Design Nomenclature / Physical Model Making

Reaming

Also called reamed hole, finish reaming

Physical Model Making
Systems & Spec
3D

Finishing a drilled or bored hole with a multi-fluted tool that removes only a few thousandths, producing a precise diameter and a smooth wall. A reamer follows the hole it is given; it cannot move one. Ream for size and finish, bore for position — confusing the two produces a beautiful hole in the wrong place.

A two-column text comparison headed "What the operation can correct", the columns divided by a hairline. Left, in accent: Boring — one cutting edge, driven on its own axis; it moves the hole, fixing where it is and whether it is straight. Right: Reaming — many edges, floating in the hole it is given; it fixes size and wall finish, and cannot move a hole a thousandth.

Not to be confused with

BoringEnlarging an existing hole with a single cutting edge, correcting its diameter and — crucially — its position and straightness. A drill follows the hole it is already in and wanders on the way. A boring tool does not have to. Boring is how a hole gets located accurately, not merely made bigger.

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Not to be confused with

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