NC system

 NC / CNC:
 ‘a form of programmable automation in which the process is controlled by numbers,
letters, and symbols’
 Numerical Control (NC) was the term first coined for the manufacturing processes
 term Computer Numerical Control (CNC) was adopted with introduction of
computers in the manufacturing environment in 1970’s

both terms are still used and should be taken to mean the
same

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 NC system
 CNC machine:
 conventionally, an operator decides and adjusts various machines parameters like
feed, depth of cut and more depending on the type of job and controls the
movements by hand
 in a CNC machine, functions and movements are controlled by motors using
computer programs
 basic components of NC system:
 program of instructions
 controller unit, machine control unit (MCU)
 machining center

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 basic components of NC system:
 program of instructions
detailed step by step directions which tell the machine “what to do”. it is coded in
numerical or symbolic form on same type of input medium that can be interpreted
by the MCU
 controller unit, machine control unit (MCU)
hardware that read and interpret the program of instructions and convert it into
mechanical actions of the machine tool
 machining center
• consist of worktable, spindle, motors and controls for drive
• capability of performing variety of different operations like drilling, tapping,
reaming, milling, and boring
• capability to change tool automatically
• capability of workpiece positioning
• presence of more than one worktables or pallets
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NC system

numerical
data
(NC code)

numerical
controller

manufacturing drive control

operator

video clip
processed
1 part
machine unit

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 NC coordinate system:

absolute coordinate system

 cartesian coordinate system

 “right hand rule” is used for positioning / motion
 global (fixed) and local (work) coordinates
 fixed zero and floating zero
 absolute and incremental positioning

incremental coordinate system

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 NC motion control system:
 Point-to-point NC: (positioning system)
• move of cutting tool to predefined position (drilling)
• speed and path is not important

 Straight-cut NC:
• tool movement parallel to the main axis at
a controlled rate (milling)

 contouring NC:
• most complex, flexible & expansive
• capable of simultaneous control of more than
one axis of tool movement
• tool path & speed is continuously controlled

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 manual programming:
 an individual manually write all the sequential program of instructions in the form of
a series of codes (i.e. G-codes) according to the particular format required
 this code is then inputted into the NC machine tool via the MCU either directly or
indirectly
 advantages:
• no software required
• suitable for simple jobs like point-to-point (PTP) applications
 limitations:
• labour intensive
• skilled programmer required
• error prone
• different code formats may be required for different machines
• unsuitable for large jobs in low production volumes

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 computer assisted programming:
 the program is prepared in English-like language (i.e. APT [Automatically
Programmed Tool])
 the program can automatically define some parameters (e.g. cutter offset)
 the software then translates this into the language format accepted by the NC
machine tool
• advantages:
o Less skilled process
• limitations:
o labour input still required
o programming language still requires a degree of learning

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 NC/CNC advantages:
 the first major advantage offered by all forms of NC machine tools is improved
automation
• higher labor efficiency video clip
• accurate costing and production planning
• lower skill level 2
 the second major benefit of NC technology is Quality Standards
• high machining accuracy and repeatability
• lower intervention = fewer mistakes
3
• lower inspection costs due to predictable quality
 the third major benefit offered by most forms of NC machine tools is Flexibility
• programs are electronically stored
• shorter lead times / shorter setup time
• fast changeover

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 NC/CNC limitations:
 high investment costs
 machine operation 24 hrs / day-shift work
 less labour - redundancies

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 programming: “programming is the process of creating a set of commands such, as
cutter movement, feed-rate and spindle speed in order for the machine
to perform some operations”
• O- program number (used for program identification)
Programming key letters • N- sequence number (used for line identification)
• G- preparatory function
• X- X axis designation
• Y- Y axis designation
• Z- Z axis designation
• R- radius designation
• F- feed rate designation
• S- spindle speed designation
• H- tool length offset designation
• D- tool radius offset designation
• T- tool Designation
• M- miscellaneous function

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 programming exercise - 1:
a. move from P1 to P2 without machining using absolute dimensional positioning
b. move from P1 to P2 without machining using incremental dimensional positioning

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 programming exercise - 1:
 write CNC code of following part

raw material

25
70

22.5
17.5
finished part

20
30

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 NC system
 APT Language:
 Types of APT statements:
• Geometry statements
Define the geometric elements that define the part
• Motion statements
Describe the path taken by the cutting tool
• Post-processor statements
Apply to the specific machine tool, such as feeds, speeds, feature actuation
(coolant on, etc)
• Auxiliary statements
Miscellaneous statements that identify the part, tool, tolerances, etc.

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 APT Language:
 Geometry statements:
Symbol> = Geometric Type/ Descriptive data
Point (POINT)
PTA = POINT/ 3,4,5 PTB = POINT/ INTOF, LIN1, LIN2
y
(3, 4, 5)
LIN2

PTA

z
PTB
LIN1

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 APT Language:
 Geometry statements: Point (POINT)

y
PTD = POINT/ YSMALL, INTOF, LIN3, C1

PTD = POINT/ XSMALL, INTOF, LIN3, C1 PTC

PTC = POINT/ YLARGE, INTOF, LIN3, C1

PTC = POINT/ XLARGE, INTOF, LIN3, C1

LIN3
C1

PTD

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 APT Language:
 Geometry statements: Point (POINT)
PT7 = POINT/ CENTER, C6
y

C6

PT7

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 APT Language:
 Geometry statements: Point (POINT)
PT11 = POINT/ P63, RADIUS, 7.3, ATANGLE, 27

PT11

7.3

27°

P63 = 3.1, 6.7

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 APT Language:
 Geometry statements: Line (LINE)

