of opposing jaws which slide apart on a graduated beam to provide accurate measurement of length.

•    Vice
Holding device which clamps the workpiece between opposing faces of jaws mounted on sliding screws to accommodate parts of different sizes.

•    Wall
Vertical structures in stamping molded parts, usually defining the exterior volume of a part cavity.

•    Warp
Distortion of an powder metallurgy molded or pressure die cast part caused by unequal cooling rates after molding.

•    Water Channels
Fluid passages machined into die cast and powder metallurgy molding tools, allowing the passage of coolant for temperature control.

•    Weld Line
Visible mark on a metal part's surface, usually occurring around an obstruction such as a hole or cutout. Formed as a consequence of two flow fronts meeting during the Powder metallurgy cycle and cooling at differing rates.

•    Wire EDM
Electrical discharge machining, using a brass wire as a sacrificial conductor to cut precise shapes through hardened steels.

•    X-Axis
One of three primary axes of movement in a three-dimensional X-Y-Z coordinate system. Generally assumed to be horizontal to the viewer's reference.

•    XRF
X-Ray Fluorescence. Non-destructive analytical test for determining a metal material's composition by bombarding the metal surface with high-energy x-rays and reading the resulting emitted spectra, which is unique for all metal material types.
 
•    Y-Axis
One of three primary axes of movement in a three-dimensional coordinate system. Generally considered to be vertical to the viewer's reference.

•    Z-Axis
One of three primary axes of movement in a three-dimensional coordinate system. Generally considered to be towards or away from the viewer's reference.