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Manufacturing anything that requires exact measurements requires cutting edge precision and nimbleness from the worker. Most of the time manufacturing these kinds of products requires weeks or months to finish therefore slowing down productivity as well as consistency of the manufacturers.

Computer Numerical Control or more commonly called as CNC’s are the new trend in machine shop manufacturing and practice. Any manufacturing environment owns one or is basically acquainted to this kind of device because of its capability to increase productivity as well as consistency on the products being produced.

Benchmarked from Numerical Control (NC) during the late 50’s, Computer Numerical Control incorporate the functionality of a Programmable Logic Controller (PLC), meaning you could program it to execute different functions depending on the type of manufacturing that the industry needs.

Given this kind of quality what does the Computer Numerical Control do in the practical application concept? CNC can do a variety of things depending on how the machine operator would program the system. The more acquainted the machine operator is to the CNC machine the more complex applications as well as programming can be made. Practical applications of CNC range from drilling, lathes, multi-axis spindles, milling machines, laser cutting machines, and wire electrical discharge machines.

Let’s discuss some of these common applications further. In Metal fabrication, Computer Numerical controlled Lathe’s are used to fabricate metal sheet by shearing, flame or plasma cutting, punching, laser cutting, forming and welding. Most CNC Lathe’s are used for designing modern carbide tooling. The design could be created with the Computer Aided Manufacturing (CAM) process, and when done, the CNC could start creating the product automatically with little supervision from the machine operator.

Electrical discharge machining (EDM) is the process of removing metal with the use of electrical sparks to take away the metal. These Electrical Discharge Machine has two types, the vertical EDM and wire EDM. Vertical EDM uses an electrode that is the shape of the cavity to be machined into a work piece. Wire EDM is used to create punch and die combinations in the fabrication industry. Computer Numerical Control EDM’s are not usually known because it is mostly incorporated to other CNC process.

Drilling is the most common machine process. Computer Numerical Controlled Drilling is used to create precise right circular cylinders over a certain material, the CNC could be programmed to create holes on different standards, most of the time this is the gaps between these holes. Drilling is commonly used in wood working manufacturing process in which other process is also involved such as milling, turning and grinding.

Several tools for creating holes with CNC’s involve varied hole sizes as well as drill press for creating different depths on its holes. CNC drills are equipped depending on the type of hole that the machine operator is drilling.

Applications stated above are just a few examples on what the Computer Numerical Control could execute. Depending on how you want it to perform, more complex designs can be made and a lot of things can be made in a shorter period of time, therefore the key concept for the proper use of CNC’s is that the machine operator must know what he or she wants to do.

This makes the CNC an indispensable tool for the Manufacturing Industry nowadays.

Tags: cnc, cnc lathe, computer, computer numerical control, machine, programmable logic controller

If you think that you will just sit back and relax when you have a CNC machine in your shop, think again. CNC may help you speed up your operations and even make them more efficient. However, CNC is not a “wonder robot” which will make you disregard all your employees and expect your shop to run on auto-pilot.

Though you will need more people without the CNC technology, you will need only three very, very skilled people. Call these people your friends, your team, whatever. In the long run, they might be just all you need to keep the shop in good shape.

THE PROGRAMMER

The first person is the CNC programmer. S/he is like the “playmaker”.  S/he will create the programs that the CNC machines are intended to execute. Since the programs are in the form of CNC codes fabricated like sentences, he should have mastered these codes because they work like a different language. The regular CNC machine can use up to 50 codes, so that’s like learning 50 new words for the newbie.

Also, the programmer should have at least and engineering or machining degree. Remember that the CNC machine will only execute WHAT IT IS PROGRAMMED TO DO. If the program is wrong, the whole operation goes down the drain with it. Moreover,s/he should also be flexible and have a fast turn-around because a CNC machine is often used to machine a huge selection of different work-pieces.

THE OPERATOR

The second person that you need is the CNC operator. S/he will simply recheck the programs loaded to the machine and push the right buttons to get the work done. However, thinking that a CNC operator can have little or NO SKILL AT ALL is wrong. A CNC machine operator must have at least basic machining skills and s/he should have undergone some form of training to run a CNC machine.

