INTRODUCTION

COMPONENTS OF NC SYSTEMS
CLASSIFICATION OF NC MACHINES
CONSRUCTIONAL DETAILS
Definition:-

Numerical control

A system in which the actions are controlled by

direct insertion of of numerical data at some
point. The system must automatically interpret at
least some portion of this data.
General Classification :-

1) N.C. Machines

2) C.N.C. Machines

3) D.N.C. Machines
N.C. Machines
It gives position of the workpiece relative to
cutting tool.
The instructions to the NC Machines are fed
through an external medium ie through paper
tape or magnetic tape.
For minor change in the design new tape has to
be prepared for new program.
C.N.C. Machines
The part program can be input through controller
unit.
Part program once inserted can be used again.
Part program can be edited & optimised at
machine tool itself
The input information can be reduced to great
extent with the special use of sub program.
The part program can be proved on control itself
before actual running of the machine.
Various cutting tools can be used.
D.N.C. Machines
It is a manufacturing system in which large no.
of machines are controlled by computer
through direct connection.
All the machines are linked to main frame
computer which sends the information to
individual machine as & when required.
Components of numerical control system

 1) Program of instruction
 2) Machine control unit
 3) Machine tool
Program of instruction:- It is a detailed step by
step set of directions which tell machine tool
what to do & in what sequence.

Machine control Unit:- It is the unit which

stores, converts the logical data inside the system

Machine tool:- It is the unit which actually does

the movements which are fed through program.
Classification of Numerical control system:-
Based on Feedback control
1) Open loop control system:- Machine tool in
which there is no provision to compare the
actual provision of the cutting tool or work
piece with the input command or value.

No feedback is given for the actual

displacement of machine slide.
2)Closed loop control system:- In a closed loop
control system the actual output from the system
i.e. actual displacement of the machine slide is
compared with the input signal.
It consists of two types of feedbacks
i) Velocity feedback:-measures & monitors
speed of motor
ii) positional feedback:- measures &
monitors position of machine slide.
Classification based on Control system features
1) Point to point control system:- There is no
machining operation carried out when tool
travels from one program point to other
program point.
2) Straight line control system:- It is an
extension of point to point control system
where machining operation can be done along a
straight line.
3) Continuous path system:- It generates a
continuously controlled motion of the tool &
work piece along different coordinate axis.
Methods of listing the coordinate axis of points
1) Absolute coordinate system:- In this system
coordinates are always referred with the
reference to the same datum.

2) Incremental coordinate system:-In this system

coordinates are calculated with reference to
previous point.
Constructional details of the C.N.C. control system

1) Machine Elements
2) Guide ways
3) Feed drives
4) Spindle & spindle bearings
5) Measuring system
Machine structure :- It is the load carrying &
supporting member of the machine tool.

All the motors, drive mechanism & other

functional assemblies are aligned & rigidly fixed
to the machine structure.

The machine element is designed to take static

load, dynamic load, thermal load.
Guide ways :-It controls the direction or line of action
of the carriage or table on which a tool or a work is
held.

It absorbs all the static & dynamic forces.

The quality of the work produced depends not only on

the accuracy of the relative movement of the tool
w.r.t. work piece but also on the geometric accuracies
& kinematic accuracies of the guide ways.
Guide ways are of two types:-
1) Friction guide ways:- These guide ways operate
under the condition of sliding friction. They do not
have constant coefficient of friction, it varies with
the sliding velocities.
It is having good damping capacity.
2) Antifriction linear motion guide ways:- These
guide ways use rolling element in between moving
& stationary element of the machine.
It is having good load carrying capacity.

Other types of guide ways

I) Hydrostatic guide ways
II) Aerostatic guide ways
Feed Drives:- It gives motion to the slide as per
motion commands.

The feed drive consists of

a) Servomotor :- It provides excellent speed
regulation, high torque & high efficiency.

b) Mechanical Transmission system:- It is required

to convert rotary motion to linear motion
(Re- circulating ball screw- nut system or rack &
pinion system) &
To transmit torque (Gear box or timing belt)
Spindle & Spindle bearings :- It takes high torsional
load, radial deflections, thrust force.
Various types of spindle bearings are
a) Hydrodynamic bearings:-Hydrodynamic bearings
are journal bearings with thin film of oil between the
spindle & journal. The pressure is developed by
rotation of the spindle.
b) Hydrostatic bearings:- The spindle is supported in
the bearings by relatively thick film of oil supplied
under pressure.
c) Antifriction bearings:- These are suitable for high
speeds & high loads. Common example is Ball
bearings & Taper roller bearings.
Measuring System :-Measuring system is employed
on each controlled axis to monitor the movement &
compare the position of of the slide/ spindle with the
desired position.
Measuring system used for
a) Monitoring the position of the slide on the slide
way
b) Measuring the speed of the spindle.

It is done with the help of Rotary Encoder OR

with the linear scale.
Good Practices while operating C.N.C. machines
1) Do not use heavy depth of cut
2) Use only specified taper tool mentioned in the
manual
3) Always take dry run for new program proving
4) Do not use feed, speed specified on the insert
5) Tool length should be entered correctly.
6) Always use single block proving for any change
in the program.