1. a shaft or spindle on which material is forged, shaped, or machined
Usage: technical
2. a metal rod used as a core around which metal or other material is cast, molded, or shaped
Usage: manufacturing

Examples

• The blacksmith placed the hot metal over the mandrel to shape the ring.
• The machinist secured the workpiece on the mandrel before turning it on the lathe.
• A tapered mandrel was used to expand the metal tube to the correct diameter.
• The jeweler used a small mandrel to form the wire into a perfect circle.
• The mandrel must be perfectly centered to ensure accurate machining.
• She removed the finished part from the mandrel once it had cooled.