Practical applications in CNC production, everything that requires precise measurements requires the highest precision and agility from the worker. Most of the time, these types of products take weeks or months to produce, slowing down the productivity as well as the consistency of manufacturers.
Computer numerical control or more commonly called CNC is a new trend in production and workshop practice. Each production environment has one or is substantially familiar with this type of device due to its ability to increase productivity as well as the consistency of the products produced.
Computer numerical control, modeled after the numerical control (NC) in the late 1950s, includes the functionality of a programmable logic controller (PLC), meaning it can be programmed to perform a variety of functions depending on the type of production needed in the industry.
Given this kind of quality, what does computer numerical control do in a practical application concept? The CNC can do different things depending on how the machine operator programs the system. The more a machine operator is familiar with the CNC machine, the more complex applications and programming can be made. Practical CNC applications include drilling, lathes, multi-axis spindles, milling machines, laser cutters, and wire EDM machines.
Let's discuss some of these popular apps. In metal production, computer-controlled lathes are used to produce sheet metal by shearing, flame or plasma cutting, punching, laser cutting, forming and welding. Most CNC lathes are used to design modern carbide tools. The design can be created using the Computer Aided Manufacturing (CAM) process, and upon completion, the CNC can begin product creation automatically, without the supervision of the machine operator.
Electrical discharge machining (EDM) is the process of removing metal by means of electric sparks to remove it. These electric discharge machines are of two types: vertical EDM and wire EDM. Vertical EDM uses an electrode that is shaped like a cavity to be machined into a workpiece. EDM wire is used to create punch and die combinations in the manufacturing industry. Computer numerical control EDMs are usually unknown as they are mostly integrated into other CNC processes.
Drilling is the most common machine process. Computer numerical controlled drilling is used to create precise right-hand circular cylinders on a specific material, the CNC can be programmed to create holes of various standards, in most cases it is the gaps between these holes. Drilling is commonly used in the wood production process, which also involves other processes such as milling, turning and grinding.
Several tools for creating holes using the CNC include different hole sizes as well as a drill for creating different hole depths. CNC drilling machines are equipped depending on the type of hole drilled by the machine operator.
The applications listed above are just a few examples of what Computer Numerical Control can do. Depending on how you want it to be done, more complex designs can be created and many things can be done in less time, therefore the key concept for using the CNC correctly is that the machine operator needs to know what he or she wants to do.
This makes the CNC an indispensable tool for the manufacturing industry today.
