How CNC machines work and their basic concepts are not as difficult as they may seem to the novice. Learning the basics of CNC is in fact quite simple. Below is a look at what the basic principles of CNC are, how CNC machines function, and what can be made with them.
How CNC Machines Work : Definitions
CNC stands for computer numerical control. This means the taking of digitized data, a computer, and a CAM programme to control a machine. The machine could be a router, a lathe, a welder, a grinder, a laser cutter, a robot, a milling machine, or indeed any other type of machine that can be automated by CNC.
In the CNC industry where larger machines are the norm, the computer that is used is generally on-board and dedicated to an individual machine. When the machine in question is of a hobbyist type, the computer used is external and can be as small as a home laptop. In industry, a feedback system will be in place to constantly monitor operation and provide automatic adjustment where required to the cutter’s position and speed.
How CNC Machines Work : Desktop CNC
Desktop CNC machines can be found both in industry and in hobbyist styles. Like everything nowadays, technology is allowing for things to become smaller. Just like your mobile phone will weigh less than the one you owned a decade ago, a desktop CNC machine will be light weight and less expensive than industrial counterparts. It should be noted here however that desktop machines are generally still less accurate and less precise than their industrial counterparts.
CAM
Computer aided machining refers to the use of software packages that are used with CNC machines. The CAM software creates tool paths and NC code that allows the CNC machine to run without human intervention. When 3D is used, this is known as CAD, and when both processes are used simultaneously, it is known as CAD/CAM. It should be noted that CAM does not actually run the machine. What it does is create the code for the machine to follow. Although the machine will run itself and will not be run by a human, the machine will be programmed by an extremely well experienced machinist in CNC and CAD.
NC Code
NC code is actually a relatively simple computer language. The CNC machine in question understands the language and executes as a result. The NC code will tell the machine which moves to make, as well as the speed at which to make them. Modern CNC machines can work on up to 5 or more axes, the more axes the machine has the more intricate and complicated the movements and cuts become. A 5 axis machine can operate in a 180 degree hemisphere, machines with 5 axes becoming more and more common, even in smaller CNC workshops.
Learning how CNC machine works is interesting for the novice, the hobbyist, and for anyone who is hoping to pursue a career in CAD or CAM. With advances in technology, the limitations of CNC are becoming fewer by the day, more and more intricate precision parts being produced by machines every day.
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