Introduction to cnc lathe

Cnc lathe is a type of lathe which is controlled by the computer Cnc means computer numerical controller It is generally used for fine finishing It can be employed where mass production is to be done

It reduces labour as it is governed by the computer Using cnc machine we can save time and human labour

A lathe (pronounced /le/) is a machine tool which spins the workpiece to perform various operations such as cutting, sanding, knurling, drilling, or deformation with tools that are applied to the workpiece to create an object which has symmetry about an axis of rotation.

Lathes are used in woodturning, metalworking, metal spinning, and glassworking. Lathes can be used to shape pottery, the best-known design being the potter's wheel. Most suitably equipped metalworking lathes can also be used to produce most solids of revolution, plane surfaces and screw threads or helices. Ornamental lathes can produce three-dimensional solids of incredible complexity.

TYPES OF LATHE Engine Lathe The most common form of lathe, motor driven and comes in large variety of sizes and shapes. Bench Lathe A bench top model usually of low power used to make precision machine small work pieces. Tracer Lathe a lathe that has the ability to follow a template to copy a shape or contour Automatic Lathe A lathe in which the work piece is automatically fed and removed without use of an operator. Cutting operations are automatically controlled by a Turret Lathe lathe which have multiple tools mounted on turret either attached to the tailstock or the cross-slide, which allows for quick changes in tooling and cutting operations. Computer Controlled Lathe A highly automated lathe, where both cutting, loading, tool changing, and part unloading are automatically controlled by computer coding.

LATHE OPERATIONS Turning: the work is turned straight when it is made to rotate about lathe axis and tool is fed Parallel to lathe spindle axis . produce straight, conical, curved, or grooved work pieces Facing: it is the operation to reduce the length of the work piece to the required length. to produce a flat surface at the end of the part or for making face grooves. Boring: it is the operation of enlarging the hole produce by drilling, punching & casting. to enlarge a hole or cylindrical cavity made by a previous process or to produce circular internal grooves.

Drilling: to produce a hole by fixing a drill in the tailstock

Threading: to produce external or internal threads Knurling: to produce a regularly shaped roughness on cylindrical surfaces

Computer-aided design and computeraided manufacturing (CAD/CAM) The technology of CNC machine tools has been enhanced by parallel advances in CAD/CAM. In the first NC systems, CAD and CAM were regarded as separate functions. Gradually they have come to be treated as an integrated operation, with manufacturing processes being considered at the product design stage.

History of CNC

1949 US Air Force asks MIT to develop a "numerically controlled" machine. 1952 Prototype NC machine demonstrated (punched tape input)

1980CNC machines (computer used to link directly to controller)

1990DNC: external computer drip feeds control programmer to machine tool controller

Motivation and uses

To manufacture complex curved geometries in 2D or 3D was extremely expensive by mechanical means (which usually would require complex jigs to control the cutter motions)

Machining components with repeatable accuracy

Unmanned machining operations

Advantages of CNC

- Easier to program; - Easy storage of existing programs; - Easy to change a program - Avoids human errors - NC machines are safer to operate

- Complex geometry is produced as cheaply as simple ones

- Usually generates closer tolerances than manual machines

CNC machines allow precise and repeatable control in machining

CNC lathes, Milling machines, etc. are all controlled by NC programs NC programs can be generated manually, automatically

Additional references: RS274D code descriptions

CNC terminology

BLU: basic length unit smallest programmable move of each axis.

Controller: (Machine Control Unit, MCU) Electronic and computerized interface between operator and m/c Controller components: 1. Data Processing Unit (DPU) 2. Control-Loops Unit (CLU)

Controller components

Data Processing Unit: Input device [RS-232 port/ Tape Reader/ Punched Tape Reader] Data Reading Circuits and Parity Checking Circuits

Decoders to distribute data to the axes controllers.

Control Loops Unit: Interpolator to supply machine-motion commands between data points

Position control loop hardware for each axis of motion

Machine coordinate system

The direction of each finger represents the positive direction of motion.
The axis of the main spindle is always Z, and the positive direction is into the spindle. On a mill the longest travel slide is designated the X axis and is always perpendicular to the Z axis. If you rotate your hand looking into your middle finger, the forefinger represents the Y axis. The base of your fingers is the start point or (X0, Y0, Z0).

Automatic Part Programming

Software programs can automatic generation of CNC data

Define Tool

CNC data

Make 3D model Simulate cutting