CNC Machining

CNC machining in the industrial the context refers to Computer Numerical Control. Computers are used to control machine tools for the purpose of manufacturing complex and intricate parts of metal and other material. More over the cutting process is enabled, using a program written in a notation confirming to EIA-274-D standard, which is often referred as G-code. The computer numerical controls were developed in late 1940’s and 1950’s, but were briefly preceded due to less advanced numerically controlled machines. However the CNC technology has developed greatly, with advances in mechanics and the computer sector. The developed CNC machines have drastically changed the face of the manufacturing industry.

More over the CNC structure has dramatically reduced human intervention in machining. It is easy to cut curves or straight lines, and structuring intricate 3-D parts has become relatively easy.

However CNC machines have helped to increase automation of the manufacturing sector, and have enabled improvements in consistent and quality production. The machininig technology has even helped significantly in reducing the frequency of errors and has provided the CNC operators with time to perform additional tasks. CNC automation also gives higher flexibility to the way tools are gripped in the manufacturing process, and the time required to produce different products.

Often for producing parts requiring several operations, a series of CNC machines are combined into one station, commonly referred to as a cell. However CNC structures today are controlled directly, with help of the files created by CAM software packages. Wherein the assembly can go directly from design to manufacturing, eliminating the need of producing a paper draft of the manufactured component.

Moreover CNC technology has enabled convenient and automated handling, of various machine tools such as drills, edm, lathes, milling machines, wood routers, sheet metal works, and hot-wire foam cutters. CNC technologies represent a special segment of industrial robot systems, as they are flexible and programmable to undertake any machine operation task.

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CNC Machines Get The Job Done

If you need a machine that will improve your speed and accuracy then try a CNC machine when you are getting large jobs done or doing very repetitive tasks. You can get a used one for half the cost of a new one since most individuals wouldn’t want to spend their money on a new one. CNC equipment can be found in woodworking shops or industrial settings. Add them to your collection that includes a milling machine as well.

If you need to drill holes than consider a CNC router. Some of them can hold more than one tool too. This makes it possible to do more than one procedure at a time. This will help you cut back on the tie you spend working and help you become more accurate.

Computer Numerated Control is the full name for CNC. In the 1970’s this technology was first created. These machines are easy to run and operate after they have been initially set up. They also need to be set up correctly and programmed before they are operated.

They can be made so you can drill a hole automatically. This can be much more accurate and quicker than manual drilling. You will get more uniform results. If you have a large job that needs a lot of drilling then this can be a good choice for you. You might get more inconsistent results when you are doing manual drilling and if the operator gets tired.

If you want a good thing to cut wood with then try a CNC lathe. You can buy one that ranges from 15-40 horsepower. You will choose the lathe power you need depending on the type of wood you use. You can get a model that comes with more than one mode. You can one that is totally manual or CNC. You can rig each machine for your individual project.

If you want the best in milling technology then try a Bridgeport mill. You can find a mill in both a small shop or a large one. If you want a mill that will last forever than try a Bridgeport mill. They are very pricey and more so than most people can afford.

A CNC mill use a special type of instrument that uses a combination of robotics and computer programming. You will get great results better than anyone could ever want. These are the kind of mills that the airline companies use. The CNC decides which tool is need for an operation and changes as it goes.

Since CNC equipment is so pricey it means most people can’t afford it. If you get a used machine you may find that you can afford it. You may be able to save about half on a used machine compared to a new one.

Being really passionate about cnc machinery and woodworking tools, Greg Hansward authored different summaries in this specific area. With his detailed writings on cnc machines and tools and cnc machinery the reviewer showed his deep knowledge on the topic.

CNC Machines

A CNC machine is used in woodworking shops and some other industrial settings. They are very expensive, so most individuals do not buy them, although used ones can be obtained more cheaply. They are important for speed and accuracy in large, repetitive tasks.

There are many uses in industry for CNC machines. Routers drill holes, for example. Many CNC machines can perform a number of tasks at once, improving efficiency in the manufacturing process.

The technology behind these machines is Computer Numerated Control. This technology was developed in the seventies and it allows for a machine to be programmed in advance so the operations are set up to work almost automatically. The initial setup is a little complicated, but once that is done the machine is easy to operate.

A CNC router would be programmed to drill a hole repeatedly at certain intervals. This is much more efficient than manual calculation and drilling and eliminates inconsistency due to human error or fatigue.

A CNC lathe would be used to cut pieces of wood of uniform size and shape. Lathes can have horsepower ranging from 15 to 40 HP, and how much power is needed depends upon the job being done. A good CNC lathe will allow you to work at various levels of automation, so that you can work all manual, or all automated, or any combination in between.

The best mill available is the Bridgeport mill. Mills are designed to be used in both large industries and small milling shops, and the Bridgeport mill is built to last in any situation. The price is prohibitive, however, for individual use.