These machines can produce very intricate motions, making it possible to make shapes that cannot be created on conventional machine tools. So, the operator should foresee this complexity and know how to cruise with it. The skills that an operator must have though, are lesser compared to the operators of conventional machine tools.

THE TECHNICIAN

The third person that will need is the CNC technician. Although this may still be the programmer, it’s more convenient to always have a technical expert on-call because in the long run, you may have more than one CNC machine and you may need to prioritize over the other in case both gets crippled at the same time. Just like the programmer, the technician should also be flexible and articulate. CNC offers a lot of complexity when it’s running right, how much more if it’s behaving badly?

So, if you are having job openings for positions that need to be handling a CNC machine, ask the applicants first to do a demo for you and make sure that during the demo, they know what they’re doing. An exam may also do wonders too. If they have no experience with any kind of CNC machine, it is advisable that you encourage them to take short courses on CNC.

Eighty-hour courses are available online and hey, it’s better than nothing.  Experts even encourage employers to hire CNC machinists who have finished AND PASSED the National Occupational Competency Testing Institute (NOCTI) assessment just so they could be sure that their CNC machines will go to good hands. After all, a CNC machine is still an asset.

Tags: cnc, cnc machine operator, cnc programmer, conventional machine tools, machine, operator

The advent of Computers lessened the need for human intervention in almost all aspects of our daily lives. This is especially true in the industrial sector now that production is virtually automated.

Precision and accuracy

Computer numerical control has been able to help companies in terms of precision. With the need for more complex designs and more complex operations, human workers could not cope with the required precision that comes with advancement. CNC machines were able to alter that idea by allowing increased precision and lesser error ratios with regards to production.

Another important improvement that CNC has brought with it is the increased accuracy. The dimensions of components have to be very accurate. And since an increase in production speed also increases the error ratio, CNC has helped lower that ratio by the increased level of automation and the error detection capabilities that computers have.

Speed

In the industrial sector, speed is of the essence. With CNC technology, the normal production capacity has been increased exponentially. This means that effective and accurate production methods have been developed. Mass production requires more scrutiny for errors and mistakes. However, anomalies can also be corrected. The programming structures of CNC machines can be altered in a fast way. This means that mistakes do not have as serious an impact as they had before CNC was improved to this level.

Machine versatility

CNC machines have become very versatile with regards to the tools that they use. They can easily be assigned to different tasks and thus can be very productive. Tools and networks can be switched without compromising the speed of the production. Aside from this, one machine can do more than one task at a time. This exceeds the normal human capacities as it allows more tasks to be accomplished at a faster rate than before.

Furthermore, when one machine tool breaks down, it can easily be pulled off the grid to prevent it from affecting the whole production cycle. It can then be replaced or repaired on the spot.

Lesser human intervention

Since component production is a very tedious and repetitive operation, human error skyrockets as time passes. This is due to fatigue and other factors. Furthermore, the ability of a person degrades due to psychological and emotional factors. This means that if a person works on the same job for a certain amount of time, the person may eventually get bored or tired or both. This increases the possibility for the human to commit an error and thus causes a drop in the efficiency rating of that person. A machine, however, does not get tired or bored. A machine does not have any concern at all.

Therefore, a machine increases efficiency ratings by speeding up production and eliminating or reducing factors that threaten efficiency. In this case, one must simply program the machine to start a cycle. Furthermore, humans have to be fed, paid, and rested. Machines only have to be rested when failures occur to often and they do not need to be paid or fed.

This brings us to the conclusion that companies will be able to save a lot in the long run. While investing in CNC machines is not cheap, maintenance will only cost a fraction of what will be paid to manual laborers.

Tags: cnc, cnc machines, computer numerical control, detection capabilities, machine, production

Since the dawn of the CNC (Computer Numerical Control) machines introduction in the machining sector, they have been praised for being accurate, fast, consistent and flexible. Although CNC machines are not totally independent, a lot of major industries depend on these wonder machines. Common CNC-dependent industries include the metal industry and the woodworking industry. However, these industries, when small-time, can be operated by hands.

