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INTRODUCTION TO CNC MACHINES

• Controlling a machine tool by means of prepared program,


which consists of blocks, or series of commands/numbers,
is known as numerical control. Numerical Control [NC] for
machine tools was introduced in 1950 by Prof. John T
Parsons. The first CNC machine was built at the
Massachusetts institute of technology [MIT] in 1953 by
joint efforts of US Air force, MIT and the Parsons
Corporation.

The CNC machine basically entails three main regions:-


• The control system
• The drives (driving elements) and
• The machine tool
FUNCTIONS OF A CONTROL
SYSTEM
Some important functions, controlled by control system.
• Displacement of machine slides
• Angular rotation of circular table
• Start / Stop of the main spindle
• Changing of spindle speed
• Reverse spindle direction
• Changing the feed rate of machine slides
• Rotate tool turret
• Change tool
• Coolant ON / OFF
• Lock table in position
ADVANTAGES OF CNC
TECHNOLOGY
• REDUCED LEAD TIME
• GREATER FLEXIBILITY
• USER WRITTEN PROGRAMS
• PROGRAM EDITING AT THE MACHINE SITE
CONSTRUCTIONAL FEATURES OF
CNC MACHINES
• Slideways
• Spindle drive
• Feed drives
• Position measuring transducers
• Tool magazines and automatic tool changers
• Automatic work changers
• Lubrication system
• Coolant system
• Chip handling system
CNC SYSTEM FEATURES
• A CNC system can be interfaced to machine tools in
order to effect control over machine functions. In
order to perform these functions, a CNC system is
characterized by a number of features.
• Control system features
• Memory features
• Programming features
• PLC features
• Diagnostic features
CLASSIFICATION OF CNC SYSTEMS
The CNC system can be classified on the basis of
• Control of path motions
• Feed back
CLASSIFICATION BASED ON CONTROL OF PATH
MOTIONS
• Point to Point control system
• Continuos path control system
CLASSIFICATION BASED ON FEEDBACK SYSTEM
• Open loop control system
• Closed loop control system
Block Diagram of a typical CNC
system
Set of commands

Operator Control Panel Microprocessor


and CRT Memory and
Associated H / W

Panel Interface
Axis Drive

Axis interface M

I / O interface Feedback

Peripheral to Machine (PMI)


Interface

To electrical panel of machine


ELEMENTS OF A CNC SYSTEM
The basic elements of a CNC system are
• Control panel
• Control circuits
• Power supply

In addition to the above basic elements the CNC system


must be interfaced with following devices.
• Driving devices
• Feedback devices
THE FAGOR 8030 MGI CNC
SYSTEM
The FAGOR series of CNC control systems are of high accuracy,
low cost, high performance and fixed software with high-speed
microprocessors and semiconductor devices.

FAGOR 8030 MGI CNC system is basically contains following PCBs


• Power supply PCB
• CRT PCB
• The main CPU PCB
• Input/output PCB
• Feedback adaptor PCB
• Keyboard
Features of FAGOR CNC system
• Axis control
• Operation
• Programming features
• Other features

Block diagram of FAGOR 8030 CNC

CENTRAL UNIT MONITOR/KEYBOARD

OPERATOR PANEL
DRIVES
Drives are devices by which the speed of a motor can
be controlled. These are essential for the CNC machines
for precise axis movement and spindle rotation.
ELECTRONICALLY CONTROLLED DRIVE
Ref. Signal (from CNC) AC input
Velocity feedback

F
POWER I
SPEED CURRENT FIRING BRIDGE M E
REGULATOR REGULATOR CIRCUIT L
D

T
PROGRAMMABLE LOGIC
CONTROLLER
Programmable logic controller (PLC System) is a
computer system, basically designed to perform logical
decision making for industrial control applications. The
PLC system is composed of electronic circuitry with a
microprocessor centered. In PLC systems, the
construction of the controller and wiring are
independent of program execution.

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