Computer Numerical Control

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The 3 Options You Have in Obtaining Your Own CNC Router

Deciding on the purchase of CNC Router is not always the most attractive prospect. The upfront cost of a router can be a bit intimidating and cause a great deal of reluctance.

What I will do here is discuss the top 3 choices you will have in the acquisition of a CNC Router.

1. Buy Brand New

This is the most obvious prospect. There are some major benefits to purchasing a brand new CNC Router, the 1st of which is that you can rest easy knowing that your machine is brand new and most likely will not have any major mechanical difficulties for some time. The 2nd is that in 9 out of 10 cases you will receive some type of warranty from the company you purchase from; a benefit you will not receive from the other two options.

2. Buy Used

This is probably the most popular option of the 3. You can find plenty of resources online that sell used CNC Routers and I'm sure that you can receive an excellent bargain.

In my opinion, this option should only be resorted to if you absolutely cannot afford a new machine.

Why?

Because you have no idea what you are getting yourself into. Traditionally, you will not get any warranty with your CNC Router purchase or any assurance that the machine has not experienced major mechanical challenges in the past. However, if you can be sure that your source is reliable and trustworthy, then go for it! This option will save you about half the cost of a new CNC Router.

3. Build your own.

What!?

That's right, I said it. Build your own!

Now if you are anything like me, this is not a very inviting option. However, if you are the naturally crafty type this project may be a lot of fun and very rewarding. Again, you will easily find all of the necessary resources for this task online.

Well, there you have it! The top 3 options mixed in with a little bit of my opinion.

For more information on CNC Router or visit http://www.ez-router.com.

About CNC Controllers

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CNC controllers are devices that control machines and processes. They range in capability from simple point-to-point linear control to highly complex algorithms that involve multiple axes of control. CNC controllers can be used to control various types of machine shop equipment. These include horizontal mills, vertical mills, lathes and turning centers, grinders, electro discharge machines (EDM), welding machines, and inspection machines. The number of axes controlled by CNC controllers can range anywhere from one to five, with some CNC controllers configured to control greater than six axes. Mounting types for CNC controllers include board, stand alone, desktop, pendant, pedestal, and rack mount. Some units may have integral displays, touch screen displays, and keypads for control and programming.

Industrial communications options for CNC controllers include ARCNet, CANBus, ControlNET, Data Highway Plus, DeviceNet, Ethernet 10/100 Base-T, parallel, PROFIBUS, SERCOS, Universal Serial Bus (USB), serial (RS232, RS422, RS485), and web-enabled. Communications language choices include bitmap, conversational, DXF file, G/M codes, Hewlett Packard graphics language, and ladder logic. A bit map (often spelled "bitmap") defines a display space and the color for each pixel or "bit" in the display space. Conversational language is a higher level, easy to learn programming tool. It performs the same functions as the standard G-code commands. Drawing eXchange Format (DXF) file that was created as a standard to freely exchange 2 and 3 dimensional drawings between different CAD programs. It basically represents a shape as a wire frame mesh of x, y, z coordinates. G-code is the programming language for the Computer Numerically Controlled (CNC) machine tools that can be downloaded to the controller to operate the machine. M-code is the standard machine tool codes that are normally used to switch on the spindle, coolant or auxiliary devices. Hewlett Packard Graphical Language (HPGL) was originally created to send 2 dimensional drawing information to pen plotters, but has since become a good standard for the exchange of 2 dimensional drawing information between CAD programs. Ladder logic is a programming language used to program programmable logic controllers (PLC). This graphical language closely resembles electrical relay logic diagrams.

CNC controllers have several choices for operation. These include polar coordinate command, cutter compensation, linear and circular interpolation, stored pitch error, helical interpolation, canned cycles, rigid tapping, and auto-scaling. Polar coordinate command is a numerical control system in which all the coordinates are referred to a certain pole. The position is defined by the polar radius and polar angle. Cutter compensation is the distance you want the CNC control to offset for the tool radius away from the programmed path. Linear and circular interpolation is the programmed path of the machine, which appears to be straight or curved, but is actually a series of very small steps along that path. Machine precision can be remarkably improved through such features as stored pitch error compensation, which corrects for lead screw pitch error and other mechanical positioning errors. Helical interpolation is a technique used to make large diameter holes in workpieces. It allows for high metal removal rates with a minimum of tool wear. There are machine routines like drilling, deep drilling, reaming, tapping, boring, etc. that involve a series of machine operations but are specified by a single G-code with appropriate parameters. Rigid tapping is a CNC tapping feature where the tap is fed into the work piece at the precise rate needed for a perfect tapped hole. It also needs to retract at the same precise rate otherwise it will shave the hole and create an out of spec tapped hole. Auto scaling translates the parameters of the CNC program to fit the work piece.

