The process of converting raw materials, components, or parts (metal/wood)

 into standard products (finished goods that meet a customer's expectations

 Or specifications).

Manufacturing Processes:

i. Casting and molding;

ii.Forming

iii.Separating

iv.Conditioning

v.Assembling

vi.finishing

Casting and molding are similar processes, in which the material in a liquid state or non solid state is poured or forced into a prepared mold. Both processes depend on either of expandable or reusable mold. First the material is prepared by softening, dissolving or mixing it, then once the material is poured or forced into the mold, it solidify by cooling, drying or chemical reaction. The new solid part or product is then removed by destroying the mold if it is expandable or by opening the mold if it is reusable. When the process is done with metal or ceramic, the process is said to be casting and when it is done with plastic, the process is referred to be molding. Both casting and molding are the only processes that can directly change the industrial materials into the finished products/part in one step.

Forming: it is the process which changes the shape and size of the material, but not the volume of the material. In forming, the forces applied to the material, which is strong enough to change the size and shape of the material, but not so strong that it destroys the material itself. Great mechanical force, high air pressure, explosion or a strong vacuumed air is used to apply the force into the material through or

against the die or mold. All of these tools should be harder and stronger than the material they formed. Some material is formed at room temperature

Separating: separating changes material in size and shape. There are 2 traditional separating methods.

-machining

Shearing

Machining changes the shape and size of materials by removing chips or particles

Shearing changes the shape and size of materials by fracturing or breaking of pieces. In both of these processes, a tool or cutting element is used. More recently other separating methods have been developed, these includes nontraditional machining and flame cutting. In nontraditional machining, heat, electrical sparks, chemical reactions and light like laser is used to separate the pieces or parts from the original material. In flame cutting, a high temperature torch with a special tip is used to separate the excess material. Heat is also used to cut plastic material.

Conditioning: changes the internal properties of material such as making the material harder, stronger, tougher, and more or less elastic.

Reasons for conditioning;

-Improving material machining and forming characteristics

-Removing internal stresses

-giving materials special properties.

OTHER conditioning processes:

Chemical conditioning is used to hardened plastic, concrete and as well as to treat natural substances to change the properties like treating animal herds to leather.

Mechanical conditioning is used to change the internal structure of the material by compression, pounding or squeezing. When metal is mechanical conditioned, its

microscopic round, soft grain structure is changed into long, flat and hard grain in order to make it stronger.

Assembling: All the parts of the products are put together

Methods of assembly:

-Bonding

-Mechanical fastening

-Joining

Assembly by bonding is used with metal, plastics, wood and ceramics; one method of bonding uses heat such as welding or melting of 2 pieces of metal.

Mechanical fastening assembling method uses mechanical fasteners like screws, nuts and bolts and rivets to hold different pieces together. Force is also used such as pressing one piece into another piece.

Joining is another assembly process to that uses naturally fitting pieces to put together;

Most products require surface finish, which provides protection and make the product more attractive, this is called finishing.