Ivan Irons asked:


Quick Explanation of the Process

This is how I view CNC. I break it down into simple steps that I can remember. Now, they all interact, but it is good to keep them in boxes for simplicity sake. I also like to keep them in a logical, progression type order. Here they are: Design, CAD, CAM, Control and Machine.

Today you are going on a journey. You are going to learn about the basics of CNC. I hope you are as excited as I am about this topic.

I have been using CNC equipment in my home shop for six years now. The technology gets better and better every year.

The software gets better every year. At one time large companies could only afford this technology. Now there are hundreds of thousands of these machines working in garages like yours and mine.

There are basically five elements to a CNC Project that you need to know:

Design - thinking and planning what you want to build

CAD - translating it into the computer

CAM - converting it into machine language

Controlling - directing your machine’s motion

Machining - building the part to specifications

These five elements are really the building blocks to a CNC project. As you see them above, that is generally the order people associate them in. For example, you can’t control until you have a design. You can’t use your CAM software before your CAD software. One of the main things you need to address is how these elements interact with each other.

Right now this may seem confusing. Over time, it will seem very basic. The more you use these elements with one another, the more their order will become second nature.

Note: The A-axis is the rotational axis. Why is it called that? I don’t know. It is also sometimes called the B-axis. I have even heard it called the W-axis. A-axis is the rotational axis around the X-axis. B-axis is the rotational axis around the Y-axis.

Buying a completed CNC Machine

If you purchase a CNC machine outright, it will have a machine controller as part of the package. Everyone does it a bit different though. Some try to make it a black box that only they can fix. Other use commonly used components so you could repair it if need be. You will just have to ask the manufacturer and see what they say. My experience says they usually tell you that it uses common components that you can get anywhere if needed. If something goes wrong, it seems you can only get the part from them. You will have to decide.

Internal Machine Controller Parts

There are many different electrical components that go into a machine controller. I won’t pretend that I am an expert on this. Actually, this is one of the components I buy pre-made so I don’t have to do it. If you are an electronics junkie you could build your own. I know where my skills are at and it isn’t in assembling and understanding electronics.

Here is what I know about the guts of a controller. There will be drivers. One for each axis.

Vikram Singh Chadha asked:


DELCAM MOVES INTO ITS NEW STATE-OF-THE-ART CENTRE

Invests close to a million dollars in the new facility

-Launches its Engineering Services Division-

: Delcam, one of the world’s leading suppliers of advanced CADCAM software product development solutions for the manufacturing industry recently inaugurated its state of the art centre in Pune. Delcam India completed its 7th Anniversary last month, and is now one of the most popular CAD/CAM software solution providers in the business.

With over 800 customers across India in various domains like Aerospace, Automotive, Toolmaking, Jewellery & Woodworking, Packaging etc, Delcam has created a niche by revolutionising the Design-to-Manufacture process in all the industry levels, be it small, medium or large scale. The new facility which has been set up at a cost of a million dollars has state-of-the-art facilities and revolves around the ideals of total commitment to customers. Various divisions and support departments cater to customers across the spectrum of application verticals, and are instrumental in keeping the down-times low for their customers.

Delcam India started operations in the year 2000, after an initial approach to the Indian Industries through Distributors. The Distributor model was reasonably successful; with time, in order to maintain Delcam’s global practice of ‘Customer Focus’, Delcam Plc decided to open a direct office in India. Delcam India is a part of Delcam PLC, UK, which is a CAD-CAM software company with a presence in over 60 countries.

Delcam has always considered “After Sales Support” as “The Defining Factor” and the only possible way to achieve this was through a direct office. The first office was opened in Pune. Over the years Delcam opened offices throughout the country, now numbering 11. Delcam covers the length and breadth of the country with it’s network of offices having trained, dedicated and committed associates taking care of customer support. This has helped achieve the quick and positive upward growth that Delcam India has seen over the years.

Delcam India comprises of three Subsidiaries of Delcam PLC namely (1) Sales & Support, (2) Software Development & the recently opened (3) Engineering Services Division. The opening of the services division coincided with the inauguration of the company’s own new building which was done recently.

Speaking at the occasion Vineet Seth, MD – India and Middle East, said, “The CAD CAM business is divided into various verticals; We cater to the automotive, aerospace, toolmaking and some niche segments. The niche segments we excel in are jewellery, shoe design, orthopaedics and medical design, among others.”

The Sales & Support, R & D, and Technical Consultancy Services also dwell upon each other mutually to bring latest technology to the forefront.

Delcam has approached the Industry in India with application specific solutions, rather than generalised ones, which have produced profitable results for the customer consistently. This has been possible with the dedication of Delcam’s Sales & Support team which has been on its toes ever since Delcam started operations in India.

