Allow me to introduce you to the innovative world of CNC machines
Allow me to introduce you to the innovative world of CNC machines. Most people you know in your daily life won’t have ever heard about the word CNC machining most likely, and they probably don’t realize actually how much these machines contribute to products used in their daily life. The development of CNC machines is a tremendous contribution to the manufacturing industry as well as the private lifestyle of individuals. The reason why CNC tools are so effective in one way or another is because of their accuracy and reliability. Once an initial setup is done a CNC machine is not too difficult to maintain and run.
The concept of the CNC machine was originally developed to control operation and motion of machine tools. The protean forms of soft automation are mostly used in the lathe machine, milling machine, laser machine, sheet metal process etc. As mentioned earlier the CNC or Computer Numeric Control is a computer based electronic equipment that receives information in digital form, as well as the positional information of certain elements of the machine. It then utilizes the digital data or program as for positioning of the machine elements and it gives relevant results as per the command of direction.
CNC machine parts consists of the following parts :
Physically, the CNC machine is a simple lathe machine with CNC controls panel equipped with it. Internally all the functionality of a CNC lathe machine is controlled through Computer Numeric Control or CNC control. A CNC machine consists of the following parts :
- Bed : the hardened part of a machine often called ‘the bed’ as the tool turret travels over the CNC lathe bed.
2 Headstock : The ‘headstock’ of a CNC machine is the main part of the CNC lathe machine, where the work piece is fixed to perform operations. The main motor of CNC lathe machine or the headstock drives the spindle.
3 Tailstock : When operations like knurling and threading are to be done, ‘tailstock’ provides an extra gripping force to the workpiece. They provide the required extra force, so the machining process can complete smoothly.
4 Tailstock quill : Setting the workpiece between the centres is also known as the’tailstock quill’. The tailstock actually moves forward and reverse, and after that the tailstock quill travels either with hydraulic or pneumatic pressure to grip the component.
5 Footswitch or pedal : They are used to control the chuck and tailstock quill. With the help of these pedals CNC machinist’s open and close the chuck to put a grip on the component and with the help of the same the tailstock quill is forwarded or reversed.
6 Chuck : It grips the components which are to be machined. It is mounted on the main spindle.
7 Control panel: Also referred to as the brain of a CNC machine, as all the programs are stored inside this panel. A CNC machinists controls the whole machine through the keys of this panel.
8 Tool turret : They are mounted on the tool turret. They may vary in shapes and a number of tools that can be mounted on them.
Almost every global manufacturing industry is utilizing CNC machine shops due to the increase in competition and demands, as it is saving time, cost and increasing accuracy. The industries that are successfully using CNC products from CNC product manufacturing shops are automotive industry, fabricating, wood industries, aerospace and many more in the queue.