mandrel

or man·dril

[ man-druhl ]

noun

, Machinery.

1. a shaft or bar the end of which is inserted into a workpiece to hold it during machining.
2. a spindle on which a circular saw or grinding wheel rotates.
3. the driving spindle in the headstock of a lathe.

mandrel

/ ˈmændrəl /

noun

1. a spindle on which a workpiece is supported during machining operations
2. a shaft or arbor on which a machining tool is mounted
3. the driving spindle in the headstock of a lathe
4. a miner's pick

Word History and Origins

Origin of mandrel¹

1510–20; perhaps akin to French mandrin

Word History and Origins

Origin of mandrel¹

C16: perhaps related to French mandrin lathe

Example Sentences

The scientists followed up in the commercial facilities and learned that the carton-forming mandrels -- those machinery parts that open the small, flat-lying, single-serving carton in the filling process -- needed more attention and cleaning.

From Science Daily

This operation is done quite rapidly with a pneumatic gun, hence the two-part "ker-bang" noise as the mandrel is pulled through the rivet, then breaks off with a bang to complete the job.

From BBC

He uses only his hands, cast-iron mandrels, wood patterns, lathes and other machinery inherited from his grandfather.

From Reuters

A bit of the wire of proper length is first doubled and then by a special contrivance the two ends are bent around a mandrel so as to form an insertion point or loop.

From Project Gutenberg

In small work that has been drilled or bored, a short mandrel is used instead of the piece b.

From Project Gutenberg