In this article, you will learn about the industries which are CNC dependent not because they have grown big in time but because they have to. It can be also that they are CNC dependent because their industries demand a low level of tolerance and a high level of sophistication. There are no “small-time” members of this industry. Let’s start discussing.

THE AEROSPACE INDUSTRY

First off, this is already a very sophisticated industry. An engineering degree (solely) will not get you anywhere in the Aerospace industry. Not even within striking range. This industry demands so high from their members so machine shops that belong to this industry trust only the best of the best of CNC machining. In fact, sources say that the term “Precision Machining” has been coined from this industry.

In the materials they use, the aerospace industry already demands a lot. CNC machines which are used here are mostly capable of handling Inconel, Titanium, Magnesium, Stainless Steel and so much more. From parts of the landing gear, to shuttle seats, to housings, and even oxygen generation, CNC machines play a big part in their manufacturing.

It’s not just that. Every CNC machine used in this industry also has to be approved AND RATED by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to be safe and to be surely capable of “Precision Machining”. A NASA experience is highly praised too.

THE MEDICAL INDUSTRY

If the Aerospace Industry demanded precision above all, the Medical Industry demands sterility as much as precision. That’s something that you may have known since you got your first vaccine. Most CNC machines which work for this industry are multi-spindle and contain multi-turret lathes.

These special features allow the company to turn out components for hospital equipment, pulse meters, blood purification systems and mother medical devices. They are also useful in the mass production of disposable items and non-embeddable components.

High-torque milling and turning spindles are heavily demanded in this industry to enable users to process all substrates currently used in the medical device and orthopedic implant markets. Moreover, CNC machines recommended in the medical industry are those which can properly handle Titanium, Cobalt Chromium, Nitinol and others.

THE MILITARY INDUSTRY

This industry’s main concern aside from precision is security. In fact, if you try to search online the CNC-manufactured materials or CNC machines used in this industry, no matter how famous their reputation is, the manufacturer cannot display (pictures of) the materials that they have produced for their clients. They can only display products which they are used in.

This industry deals heavily with Inconel, Titanium, Kevlar, Monel and Hastealloy; so most CNC machines recommended in the Military industry must be able to handle those.

Famous CNC standards evaluators in this industry include the Department of Defense (DOD), the Mil Spec (Military Specifications) and other selected military sectors.

The top managers of these industries also demand their CNC machines to be purchased from CNC machine suppliers which adhere to the International Standards Organization (ISO).  And because these industries are CNC-dependent, their shops can occupy a vast amount of space. Basically, that makes no room for old school methods and errors.

Tags: cnc, computer numerical control, federal aviation administration, industry, Mil Spec, nasa experience, Precision

The acronym CNC means Computer Numerically Controlled. Before, the professional craftsmen made high quality goods with the help of hand tools such as hand routers planers, circular saws and others. It was really so a hard job to do the entire things by means of the hands. Because of this cause, the delivery of products on time is impossible to do.

At present generation, computerization is everywhere. Everything happens automatically and people are addicted badly with automation scheme. The wood steering machines came up with CNC. This machine can drill automatically, routes, cut and carves that can supply with unbelievable accuracy and velocity to add productivity not sacrificing quality.

The modern CNC routers use computers in informing the control scheme and motors what to cut and the distance to move, while old CNC routing devices operated by using punch tape. These machines can rotate whole material to finished products based on the design given by the software.

CNC routing devices cut the timber in 3 diverse directions instantly. It can produce patterns and shapes rapidly because it moves in some directions quickly.

Fundamentally, the software used in CNC routing machine is CAD (Computer Aided Design). It aids in designing the goods then sends commands to PC controller in CNC machines. The controller brings directional sign to motor drivers then the device moves in answer to produce a finished design.

The CNC routing devices begin the work through the attached computer which controls the movement, design and cutting. It may put the machine to work in fresh designs while it is being used.