Delcam’s belief is to be in close contact with the customers, so as to comprehend the minutest of problems faced by them in their manufacturing cycle, which helps respond quicker to them, and their problems are sorted out much faster. Delcam today has local sales and support offices in Kolkata, Ludhiana, New Delhi, Mumbai, Kolhapur, Rajkot, Bangalore, Chennai, , Coimbatore, & Hyderabad.

Mr. Pulak Mukherjee, Director Delcam Software India Pvt. Ltd, said, “For our customers, time is money, and any non-productive time on their machines is a loss. Our efforts are always to maintain that there is no down-time for our customers.

Delcam India shares their success story with their 70+ associates, most of who have been with the organisation from very early days. Delcam has always aimed to provide a very good work culture to all it’s associates which is based on trust, respect and inspiration.

About Delcam

Delcam PLC is one of the world’s leading suppliers of advanced CADCAM software product development solutions for the manufacturing industry. The company has grown steadily since being founded formally in 1977, after initial development work at Cambridge University, UK. It is now the largest developer of product design and manufacturing software in the UK, with subsidiaries in North America, Europe and Asia. Delcam’s software is used by more than 15,000 organisations in over 80 countries.

COMPANY PROFILE

Delcam’s software are used for the following categories:-

Engineering & Machining:-

• 5 Axis Machining

• High Speed Machining

• Automated Machining

• Adaptive Machining

• Inspection

• Mould Making

• Reverse Engineering

• Tool Making

• Swiss Turn

• Port Machining

Transport Solutions:-

• Aerospace

• Automotive

• Composites

• Marine

• Inspection

• Tyres

Plastics & Packaging

• Mould Making

• Packaging

• Automotive Plastics

• Product Design

Consumer Products

• Ceramics & Cutlery

• Engraving & Cabinet Making

• Footwear

• Jewellery

• Product Design

• Signmaking & Woodworking

• Toys

Medical & Dental

• Dental

• Medical

• Orthotics

• Orthopaedics

Other Solutions offered (Software that is non-industry specific)

• Custom Services

• CAD Translation

• Collaborative Manufacturing

• Education

• Rapid Prototyping

Delcam’s various softwares:-

PowerMILL

PowerMILL is the world’s leading specialist NC CAM software for the manufacture of the complex shapes typically found in the toolmaking, automotive and aerospace industries. Key features include a wide range of strategies, including the latest high-efficiency roughing, high-speed finishing, and 5-axis machining techniques, exceptionally fast calculation times and powerful editing tools to ensure optimum performance on the machine tool.

PowerSHAPE

PowerSHAPE CAD software provides a complete environment to take your product ideas from concept to reality. PowerSHAPE offers unrivalled freedom to manipulate surface form of the CAD model, to build from wireframe and make global changes with solid feature operations and editing. PowerSHAPE follows the philosophy of “Simple to create, easy to modify”. PowerSHAPE includes all PowerSHAPE’s core hybrid modelling tools as well as a number of features that are focused specifically upon the needs of designers.

PowerINSPECT

Inspection equipment and processes are both undergoing rapid changes as companies move from using 2D drawings to CAD models as the preferred method for product definition. This change, coupled with the rising demand for companies to prove the quality of their products, has led to a growing demand for inspection methods that can be used throughout the prototyping, manufacturing and assembly chain. With these techniques, any problems can be highlighted earlier in the development process and so be corrected more quickly and at lower cost.

ArtCAM

The ArtCAM software product range provides a unique CAD modeling and CNC CAM machining solution. ArtCAM allows you to create high quality products from 2D artwork faster than you ever thought possible. ArtCAM is the complete software solution for 3D Jewelry Design, 3D Woodworking, 3D Signage, 3D Engraving and 2D CNC Routing.

CopyCAD

In recent years reverse engineering has been seen as a necessary yet time consuming engineering process, invariably requiring highly skilled resources. This is no longer the case as CopyCAD is quick, simple and interactive, offering even casual users the power to quickly solve engineering problems, from closing the loop on development cycles with copy milling, to feeding free form organic surfaces into the front end of the design project. By embracing the potential of scanned point cloud data, CopyCAD offers solutions constrained only by the imagination of the user.

Exchange

Exchange is Delcam’s CAD translation solution. Exchange is a powerful stand alone CAD translator program capable of translating from many popular CAD input formats to many output formats (see what’s new). Downloading Exchange and opening and viewing files from all compatible systems is free and without obligation - and everything is confidential as you don’t have to send any of your CAD data files over the internet. You only pay when you chose to save the files you have translated on a pay-per-translation basis by credit card.

FeatureCAM

FeatureCAM, developed by Delcam, is a suite of CAD/CAM software which combines cutting edge technology with ease of use. FeatureCAM automates machining and minimizes programming times for parts on mills, lathes and wire EDM.