A CNC mill is considered specialty equipment. The concept is to use computer programming and robotic operation for speed and accuracy. This kind of speed and accuracy would be impossible to achieve for an individual. The airline industry frequently uses the CNC technology of Bridgetown mills; specifications are entered, and the mill automatically determines which functions to perform and how.

Engravers can also be CNC machines. Engraving can be done on many materials, including wood or wood composite, metal, stone or glass. These machines can do very exact engraving on materials from the smallest to the largest, and have the same result over and over.

Since CNC machines are so expensive most individuals cannot afford them, there may be individuals who do a lot of repetitive machine work and would like to obtain one. An option in this case is a used CNC machine, which can be as low as half the price of a new one. It is important to make sure the used machine is in good condition, so you may be better off looking for a rebuilt machine. This is one that has had the major components replaced so it is almost a new machine. Frequently, rebuilt machines have a warranty of at least one year, so that you can be assured that it will be working, or you can get it repaired if it does not.

Linden Walhard pens mainly for http://www.insidewoodworking.com, an online publication covering information on woodworking tools, cnc machinery and other areas. His work on cnc machinery and cnc machines and tools are found on his web publications .

CNC Machines

What is a CNC Machine? CNC stands for Computer Numeric Control. Sounds complicated, but it isn’t. Years ago, it was just NC, or Numeric Control. Since, they’ve added computers to control the machine.

In the simplest of terms, think of a drill press. It’s a machine that drills holes. But before you can drill the hole, you have to loosen the chuck, install the correct drill bit, drill the hole in the correct place, turn off the drill, and remove the drill bit. Manually, this could be time consuming and cause fatigue over the course of numerous parts. This is a simple example, but throw in some lathe or milling machining and you have a greater chance for error.

With the CNC machine, all of this drilling can be done automatically instead of the manual process listed above. Machining has to be precise, and whether you use a CNC lathe or milling machine, you have to make sure the part is right. The computer takes a lot of the guesswork out of the machining of these parts. In fact, a CNC programmer can sometimes get bored watching the machine do all the work.

But there is more programming for the machine than you would think. The operator has to enter a set of instructions. The programming uses about 50 words and tells the machine how fast, how deep, and location for machining.

What can you do with a CNC machine? In manufacturing, you can use this tool for milling, drilling, reaming, boring and counter boring. You can also groove and thread parts in a CNC turning center. You may have several setups including CNC lathes, CNC drill and tap area, CNC milling, or even CNC grinding.

EDM (electrical discharge machining) can also take advantage of CNC operations. EDM can be either vertical or wire. A vertical EDM machine uses an electrode to make a cavity for a plastic injection-molding machine. A wire EDM machine uses a wire to cut metal for a tooling operation for fabrication. EDM is more closely related to making tooling for other machines, people often overlook the use of CNC with these machines.

CNC machines can also be used with routers in the wood industry. CNC can also be used with lettering and engraving.

I hope this gave you some basic information about what a CNC machine is and what they are used for.

Stuart Simpson

http://www.cnc-machine-review.com

Inexpensive PCs as CNC Machine Controllers

Part I, Utilizing an off the shelf PC as a CNC Controller

There are two main groups that can take advantage of today’s low cost PCs as an effective and inexpensive CNC controller.

• Retrofits to existing CNC machines with outdated or proprietary controls in need of service.

• Shop built and home built CNC machines.

Inexpensive PCs can cost as little as $150.00 and yet provide a dependable and effective CNC machine controller. Some sources to consider for obtaining such a system are outpost.com and dell.com. Oupost.com is an outlet for Fry’s electronics. They have one PC on sale ranging from $150.00 to $199.00. Several have successfully used this PC in conjunction with MACH2 CNC controller software.

Tradeoffs: Price vs. Quality. With the lowest cost PCs there a tradeoff in performance, quality, and reliability. The manufacturers of these machines use low cost hardware in their manufacture and they make compromises in the design of the systems to keep their costs down. Inexpensive hardware translates directly to a higher failure rate and more difficult to obtain manufacturer support. This can be a deciding factor by itself if you rely on this machine for production.

Design compromises which are common in low cost PC have an impact on performance. The primary concerns are: insufficient memory, the use of shared memory, and on-board graphics devices. The primary hardware requirements for a PC based CNC controller are sufficient memory, and sufficient processor speed. You can see that the compromises present in these systems are in direct opposition to the requirements for CNC controller.

At the bottom end of the Inexpensive PC market there are off the self solutions that will function well as a PC based CNC controller. As with all things, you tend to get what you pay for, so the buyer is advised to be aware of the requirements and limitations that are in play.

Part II in this series of articles will examine an alternative to buying an off the shelf solution and explore building a PC to meet your specifications.

Dan Staber a Mechanical Engineer offering design, analysis, consultation, and project management services. Dan is also a licensed professional engineer is the states of South Dakota and Washington. For more information please vist - http://www.qacad.com

dcstaber@qacad.com