What Are CNC Machines?
CNC machines are the workhorses of the precision machining industry. CNC stands for Computer Numeric Control. CNC is an industry standard programming language designed specifically for controlling high-precision mills, lathes, cutting and grinding machines. It's the progeny of the marriage between Computer Aided Design (CAD) and Computer Aided Machining (CAM).
Other People Are Reading
-
CNC Programs
-
CNC programs are written in machine manufacturer-specific language. While there is an industry standard code, most machines have specific functions built into their codes to take advantage of automation to make programming easier.
Codes
-
The CNC language is based on each code having the machine perform a specific function. For instance, M-codes M00 and M02 are almost always "program start" and "program end." But other M-codes might vary from machine to machine because of the variety of functions the hardware performs.
-
General Codes
-
CNC machines read the CNC program, executing the codes for movement, direction, spindle speed, tool changes, Cartesian coordinate position and coolant flow. Some machines perform simultaneous, timed execution of functions using multiple cutting heads or spindles.
CAD/CAM
-
Computer Aided Design and Computer Aided Machining software packages are built specifically to output CNC code readable by specific machines. CAD/CAM software can address specific manufacturer and machine proprietary codes through individual programming or database access.
Faster
-
CNC machines, running optimized CAD/CAM designed programs, can produce machined parts in minutes or even seconds that take skilled craftsmen hours or even days to produce on manual machinery.
-
Resources
- Photo Credit Google Images
