Which term describes giving a material its desired shape through deformation rather than removing material?

• A. Casting
• B. Machining
• C. Forming
• D. Sintering

Answer: (C)

Shaping a material by plastically deforming it into the desired geometry is forming. In forming, the material is changed in shape through forces such as pressing, rolling, bending, or forging, without removing material. This deformation aligns the grains and can improve strength through work hardening, producing complex shapes efficiently.

Casting involves forming a shape by pouring liquid metal into a mold and letting it solidify, which adds material into a cavity rather than deforming the existing material. Machining shapes by removing material with cuts and drills, rather than changing the material’s shape through deformation. Sintering binds powder particles together by heat to form a solid, with little to no plastic deformation shaping.