Which machining process involves specific shapes being created through rotating workpieces?

Turning is the machining process that specifically involves creating shapes through the rotation of workpieces. In this process, the workpiece is held in a lathe, which spins it at high speeds while a cutting tool is fed against the material. This action allows for the precise shaping of cylindrical components and the creation of various features, such as grooves, threads, and complex profiles.

Drilling involves creating holes in a stationary workpiece rather than rotating it. Milling, on the other hand, typically involves a rotating cutting tool moving across a stationary workpiece to remove material in a lateral direction, but the workpiece itself does not rotate. Grinding is primarily focused on finishing surfaces and requires a rotating abrasive wheel, but it does not feature the same type of significant shaping through the rotation of the part. This distinguishes turning as the process specifically associated with the formation of shapes via rotating workpieces.