Features common to CNC controllers include alarm and event monitoring, behind tape reader, diskette floppy storage, tape storage, zip disk storage, multi-program storage, self diagnostics, simultaneous control, tape reader, and teach mode.

http://www.cnc-academy.com/cnc-programming-articles/cnc-programming-articles.htm

Cnc Shop, Water Jet Cutting Machines, Granite Bridge Saw

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CNC Machines, Water jet Cutting machines and Granite Bridge Saw are getting very popular machineries in today’s industrial world. These are most effective, cost effective and fastest growing method to cut materials.

CNC Machines technology is one of the new emerging technologies used in metal industry. The introduction of CNC (Computer Numerical Control) machines has made a great impact on the manufacturing industry. These are very useful as can help to cut curves as a straight line; Complex 3-D structure can be produce and thus reduced the human actions. This is one of the reasons so that CNC Shop are getting so popular and helpful. It gives more flexibility in holding the parts in manufacturing and to change the machine to produce different components.
CNC machine has the functions of milling, grinding, polishing and sculpting.
It is especially suitable for producing high grade basin board and other abnormal products
Made of stone, ceramic, glass and micro-crystal stone. The machine will automatically
finish the processing of any required profile by simple setting. The products are of high precision and good glossiness rate.

One more example of same type of tool is Water jet cutting Machines, which are capable of slicing into metal or materials with high velocity and pressure. It is often used for both fabrication and manufacture of parts for machinery and some other devices.
Water jets can be used to cut materials as diverse as fish sticks, 'gas station' sandwiches, and titanium. But still there are some materials that cannot be effectively cut with a water jet cutter like, tempered glass, which shatters when cut, regardless of the cutting technology used.

Water jet cutting technology is the most efficient, cost effective and fastest growing method to cut materials. Due to its versatility and ease of operation, fabricators are quickly realizing the vast potential of these machines. Water jets (or abrasivejets) can cut virtually any material in any shape with no heat distortion or mechanical stress usually caused by other methods.

Granite Bridge Saw are also getting very useful for industrial uses. Bridge Saws also include different varieties for the different purposes in Small laboratories or industries as Marble and granite bridge cutter, diamond saw machine into rails, electronic bridge shape sawing machine, Compactness and sturdiness etc.

Marble Services Co. has contracted with many corporations, businesses and residents to perform hundreds of restoration and refinishing projects, both large and small. Following the Northridge Earthquake we restored many damaged marble statues and stonework, in many cases masking any evidence of damage.

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By: webmaster12

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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.

Computer Aided Manufacturing Applications

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Computer Aided Manufacturing (CAM) refers to an automation process, which accurately converts product design and drawing or the object into a code format, readable by the machine to manufacture the product. Computer aided manufacturing complements the computer aided design (CAD) systems to offer a wide range of applications in different manufacturing fields. CAM evolved from the technology utilized in the Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machines that were used in the early 1950s. CNC involved the use of coded instructions on a punched paper tape and could control single manufacturing functions. CAM controlled computer systems, however, can control a whole set of manufacturing functions simultaneously.

CAM allows work instructions and procedures to be communicated directly to the manufacturing machines. A CAM system controls manufacturing operations performed by robotic milling machines, lathes, welding machines and other industrial tools. It moves the raw material to different machines within the system by allowing systematic completion of each step. Finished products can also be moved within the system to complete other manufacturing operations such as packaging, synthesizing and making final checks and changes.

Some of the major applications of the CAM system are glass working, woodturning, metalworking and spinning, and graphical optimization of the entire manufacturing procedure. Production of the solids of rotation, plane surfaces, and screw threads is done by applying CAM systems.
A CAM system allows the manufacturing of three-dimensional solids, using ornamental lathes with greater intricacy and detail. Products such as candlestick holders, table legs, bowls, baseball bats, crankshafts, and camshafts can be manufactured using the CAM system. CAM system can also be applied to the process of diamond turning to manufacture diamond tipped cutting materials. Aspheric optical elements made from glass, crystals, and other metals can also be produced using CAM systems.
Computer aided manufacturing can be applied to the fields of mechanical, electrical, industrial and aerospace engineering. Applications such as thermodynamics, fluid dynamics, solid mechanics, and kinematics can be controlled using CAM systems. Other applications such as electromagnetism, ergonomics, aerodynamics, and propulsion and material science may also use computer aided manufacturing.

Computer Aided Manufacturing provides detailed information on Applications of Computer Aided Manufacturing, Cam And Computer Aided Design, Computer Aided Design , Computer Aided Design Scanners and more. Computer Aided Manufacturing is affiliated with Computer Aided Design and Manufacturing.

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