Different Types of Machining Operations Two primary machining processes are turning and milling – descried below. Other processes sometimes are similar with these processes or are performed with independent equipment. A drill bit, for instance, may be installed on a lathe used for turning or chucked in a drill press. At one time, a distinction could be made between turning, where the part rotates, and milling, where the tool rotates. This has blurred somewhat with the advent of machining centers and turning centers that are capable of performing all the operations of the individual machines in a single machine.