What machining operation typically produces flat surfaces by removing material?

Milling is the machining operation specifically designed to produce flat surfaces through the controlled removal of material. In milling, a rotating cutter moves along a workpiece, removing material in a series of precise, controlled motions. This allows for the creation of flat surfaces, grooves, and shapes, making milling particularly versatile and widely used in various manufacturing processes.

Turning, while also a machining operation, involves rotating the workpiece against a single-point cutting tool to create cylindrical shapes rather than flat surfaces. Grinding, although it can finish flat surfaces, primarily serves as a finishing operation that refines the surface of previously machined parts for higher accuracy and a better finish. Sharpening focuses on creating a sharper edge or point on cutting tools rather than producing flat surfaces. Therefore, milling stands out as the primary process for achieving flat surfaces in machining operations.