IE 447

COMPUTER INTEGRATED
MANUFACTURING
CHAPTER 3
NUMERICAL CONTROL

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IE 447 - CIM Lecture Notes - Chapter 3

Numerical Control

What Is Numerical Control?

An automated manufacturing process in which
a machine tool is controlled;
In an ordered sequence
Along a predetermined path
To require dimensions
At a specific feed and speed rate
Done through a group of alphanumeric
instructions
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IE 447 - CIM Lecture Notes

A Definition:
Numerical Control is a system in which
actions are controlled by the direct insertion
of numerical data at some point. The
system must automatically interpret at least
some portion of the data

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IE 447 - CIM Lecture Notes

NUMERICAL
DATA
(NC CODE)

NUMERICAL
CONTROLLER

MANUFACTURING
OPERATOR

Drive Control

PROCESSED
PART
MACHINE UNIT
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IE 447 - CIM Lecture Notes

Objectives
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

Increased production
Reduced labor costs
Make production more economical
Make production jobs easier
Do production jobs that are impossible
without numeric control
Increased accuracy on duplicate parts

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IE 447 - CIM Lecture Notes

Types of Numerical Control

Conventional Numerical Control (NC)

Direct Numerical Control (DNC)
Computer Numerical Control (DNC)

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IE 447 - CIM Lecture Notes

Conventional Numerical
Control (NC)
Data is sent to the machine tool by means of
punch cards or tapes. The reader at the
machine performs no calculations or
interpolations.

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IE 447 - CIM Lecture Notes

Direct Numeric Control (DNC)

Is a method where a single computer
controls many numerical control
machine tools. These machine tools may
or may not be of a similar nature

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IE 447 - CIM Lecture Notes

Computer Numerical Control

(CNC)
The idea of computer numerical control is
to position a computer right at the
machine tool. Most, if not all machine tools
that are numericaly controlled are CNC
machine tools.

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IE 447 - CIM Lecture Notes

Basic Elements of a CNC System

COMPUTER

MACHINE
CONTROL UNIT

MACHINE
TOOL

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Computer Numerical Control (CNC)

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Advantages
o

o
o
o

Reduces time for

delivery of part
Reduces scrap rate of
material
Reduces tooling costs
Reduces layout time
Increases machine
and tool life

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o
o
o

Reduces storage
problems
Less setup time
Reduces actual
machining time
Allows rapid design
changes in part Less
jigs and fixtures are
needed

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Limitations
o

High initial investment

Machine tools cost $30,000 - $1,500,000
High maintenance requirements
Maintenance personnel must have both
mechanical and electronics expertise
Not cost-effective for low-level production on
simple parts
As geometric complexity or volume increases
CNC becomes more economical

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Industries Most Affected by

Numerical Control
o
o
o
o
o
o
o

Aerospace
Machinery
Electrical
Fabrication
Automotive
Instrumentation
Mold making

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Numerically Controlled Machine Tools

Functionally the same as a conventional
machine tool. The difference is in the way in
which the various machine functions and
slide movements are controlled.
The functions and motions such as;

turning the spindle on and of

setting cutting speeds
setting feed rate
turning coolant on and of
moving tool with respect to work part

are performed by Machine Control Unit

(MCU) in NC machine tools.
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Distributive Numerical Control

Because CNC machine tools have the ability to
run multiple programs without being attached to
a centralized computer this enables a centralized
computer to perform many different tasks.
Line balancing
Scheduling
Monitoring
Quality

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CAD/CAM
The idea behind CAD CAM is the use of a
single technical database by a both design a
manufacturing personnel during the product
development and production stages.
CAD systems are used to define part
geometries
CAM systems are used to create cutter
paths that can be used by the machine tool.
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