Computer Numerical Control

How CNC Helps Companies

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.

How To Effectively Consider CNC

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In the employment world, the phrase “manual labor” is often associated with jobs which are dirty, psychologically sickening, or worse, both. Small to medium-size manufacturing enterprises are moving towards using the CNC(Computer Numerical Control) in their major manufacturing processes because of its fame in accuracy, flexibility and automation. If you’re one of these entrepreneurs, don’t jump in the bandwagon just yet.

Acquiring a CNC machine is more than just buying additional equipment; it also has a social aspect in it. Here is the low down:

PEOPLE-WISE

First, you have to consider the people who are working in your shop. How many people will be displaced if you buy a CNC machine? Keep in mind that a CNC machine is multi-operational; so it’s possible that a couple of laborers will be erased from the production team. Experts say that the healthy ratio is at least one-sixth (1/6) of your whole labor force.

You will be saving time and effort, yes, and that is the best thing about having a CNC machine. However, you might be worrying about actually terminating people because, to put it bluntly, you won’t need them anymore. A CNC machine, just like any machine, will need an operator. Instructions used by a CNC machine for operational execution are composed of CNC “words/codes” and is in the form of a “sentence”.

Does one of your people ever have experience with a CNC machine before? Can s/he formulate CNC instructions? If the answer to both questions are “yes”, then that’s absolutely good news. However, if you answered “no” to at least one of the questions, then there are more things to evaluate.

Are your people capable of fast-learning? If it pains you to terminate them because they have been good employees in the past, train them on how to use the CNC machine and how to compose instructions for it. There are plenty of free training kits online.

COMPANY-WISE

There’s a corporate adage that goes: “Innovate or die”. There’s a lot of truth in that. A purchase of any CNC machine symbolizes a company’s decision to innovate to increase productivity. However, there are a few things that you need to note.

Review your company’s history. How long should you innovate drastically in terms of production? CNC equipment is expensive. It is an investment. In the long run, you may be forced to buy new equipment more often. Consider CNC heavily if you feel that your company innovates faster than other companies in terms of the industry that you belong to. After all, you can easily alter designs and material when you have CNC powered operations.

In most companies, “Innovation” is another word for “saving”. It means saving time, effort and space. In using CNC machines, the first two factors are sure savings while the third is not. People doing the labor and CNC machines often occupy the same amount of space. Do not romanticize a “clearing of clutter” effect when you buy a CNC machine. You will keep up, in terms of production; but CNC equipment also occupies a lot of space. So in that aspect, it’s pretty much the same thing.

Another thing that you have to be reminded of is the level of accuracy that your company needs to produce. Intricate patterns on metal/wood will DEMAND CNC accuracy. So any time that you feel your company is ready for such innovation and accuracy, consider employing CNC in your manufacturing.

At the end of the day, the last aspect that you need to evaluate is you, yourself. As the owner/head manager, you have to KNOW AND UNDERSTAND the CNC machine and the software well. This is the biggest battle that you have to face.

The equation to improvement is simple a really good machine plus a really good operator (you). Do not easily be blinded by the salesmen’s poetry.