LIN1 = LINE/ P1, P2

y

P2

P1

LIN1

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 APT Language:
 Geometry statements: Line (LINE)
LIN4 = LINE/ PT6, 15, -30, 3
y

PT6

L4 (15, -30, 3)

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 APT Language:
 Geometry statements: Line (LINE)
LIN10 = LINE/ 20, 3.5, 0.2, 31, 6.2, 1.3
y
(31, 6.2, 1.3)

(20, 3.5, 0.2)

L10

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 APT Language:
 Geometry statements: Line (LINE)
y
PT3 L14
L12 = LINE/ PT4, ATANGL, 20, XAXIS
L14 = LINE/ PT1, ATANGL, 40 40°
PT1 L12
L15 = LINE/ 32, -3, 2, ATANGL, -15, XAXIS L16
PT4
L16 = LINE/ PT3, ATANGL, 40, YAXIS

40° 20°

15° x
L15
(32, -3, 2)

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 APT Language:
 Geometry statements: Line (LINE)
LIN = LINE/ POINT, ATANGL, ANGLE (in degrees), LINE
y
LINE2

P1

30° LINE1

LINE2 = LINE/ P1, ATANGL, 30, LINE1

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 APT Language:
 Geometry statements: Line (LINE)
LINE1 = LINE/ SLOPE, 1, INTERC, XAXIS, 6

LINE1

x
(6,0) Point of X-Intercept

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 APT Language:
 Geometry statements: Line (LINE)
L1 = LINE/ PT51, LEFT, TANTO, C11

L1

C11

PT51

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 APT Language:
 Geometry statements: Line (LINE)
LN3 = LINE/ PNT6, PARLEL, LN15
LN4 = LINE/ PNT5, PERPTO, LN13

y
PNT6 PNT5
LN3

LN4

LN15
LN13

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 APT Language:
 Geometry statements: Line (LINE)
LN5 = LINE/ INTOF, PLAN1, PLAN2
LN5

PLAN1

PLAN2

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 APT Language:
 Geometry statements: Plane (PLANE)
PLAN10 = PLANE/ PT6, PT12, PT15

PLAN10
PT15

PT6 PT12
y 3.0

PT4
z
PLAN14

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 APT Language:
 Geometry statements: Plane (PLANE)
PLAN14 = PLANE/ PT4, PARLEL, PLAN10
PLAN14 = PLANE/ PARLEL, PLAN10, YSMALL, 3.0

PLAN10
PT15

PT6 PT12
y 3.0

PT4
z
PLAN14

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 APT Language:
 Geometry statements: Circle (CIRCLE)
C1 = CIRCLE/ 3, 6, 5, 4.3
C1 = CIRCLE/ CENTER, PT3, RADIUS, 4.3

y
C1

4.3

PT3
(3,6,5)

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 APT Language:
 Geometry statements: Circle (CIRCLE)
C3 = CIRCLE/ CENTER, PT6, TANTO, LN4
C7 = CIRCLE/ CENTER, PT8, PT5

y y
LN4
PT5

PT6 PT8
C3 C7

x x
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 APT Language:
 Motion statements:
Motion Commands

GOLFT/ : Move left along the drive surface

GORGT/ : Move right along the drive surface
GOUP/ : Move up along the drive surface
GODOWN/ : Move down along the drive surface
GOFWD/ : Move forward from a tangent position
GOBACK/ : Move backward from a tangent position

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 APT Language:
 Motion statements:
Contouring
z
Drive surface Check surface

Direction of
cutter cutter motion

Part surface

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 APT Language:
 Motion statements:
Contouring
CS CS CS

DS DS DS

TO ON PAST

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 APT Language:
 Motion statements:
Contouring
Example:
Start  A B  C  D  E  Start
C
D

FROM/ START z L2

GO/ TO, L1, TO, PL1, ON, L3 y L3 C1

GORGT/ L1, TANTO, C1 L1

GOFWD/ C1, TANTO, L2 x E

B
GOFWD/ L2, PAST, L3 A Start

GOLFT/ L3, PAST, L1

GOTO/ START

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 APT Language:
 Post-processor statements:
MACHIN/ DRILL, 3
COOLNT/ MIST
COOLNT/ FLOOD
COOLNT/ OFF
FEDRAT/ 4.5
SPINDL/ 850
TURRET/ 11

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 APT Language:
 Auxiliary statements:
PARTNO: identifies the part program and is inserted at the start of the program.
CLPRINT: indicates that a cutter location printout is desired.
CUTTER: specifies a cutter diameter for offset (rough versus finish cutting). If a
milling cutter is 0.5 in. in diameter and we have
CUTTER/ 0.6

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 APT Program:
P0 = POINT/ 0, -2, 0
P1 = POINT/ 0.312, 0.312, 0
P2 = POINT/ 4, 1, 0
C1 = CIRCLE/ CENTER, P1, RADIUS, 0.312
L2
C2 = CIRCLE/ CENTER, P2, RADIUS, 1 P2
L2 = LINE/ RIGHT, TANTO, C2, RIGHT, TANTO, C1 P1
C1 C2
L1 = LINE/ LEFT, TANTO, C2, LEFT, TANTO, C1 L1
PL1 = PLANE/ P0, P1, P2
FROM/ P0
GO/TO, L1, TO, PL1, TO, C2 P0

GOLFT/ L1, TANTO, C1

GOFWD/ C1, PAST, L2
GOFWD/ L2, TANTO, C2
GOFWD/ C2, PAST, L1
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 APT word definitions:

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 APT word definitions:

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 APT word definitions:

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 APT word definitions:

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 APT word definitions:

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 APT word definitions:

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