PartMaker

PartMaker applies a Patented Visual Programming approach to make CNC programming quicker and easier. PartMaker is a Windows-developed CAM system that utilizes Knowledge Based Machining to greatly reduce part programming time – 70% in fact, versus competing systems

CrispIn

Delcam Crispin CAD Suite is a PC-based system which is made up of several software modules. Each module can be used independently of the others and combined give a full ShoeDesign to manufacturing solution, including TechPac a comprehensive production instruction system.

Ivan Irons asked:


CAD stands for Computer Aided Design or Computer Aided Drafting. CAD was developed in the early 60s. Today it is the premier way to design, develop and optimized products. People use CAD every day to design virtually every product you see. Generally, designers use CAD to design a product, and then produce prints to manufacture that product. A print is a picture of a part or assembly that is very exact. It includes the dimensions and a parts list used to manufacture a product.

CAD is the use of computer based software packages that assist engineers, architects and other design professionals in their designs. CAD is the part of the main designing process and involves both software and sometimes hardware. Current software packages range from 2D vector based drafting systems to 3D solid and surface modelers.

Computer Aided Drafting software packages can generally be broken into two groups. The groups are 2-D drafting packages or 3-D drafting packages. Most all software packages are moving to 3-D design. 3-D design is really the next generation of CAD. Utilizing 3-D design, engineers can make a model of their product. They can then look over this model for any apparent defects before it is ever made.

CAD is used to design, develop and optimize products. CAD is mainly used for the engineering of models and/or drawings of components. It is also used throughout the engineering process from concept to design of products. These products can be used by end consumers or used in other products. For example, you can design a bolt in CAD, and then use it in a Sub-Assembly in a planetary, which is a part of an earth-moving machine. CAD is also used in the design of tools and machinery. Finally, it is used in the design of all types of buildings from sheds to shopping malls.

loveeye719 asked:

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George Ure asked:


Before the internet came along, it was virtually impossible to order for custom-made machine parts without spending a fortune and lots of time. Interested parties would often give up on worthy projects simply for lack of time, money, or both. However, with the emergence of world’s first true online machine shop, www.emachineshop.com, ordinary consumers can make use of free, easy-to-use 3D CAD drawing software to design objects like personal computer chassis, car parts, and even door knobs in wide range of materials including metal and many kinds of plastics.

It is a first of its kind of shop that allows customers the freedom to customize machine parts using standard machine shop practices such as injection molding, milling, turning, laser cutting, water jet cutting, wire EDM, tapping, bending, blanking, punching, plasma cutting, plastic extrusion.

The online machine shop puts total design power in the end user’s hands. www.eMachineShop.com’s free drawing software allows you to choose a machine or process, draw the part or parts required and then click to order. It is easy and it is fast. Customer’s request is almost instantly machined and delivered - at a reasonable cost.

The shop has gained immense popularity in recent times because it saves on the time that potential customers would otherwise spend on traveling, calling, faxing or emailing to the conventional machine shops. Moreover the services offered by emachineshop are always prompt, which means no delays waiting for quotations.

www.emachineshop.com facilitates online development of new products and projects; it lets you custom machine parts at a substantial saving. The most interesting feature of eMachineShop is that even small orders are taken. The quantity ordered of any part can range from 1 to 1,000,000. In addition the eMachineShop’s FREE intelligent design software that gives the ease to design your own custom parts.

ivanirons asked:

Learn CNC Basics E-Course:
This is the sign up overview video for the Learn CNC Basics E-Course. Check it over as it gives details about the Free 7-Day CNC E-Course. The video gives a general overview of what the 7 Day CNC Course is about.

Topics Include:
CNC Intro
CNC Design
CAD Design
CAM
CNC Controlling
CNC Machining
Final CNC Projects

Check out this CNC Intro Video from CNC Information.

http://www.cncinformation.com

sam cook asked:


Laser or LASER is not a word. Rather, it is an abbreviated form standing for Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation. In laser cutting, sheets of materials are cut by using a beam of high intensity light, so high that as it touches the metal surface, it cuts it by burning, melting, or evaporating it. Laser cutting mainly uses the carbon dioxide laser and Nd: YAG. However, the demand of semiconductor lasers is increasing due to their high efficiency.

Laser cutting is growing in popularity owing to its accuracy and high speed. CNC laser cutting is the combining of the computer robot with the laser system. CNC stands for computer numerical control. CNC lasers use an automated software guided system for the laser cutting process.

CNC laser cutting has enabled high precision in the cutting process and has effectively reduces related costs, because there is little human labor involved in the process other than setup. Consequently, it has also cut down the time required for the processes, thus enhancing its overall efficiency.

