CNC (Computer Numerical Control) machines are automated machine tools that are operated by an electronic control unit that reads commands from a storage medium. These machines can be lathes, milling centers, drillers, cutters, multitasking turning centers with "live" tools or other metal processing tools such as plasma or water jet cutters.
The commands given to the cutting head are of positioning nature, but they can also regulate the rotation speed, use of cutting oils, or workpiece movement on a rotating index table. For this reason, there are no manual controlled wheels or levers at all. The commands can be either stored in an electronic medium connected to the CNC computer or automatically generate a sequence of commands based on a given 3D model exported from CAD software.
Main Advantages
There are many and important benefits that stem from the utilization of CNC machines in a workshop. Most are in regard to the production abilities, work quality, geometry detail and financial profit.
1. As CNC machines run by themselves, workshops can dismiss most of their current personnel and keep only supervising staff.
2. No extensive training is needed for the workshop employees to cope with their day to day duties, as opposed to the years of vigorous practice that was required by lathe and mill machinists in the past.
3. CNC machinery can deliver high levels of repeatability as the exact same design can be produced over and over again for an almost unlimited number of times.
4. There is no limit as to how long a CNC machine can run without stopping, other than the maintenance sessions. Automated machines of this kind don't need breaks or rest periods and they keep their production rates the same, no matter their continuous operating hours.
5. Items that require extensive measuring and accurate dimensioning take a lot of manufacturing time for a machinist no matter how many of those were produced in the past. CNCs, however, can quickly produce the same item countless times and without any geometrical deviations among the produced pieces.
6. Some workpieces are very difficult or even impossible to produce by traditional machines due to technical limitations. CNCs with "live" tools can be proved invaluable in such cases.
7. Multi-tasking CNCs combine tools and processing techniques from various machines, making it possible for items that would otherwise pass from a series of processing in different machines to be produced in one. This decreases the production times for such items and eventually increases a workshop's efficiency.
Potential Issues
As advantageous as CNC machine tools may be, there are certainly some possible drawbacks that should be considered before buying one.
1. The most obvious drawback of CNCs is their acquisition cost. CNCs will only offer a quick return of investment for workshops that are expected to gross tens of thousands per month. The good news though is that CNCs are gradually becoming cheaper.
2. Secondly, there is the lack of engineering and calculative skills in a workshop. As the need for those is eliminated by the CNC machine's automated nature, workshops may slowly become incapacitated in regards to the technical abilities of the personnel.
3. Last, there is always the possibility of a miscalibrated CNC or misaligned workpiece table that can lead to the production of a large number of defective items before this wrongful operation is noticed.
The commands given to the cutting head are of positioning nature, but they can also regulate the rotation speed, use of cutting oils, or workpiece movement on a rotating index table. For this reason, there are no manual controlled wheels or levers at all. The commands can be either stored in an electronic medium connected to the CNC computer or automatically generate a sequence of commands based on a given 3D model exported from CAD software.
Main Advantages
There are many and important benefits that stem from the utilization of CNC machines in a workshop. Most are in regard to the production abilities, work quality, geometry detail and financial profit.
1. As CNC machines run by themselves, workshops can dismiss most of their current personnel and keep only supervising staff.
2. No extensive training is needed for the workshop employees to cope with their day to day duties, as opposed to the years of vigorous practice that was required by lathe and mill machinists in the past.
3. CNC machinery can deliver high levels of repeatability as the exact same design can be produced over and over again for an almost unlimited number of times.
4. There is no limit as to how long a CNC machine can run without stopping, other than the maintenance sessions. Automated machines of this kind don't need breaks or rest periods and they keep their production rates the same, no matter their continuous operating hours.
5. Items that require extensive measuring and accurate dimensioning take a lot of manufacturing time for a machinist no matter how many of those were produced in the past. CNCs, however, can quickly produce the same item countless times and without any geometrical deviations among the produced pieces.
6. Some workpieces are very difficult or even impossible to produce by traditional machines due to technical limitations. CNCs with "live" tools can be proved invaluable in such cases.
7. Multi-tasking CNCs combine tools and processing techniques from various machines, making it possible for items that would otherwise pass from a series of processing in different machines to be produced in one. This decreases the production times for such items and eventually increases a workshop's efficiency.
Potential Issues
As advantageous as CNC machine tools may be, there are certainly some possible drawbacks that should be considered before buying one.
1. The most obvious drawback of CNCs is their acquisition cost. CNCs will only offer a quick return of investment for workshops that are expected to gross tens of thousands per month. The good news though is that CNCs are gradually becoming cheaper.
2. Secondly, there is the lack of engineering and calculative skills in a workshop. As the need for those is eliminated by the CNC machine's automated nature, workshops may slowly become incapacitated in regards to the technical abilities of the personnel.
3. Last, there is always the possibility of a miscalibrated CNC or misaligned workpiece table that can lead to the production of a large number of defective items before this wrongful operation is noticed.
About the Author:
Absolute Machine Tools, Inc. offers many options in CNC machine tools. Learn more on their website about their cnc machines for sale, including lathes, deep hole drilling machines, boring machines and more!
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