The CNC wood routers make use of CNC and are like comparable to metal CNC mill but they have the following differences: the wood router spins typically faster having a range of 13,000 to 24,000 revolutions per minute, it usually uses little tools with distinctive shank size of 20 millimeters or a maximum of 25 millimeters and it typically utilizes little tool holders MK2 (Morse taper number 2 – an older machine), ISO-30, HSK-63 or the devices get hold directly to spindle nose.

There is much CAM software like Artcam, Featurecam and Mastercam purposely made for wood routers. Wood with diverse grain should be advanced with exceptional strategies. Wood router is often utilized to machine some pliable supplies like plastics at high velocity.

A CNC router may twist raw manufacturing supplies like aluminum or wood into finished goods based on thorough designs you produced with the use of accompanying software.

CNC Routers have important responsibilities in markets like furniture design, manufacturing of circuit board, plastic and foam production and education. They may permit you to finish projects within few hours that previously took you for numerous days. The advantages of having one CNC router, what it may do, choosing a vendor and a Variety of costs involved is the fundamental features of CNC routers.

Tags: cnc, cnc routers, machine, Morse, professional craftsmen, software cnc, wood

If you would like to see some CNC Routers at work check out these videos.

http://www.cronsrud.com/video/index.html

Tags: check, cnc, cnc routers, video index, work

CNC stands for Computer Numerical Control. It basically means that a computer interprets a program to determine how to move the machine. A design for a component would be developed on a CAD/CAM system (computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacturing) and the CNC machine would interpret that design into the sequence of movements the machine would need to make to make the part.

A router is a machine tool that can make free form, curved cuts and can cut out complicated shapes. It can also use a number of differently shaped cutting bits that can cut complex shapes into the edges of the material.

Tags: cad cam system, cnc, computer aided manufacturing, computer numerical control, Design, machine

I made a three axis CNC Router with three CD drives. I was going to make a stepper motor controller board for the CNC but I noticed that the motors are NOT servo motors instead they are hobby motors(the motors with two wires) So is there a schematic anyone knows of that controls a hobby motor with a parallel port? I WILL PICK A BEST ANSWER!!! thank you!

Servo motors are dc(or ac) motors with a encoder feedback. so they have 2 wires + the encoder (4 to 6)
Steppers have 4+ wires.

Cd drives don’t use steppers or servos so i know you can’t be using any of them. Don’t waste your time hunting for parts and schematics just order a kit from http://www.hobbycnc.com/ or look for others. If you want this router to work at all you need micro stepping and cheap easy plans don’t offer this. The plans that do end up costing a lot in parts so it’s better to just buy a kit.

If you have money you can get good controllers from rutex and gecko drives.

Tags: axis cnc router, cnc, Don, motor, motor controller board, Router, stepper motor controller

looking to set up a workshop from new to manifacture kitchen and bedroom units abd concidering thr cnc rout looking for ideas as have no experiance with them

Frankly, with the machines already available for this industry, the use of CNC controlled machines is an unnecessary and complicated expense, you are better off thinking of jigs to standardise batch production.

I have been down this street in the past and am now involved with CNC, the latter is fine for complicated items that a simple jig cannot handle, or, for making the jigs themselves to a high standard of accuracy but for speedy production – no, plus the investment is colossal, and you will still need the simpler machines as well.

A lot depends on your proposed turnover and market level, and, don’t forget, its fine having an excellent product but you have to sell it at an acceptable price, and marketing is not easy out there.

Production is one thing and whatever you do, don’t forget the importance of sales staff, they are the lynch pin of industry, without sales the finest workshop in the world will fail, but I assume you are already aware of this.

Good luck on your endeavour, I hope this helps.

Tags: batch production, cnc, concidering, production, speedy production, workshop

I need prototypes of some plastic products. These will eventually be molded, but for now I need components to be routed from plastic by a CNC Router. What kind of company should I look for to provide such a service?

Check around for local machine shops.

Maybe try getting a few quotes.

Tags: cnc, CNC Router, plastic, prototypes, quotes, Router