Before the metal sheet is cut into the desired shape, a hole is first made somewhere along the line to be cut. Then the laser beam is focused through this hole. After this, either the laser beam is moved keeping the sheet constant or the laser beam is fixed and the sheet is moved.

ALTERNATIVES: The possible alternatives that can be used in place of laser cutting are abrasive water jet cutting, plasma cutting and CNC machining. In CNC machining, however, there is a major disadvantage of production of micro-irregularly cut edges.

ADVANTAGES:

1. The laser systems do not contaminate the material being cut with the cutting machine’s metal.

2. It is also more precise because laser cutting is sharp and hence can claim more accuracy.

Laser cutting may heat some materials and cause distortion, but this depends on material thickness and temperature characteristic. Waterjet cutting may be an alternative, or even photochemical etching for very thin stock.

For more information on laser cutting and a wide range of other processes, please visit www.emachineshop.com. This website provides you an opportunity to design and order custom machined parts online. You can order any machine part by drawing it with the help of the free 3D CAD software provided on the site, and then placing the order if you like the pricing. Your order may be for one part, or may it be for a million. The service and our promptness will impress you. For more details, please visit

George Ure asked:


Computer Numerical Control (CNC) Milling is a common type of automated machining process. These machines are specially used for drilling, facing, and turning functions. Their classification is based on the number of axes they have. These axes are labeled as x and y for the two horizontal directions while z is for vertical movement. CNC milling is a cutting process that is used to remove metal or plastic from a block of stock material by the rotating action of the tool. The tool is moved in three (or more) directions to get the desired cut of the material.

CNC Milling machines have been programmed with the help of a set of commands called G-codes. These codes are special CNC functions in alphanumeric format.

The cutting tool is usually rotated along the axis, which is perpendicular to the table where the material to be cut is placed. There are different cutter shapes (called milling bits) such as round (ball end), square, and angled.

Advantages of CNC Milling

A large variety of 2D and 3D shapes are possible. Complex shapes from rod, block, or sheet material can be created and is cost effective for short runs.

Specifications for CNC Milling

• Rigid materials such as metals and hard plastics are used.

• Alternative machines for 2D sheet shapes that include Laser Cut, Turret Punch and fixed punch are used.

• CNC Milling requires software program tooling or work holding jigs.

• To contain costs avoid large variations in work piece height and avoid thin walls.

The CNC Machining centers are computer controlled vertical mills which can move the spindle along the Z-axis. When the machine is used in combination with conical tools or a ball nose cutter it improves the milling precision without affecting the speed thus providing an economical substitute to flat surface job that requires hand engraving.

During the milling process pressure is applied to the material therefore it is better to avoid weak shapes, long thin shapes, or ones with thin walls. CNC milling offers a cut surface that has a visible pattern due to the rotation and movement of the cutter.

eMachineShop offers you information about a vast number of products and machines and CNC Milling machine is one of them. A unique online CMC provider allows you to design and even order custom CNC machined parts. Visit the site www.eMachineShop.com to get details about these and other services. While you’re there, don’t forget to download the company’s free 3D CAD software which makes designing CNC milled parts a snap!

Pierre Machels asked:


introduction: Automation (ancient Greek: = self dictated), roboticization[1] or industrial automation or numerical control is the use of control systems such as computers to control industrial machinery and processes, replacing human operators. In the scope of industrialization, it is a step beyond mechanization.Whereas mechanization provided human operators with machinery to assist them with the physical requirements of work, automation greatly reduces the need for human sensory and mental requirements as well. Automation plays an increasingly important role in the global economy and in daily experience. Engineers strive to combine automated devices with mathematical and organizational tools to create complex systems for a rapidly expanding range of applications and human activities. There are still many jobs which are in no immediate danger of automation. No device has been invented which can match the [[Eye|human eye] for accuracy and precision in many tasks; nor the human ear. Even the admittedly handicapped human is able to identify and distinguish among far more scents than any automated device. Human pattern recognition, language recognition, and language production ability is well beyond anything currently envisioned by automation engineers.

Do you want a lean human resources hiring process in automation or robotics? automationjob is than the solution for your job recruitment. automationjob.com reduces drastically your search time. automationjob.com proposes you the right candidates with the right skills. And automationjob.com gives you the best visibility in the automation business world. This has a huge value. Some large companies like Siemens, ABB, KUKA have already problems to find skilled people for their automation and robotics business.

examples of available positions: FACTORY AUTOMATION JOB, ROBOTICS JOB, PROCESS CONTROL JOB, INDUSTRIAL IT JOB, CNC JOB, SUPERVISION JOB.

cookiesnstarz@verizon.net asked:


I’m 12 and my dad is planning on buying me one for $500. He said its really easy to make money on. What else do i need for the machine? Any programs beside Mastercam or does that not work. We have all the drill bits i think.