Which operation uses a rotating tool to remove material along a part’s surface?

The operation that uses a rotating tool to remove material along a part's surface is milling. In milling, a multi-toothed cutting tool rotates at high speeds while the workpiece is fed past it, allowing material to be removed from the surface in the form of chips. Milling can create a variety of shapes and profiles, including flat surfaces, grooves, and complex contours.

This technique is essential in manufacturing and machining because it provides precision and versatility compared to other methods. The use of a rotating tool allows for efficient material removal and the ability to achieve fine surface finishes, making milling a preferred method for many applications in metal cutting and shaping.

While grinding, drilling, and sawing are also machining processes, they do not primarily focus on the operation of a rotating tool cutting along the surface in the same way that milling does. Grinding typically involves a wheel that smoothens or reshapes a surface rather than actively cutting it like a milling tool. Drilling is aimed at creating holes rather than removing material along a surface, and sawing is a linear cutting process focused on cutting through materials rather than shaping surfaces.