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Finishing—achieving the precision that machines cannot

Scraping is a common skill required in finishing

For the precision machine, surfaces must be as flat as possible. Precision machines require high-precision surfaces as bases for parts that make contact with, or slide against, other parts. If the base surface does not have the necessary level of precision, vibration and distortion will occur when the machine is in operation.

When metal parts are bolted together, the surfaces that make contact must be precisely flat. If they are not, stress will occur. Stressed parts try to return to their original shapes, and distortion then occurs. So for the precision machine, making the surfaces as flat as possible is essential.

One of the commonest skills required in finishing is scraping. Scraping is the process of running a scraper, or a large chisel, over the surface of a machined metal part. Using this process, it is possible to achieve a much higher level of precision—down to the micrometer level—than is possible with machining alone.

Unsurprisingly, Mr. Obata's scraping skills are highly developed.

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