Typical workpiece materials include cast iron and minor steel.

Most metalworking and machining processes can benefit from the use of cutting fluid, depending on workpiece material.

While on the opposite end of things, forward impact extrusion uses a radius on punch to keep the course in the workpiece material moving.

Better workpiece materials can be obtained by repressing and re-sintering.

Each group of workpiece materials has an optimum set of tools angles which have been developed through the years.

The choice of abrasive material is usually driven by the characteristics of the workpiece material.

In most cases, corundum or silicon carbide are acceptable, but extremely hard workpiece materials must be honed using superabrasives.

For abrasive grains to effectively cut, they must be significantly harder than the workpiece material.

Depending on the workpiece material, the work is generally held by the use of a magnetic chuck.

The type of lubrication used depends on the workpiece material and is outlined in the table below.