Turning machines consist of a spindle attached at one end to the machine drive system, while the other end accepts the chuck that grips the workpiece to be cut. The chuck typically has three or four jaws, with three jaws being the most common. Four-jaw chucks can be used to grip square bar and also allow for off-center turning.
Cutting tools are often made of carbide inserts. Those inserts are mounted into tool holders, which are bolted to the turret using a variety of specialized holders, depending on the type of tool. Tools are then indexed as a part of the preparation before machining starts.