What is CNC?

• CNC means Computer Numerical Control.

• A form of programmable automation.
Introduction to CNC • Typical program containing coded alphanumeric data, such as
G01 X120 Y200
The data represent relative positions between a cutting tool and a
workpiece
Dr. J. M. Zhou

spindle
Slide
movement
Drive motor
Avdelningen för mekanisk teknologi och verktygsmaskiner
Lund Tekniska Högskola Drive motor signal Feedback
device

MCU

Feedback signal
NC part program

Why CNC machining? Typical CNC machine

Major component:
• Improved automation - Drivers unit
• Improve the quality and accuracy of manufactured parts - Sliding system
• Flexibility to manufacture complex or otherwise - Machine control unit (MCU)
impossible jobs
• 2D and 3D contours
• Stabilize manufacturing costs

Drives of CNC machine tool Ball-bearing leadscrew

• Hydraulic actuator
- high power machine tool
• Stepping motor
- small machine due to limited power and torque
• DC motor Nut

- excellent speed regulation, high torque,

most widely used
Nut

Ball-bearing leadscrew

Friction behavior versus velocity

(a) Sliding friction, conventional screw
(b) Rolling friction, ball-bearing screw

1
 Two Basic Types of Control in CNC
Control of CNC Machine Tool • Open loop system
– Operates without verifying that the actual position is equal to
the specified position
• Interpret a CNC program – Usually a stepping motor
• Produce coordinated pulses for multiple axes of motion
• Activate the series of commands in sequential order • Closed loop control system
– Uses feedback measurement to verify that the actual position is
equal to the specified location
– Servo motor with a feedback loop

Schematic illustration of the major components of

a numerical control machine tool.

Measurement of linear displacement Encoder operating principles

• Direct measurement
A measuring scale secured to the slide or machining table and
• LED light passes through a moving disc to
measuring value resolver (encoder) pick up information optically
from measuring scale and converts this into electrical signal. produce an electronic output from a
photodiode cell
• Indirect measurement • Encoders
The slide traverse is represented by rotation and a resolver - Incremental encoder
records the rotational movement of a pulse disc. The control - Absolute encoder
system calculates the slide traverse movement from rotation
pulse.

(a) Direct measurement of the linear displacement of a machine-tool worktable. (b)

and (c) Indirect measurement methods.

Incremental vs. absolute encoders Touch Probes

Workpiece
Incremental encoders coordinate system
Z
• The most common incremental provide a digital pulse for each
resolvable position to be counted and referenced to a home position.
These digital pulses are then fed into a high-speed counter module X
G54
located in a drive or controller interface. Y

Absolute encoders
• Every position of an absolute device is unique, and these devices do Machine
coordinate system
not lose position when power is removed.
Touch probes used in machining
centers for determining workpiece and
tool positions and surfaces relative to
the machine table or column. (a)
Touch probe determining the X-Y
(horizontal) position of a workpiece,
(b) determining the height of a
horizontal surface, (c) determining the
planar position of the surface of a
cutter (for instance, for cutter-diameter
compensation), and (d) determining
the length of a tool for tool-length
offset. Source: Hitachi Seiki Co., Ltd.

2
 Motion control - point to point control Motion control - continuous path (CP)
B Continuous simultaneous control of more than one axis, thus
• Workpiece is moved to a programmed
controlling path followed by tool relative to part
location with no regard for path taken
to get to that location
• Controls both the displacement and the velocity.
• Once the move is completed, some • Use linear and circular interpolators.
A
processing action is accomplished by • Interpolator: Digital differential analyzers (DDA).
Workpiece the cutting tool
– Examples: drilling or punching a hole
A
• Moving at maximum rate from point to B

point.

• Accuracy of the destination is important A

B
but not the path
Linear interpolation Circular interpolation

NC machine rating NC Part Programming Techniques

• Accuracy
• Repeatability 1. Manual part programming
2. Computer-assisted part programming
• Spindle and axis motor horsepower
3. CAD/CAM- assisted part programming
• Number of controlled axes
• Dimension of workspace Common features:
– Points, lines, and surfaces of the workpart must be
• Features of the machine and the controller. defined relative to NC axis system
– Movement of the cutting tool must be defined
Programmed position
Repeatability relative to these part features

Avg. error

Test result

NC Words NC Words – G codes

Preparatory functions: preparing MCU to perform a specific mode of operation
A G-code program consists the following words: – Use G codes followed by two digits
– Interpolation is used, linear and circular
N, G, X, Y, Z, I, J, K, F, H, D, S, T, R, M – Canned cycles

N - Sequence number (Used for line identification) Example

G - Preparatory function N10 MSG(“This is my first
X - X axis designation NC program”)
Y - Y axis designation N20 F200 S900 T1 D2 M3
Z - Z axis designation N30 G0 X100 Y100
R - Radius designation N40 G1 X150
F - Feedrate designation N50 G2 X150 Y120
S - Spindle speed designation I=AC(45) J=AC(35)
H - Tool length offset designation N60 X100
D - Tool radius offset designation N70 Y100
T - Tool Designation N80 G0 X0 Y0
M - Miscellaneous function (See below) N90 M30

3
 NC Words NC Words – M Codes
Spindle control words M Code. miscellaneous word.
• ”S” word is used to specify the spindle speed
• M03: turn spindle on in clockwise M0 Program stop Example
• M04 turns spindle on in counter clockwise M01 Optional stop N10 MSG(“This is my first
M02 End of main program NC program”)
• M05 turn spindle off N20 T1 D2 M06
M03 Spindle CW
Dimensional words M04 Spindle CCW N25 F200 S900 M3 M07
• X, Y, Z for primary motion direction in X, Y, Z N30 G0 X100 Y100
M05 Spindle stop N40 G1 X150
Feed words M06 Tool change N50 Y120
• F Code. feed speed. mm/min (mmpm), or mmpr. M07 Flood coolant on N60 X100
Automatic tool change M08 Mist coolant on N70 Y100
M09 Coolant off N80 G0 X0 Y0 M05
• ”T” word is used to tell the machine which tool station is to N90 M30
placed in the spindle. M17 End of subprogram
M30 End of program

Manual Part Programming: Example

• Example block command for milling operation:
Summary
N10 MSG(“This is my first NC program”) Y
N15 G54 • Concept of CNC machine
N20 F200 S900 T1 D2 M3
120 • Basic components of CNC machine
N30 G41 G0 X100 Y100
N40 G1 X150
• CNC control
N50 Y120 • CNC programming
N60 X100 100
N70 Y100 150 X
N80 G40 G0 X0 Y0
N90 M30 100

• Complete part program consists of a sequence of

such block commands