Computer Numerical

Control
Lecture 2
CNC Machines

Dr Ibrahim Al-Adwan
Types of CNC Systems
 Based on Motion Type:
Point-to-Point or Continuous path
 Based on Control Loops:

Open loop or Closed loop

 Based on Power Supply:

Electric or Hydraulic or
Pneumatic
 Based on Positioning System

Incremental or Absolute
 Based on Controlled axes

Two to Five
Motion control - the heart of CNC

 All computer controlled machines are able to accurately and

repeatedly control motion in various directions. Each of these
directions of motion is called an axis. Depending on the machine
type there are commonly two to five axes.
 Additionally, a CNC axis may be either a linear axis in which
movement is in a straight line, or a rotary axis with motion
following a circular path.
 NC system can be classified on the number of directions of motion
they are capable to control simultaneously on a machine tool.
 Each free body has six degree of freedom, three positive or
negative translations along x, y, and z-axis, and three rotations
clockwise or counter clockwise about these axes.
 Commercial NC system are capable of controlling simultaneously
two, two and half, three, four and five degrees of freedom, or
axes.
 The NC systems which control three linear translations (3-axis
systems), or three linear translations and one rotation of the
worktable (4-axis systems) are the most common.
Examples of machine applications and numbers of axes
are as follows:
1. 2-axis motion, generally in two orthogonal directions
in a plane, which applies to most lathes as well as
punch presses, flame and plasma-arc and cloth
cutting machines, electronic component insertion
and some drilling machines.
2. 3-axis motion, which is generally along the three
principal directions (x, y and z) of the Cartesian
coordinate system, and applies to milling, boring,
drilling and coordinate measuring machines.
3. 4-axis motion typically involves three linear and one
rotary axis, or perhaps two x-y motions, as for
example for some lathes fitted with supplementary
milling heads.
4. 5-axis machines normally involve three linear (x, y
and z) axes, with rotation about two of these,
normally x and y, and are generally milling
machines.
• Each axis consists of a mechanical component, such as a
slide that moves, a servo drive motor that powers the
mechanical movement, and a ball screw to transfer the
power from the servo drive motor to the mechanical
component.
• These components, along with the computer controls
that govern them, are referred to as an axis drive system.
 Ifa rotary table is added to the machine
table, then the fourth axis is designated the
“b” axis.
Point-to-point vs. continuous systems

The two major types of NC systems are:

1. ΠPoint-to-point (PTP) system
◦ PTP is a NC system, which controls only the
position of the components.
◦ In this system, the path of the component motion
relative to the workpiece is not controlled.
◦ The travelling between different positions is
performed at the traverse speed allowable for the
machine tool and following the shortest way.
2. Continuous (Contouring) system
◦ Contouring NC systems are capable of controlling
not only the positions but also the component
motion, i.e., the travelling velocity and the
programmed path between the desired positions:
Types of Continuous paths
• Straight-Cut
When continuous path control is utilized to move
the tool parallel to only one of the major axes of the
machine tool worktable.
• Contouring
When continuous path control is used for
simultaneous control of two or more axes in
machining operations.
Motion Control
Systems
A number of interpolation methods
are available to deal with the various
problems encountered in generating
a smooth continuous path in
contouring. They include:
(1) linear interpolation,
(2) circular interpolation,
(3) helical interpolation,
(4) parabolic interpolation, and
(5) cubic interpolation.
Absolute versus Incremental Positioning

 Another aspect of motion control is concerned

with whether positions are defined relative to
the origin of the coordinate system or relative
to the previous location of the tool.
 The two cases are called absolute positioning
and incremental positioning.
 In absolute positioning, the workhead
locations are always defined with respect to
the origin of the axis system.
 In incremental positioning, the next workhead
position is defined relative to the present
location. The difference is illustrated in the
following figure.
• The workhead is presently at point (20,
20) and is to be moved to point (40, 50).
In absolute positioning, the move is
specified by x=40, y=50; whereas in
incremental positioning, the move is
specified by x=20, y=30.
Absolute Coordinates Incremental Coordinate
CNC Features
 CNC is defined as an NC system whose MCU is based on
a dedicated microcomputer rather than on a hard-wired
controller.

 Features of CNC
1. Storage of more than one part program
2. Various forms of program input
3. Program editing at the machine tool
4. Fixed cycles and programming subroutines
5. Interpolation
6. Positioning features for setup
7. Cutter length and size compensation
8. Acceleration and deceleration calculations
9. Communication interface
10. Diagnostics
 Basic Components of NC
System
1- Program of instruction
The program of instructions is the detailed step-by-step
commands which refer to positions of a cutting tool
relative to the worktable on which the workpart is fixed.

2- Machine Control Unit

It consists of a microcomputer and related control
hardware that stores the program of instructions and
executes it by converting each command into mechanical
actions of the processing equipment, one command at a
time.
3- Processing Equipment
It accomplishes the processing steps to transform the
starting workpiece into a completed part. Its operation is
directed by the control unit, which in turn is driven by
instructions contained in the part program.
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The Machine Control Unit for CNC

 The MCU is the hardware that distinguishes

CNC from conventional NC.

The general configuration of CNC MCU

 MCU consists of the following
components and subsystems:
(1) Central processing unit
(2) Memory
(3) I/O interface
(4) Controls for machine tool axes and
spindle speed
(5) Sequence controls for other machine
tool functions
 These subsystems are interconnected
by means of a system bus.
Information Needed by a CNC
1. Preparatory Information: units,
incremental or absolute positioning
2. Coordinates: X,Y,Z, RX,RY,RZ
3. Machining Parameters: Feed rate
and spindle speed
4. Coolant Control: On/Off, Flood, Mist
5. Tool Control: Tool and tool
parameters
6. Cycle Functions: Type of action
required
7. Miscellaneous Control: Spindle
on/off, direction of rotation, stops
for part movement
This information is conveyed to the
machine through a set
Common Machining
Operations

The four common machining operations: (a) turning,

(b) drilling, (c) peripheral milling, and (c)
surface grinding.