mandrel

American  

[man-druhl] / ˈmæn drəl /

Or mandril

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.

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mandrel British  

/ 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

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Etymology

Origin of mandrel

1510–20; perhaps akin to French mandrin

Example Sentences

The prop sits on a mandrel that supports it firmly.

From Time Magazine Archive

Then a mandrel in the center is pulled out, leaving a roughly star-shaped cavity on whose surface the fuel will start to burn when the rocket is fired.

From Time Magazine Archive

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 Directions for Collecting and Preserving Insects by Riley, C. V.

The lines l l should be marked as fine as possible, but deep enough to remain permanently, so that the truth of the eccentricity of the mandrel may be tested at any time.

From Modern Machine-Shop Practice, Volumes I and II by Rose, Joshua

The wings e f may then be closed on the mandrel to their proper width and the whole hub end being trimmed by hand, all the previous work having been done under the steam hammer.

From Modern Machine-Shop Practice, Volumes I and II by Rose, Joshua