CNC Lathe Machine Workshop Report

Title

Computer Aided Manufacturing (CAM) Technologies and Computer Numerical Control (CNC)

Objective

To familiarize the operations of CNC Lathe machine

Apparatus/Material

·        CNC Lathe machine

·        PC Monitor

·        Steel bar for the use

·        Keyboard

·        Mouse

Introduction

                        Computer Aided Design and Manufacturing (CAD/CAM) has emerged as one of the most effective tools for improving overall efficiency arid productivity of manufacturing. All CAD/CAM systems being used today in the metal working industry, focus in computer aided graphics, design and automatic cutting tool path generation. A design is created in the computer database, graphic software is used to produce am engineering drawing, tool path for machining and a part program for Numerical Control (NC) machining is generated as the final output. The importance of the use and application of computers in manufacturing can be divided into two main categories as given below: i. The computer is directly interfaced or connected to the manufacturing facility in order to monitor and control the operations of the facility. ii. An off-line computer is utilized for managing the production operation (i.e. Developing the geometry, tool path generation and visualization of material removal prior to machining) In category (i), the computer-process interface is implemented for monitoring and controlling the process, whereas in category (ii), an off-line computer is used for scheduling, planning, and for processing information which would be important and essential to ensure effective and efficient operation of the process.

Procedure/Demonstration 

·      Work piece/part will be machined using CNC machine  

             

Discussion

Introduction to CAD and CAM

            CAD/CAM is a term which means computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing. It is the technology concerned with the use of digital computers to perform certain functions in design and production. This technology is moving in the direction of greater integration of design and manufacturing, two activities which have traditionally been treated as distinct and separate functions in a production firm. Ultimately, CAD/CAM will provide the technology base for the computer-integrated factory of the future.

Computer-aided design (CAD) can be defined as the use of computer systems to assist in the creation, modification, analysis, or optimization of a design. The computer systems consist of the hardware and software to perform the specialized design functions required by the particular user firm. The CAD hardware typically includes the computer, one or more graphics display terminals, keyboards, and other peripheral equipment. The CAD software consists of the computer programs to implement computer graphics on the system plus application programs to facilitate the engineering functions of the user company. Examples of these application programs include stress-strain analysis of components, dynamic response of mechanisms, heat-transfer calculations, and numerical control part programming. The collection of application programs will vary from one user firm to the next because their product lines, manufacturing processes, and customer markets are different. These factors give rise to differences in CAD system requirements.

Computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) can be defined as the use of computer systems to plan, manage, and control the operations of a manufacturing plant through either direct or indirect computer interface with the plant’s production resources. As indicated by the definition, the applications of computer-aided manufacturing fall into two broad categories:

1.  Computer monitoring and control. These are the direct applications in which the computer is connected directly to the manufacturing process for the purpose of monitoring or controlling the process.

2.  Manufacturing support applications. These are the indirect applications in which the computer is used in support of the production operations in the plant, but there is no direct interface between the computer and the manufacturing process.

The distinction between the two categories is fundamental to an understanding of computer-aided manufacturing. It seems appropriate to elaborate on our brief definitions of the two types.

Computer monitoring, and control can be separated into monitoring applications and control applications. Computer process monitoring involves a direct computer interface with the manufacturing process for the purpose of observing the process and associated equipment and collecting data from the process. The computer is not used to control the operation directly. The control of the process remains in the hands of human operators, who may be guided by the information compiled by the computer.

Computer process control goes one step further than monitoring by not only observing the process but also controlling it based on the observations. The distinction between monitoring and control is displayed in Figure 1.1. With computer monitoring the flow of data between the process and the computer is in one direction only, from the process to the computer. In control, the computer interface allows for a two-way flow of data. Signals are transmitted from the process to the computer, just as in the case of computer monitoring. In addition, the computer issues command signals directly to the manufacturing process based on control algorithms contained in its software.

Advantages of CAD and CAM over conventional Machining

1. Increase Programming Potential

By adding CAD-CAM software to your CNC toolkit, you can open up possibilities for your business that may not have been there before. An example of this is gaining the ability to take on harder, more complex 3 Axis machining jobs. CAD-CAM can help a shop manage and create toolpath and NC programs for complex machining projects such as mold work. These types of jobs are next to impossible to calculate by hand or even through using machine canned cycles. A CAD-CAM system completely automates the process.
 

2. Makes You More Accessible by Clients

By having a CAD-CAM software product in your shop, you can receive CAD models from clients faster and easier than ever before. You will be able to open CAD files easily, setup the toolpath for machining and perform simulations that provide valuable information for you in the quoting process such as the calculation of cycle times. Manufacturing can deliver products to market faster and more affordable than ever before. This has a lot to do with technological advancements in CNC machining and in CAD-CAM software. The software allows users to design faster, manage projects, test and simulate as well as machine faster than ever.

3. Improved Control Over Job Programming

Modern CAD-CAM functionality includes a CAM Tree Manager that allows you to track the job from beginning to end. You have full control over post processing, stock, work coordinates, material and tooling as well as access to machining operations that determine how the part will be machined as well as the output of the NC Program. The CAM Tree has many built-in benefits such as saving and loading machining templates, copying and pasting machining operations, reordering how the job is sequenced, toolpath associativity so that if a CAD edit is made to the part, all of the toolpaths are updated and much more. Higher control capabilities lead to perfectly finished parts being completed faster.

4. Machining Wizards Remove the Guesswork

        CAD-CAM provides the automation required to maximize programming efficiency. Machining wizards remove the guesswork from programming as they step the operator through the process of setting cutting depths, selecting tools, choosing toolpath styles, managing cutter lead-ins and lead-outs, choosing compensation settings as well as many other important parameters that have to do with creating machine toolpath. Wizards allow new programmers to be successful faster while still providing advanced programmers with the utilities and confidence to program error free parts regardless of their complexity.

5. Powerful 3 Axis CNC Programming Operations

          CAD-CAM software provides the ability create complex 3 Axis machine toolpath quickly and efficiently. Without CAD-CAM, programming complex parts is practically impossible as often time there are multiple toolpaths required from advanced roughing, semi-finishing and then multiple finishing toolpath strategies. In addition, the latest releases of BobCAD-CAM provide Dynamic Machining Strategies™ allowing the programmer to apply multiple roughing and finishing operations to a single CAD feature.
 

Conclusion

            Overall, we had a good idea about how to work with the CNC lathe machine and how to program the CNC machine at SLIIT workshop. And also, about the CAD and CAM applications using in the industry. Information we gathered from this workshop session will be very useful to our lives in our future path of being an engineer.

References

BobCAD-CAM. (2018). 10 Top Advantages to Using CAD-CAM in the CNC Manufacturing Process. [online] Available at: https://bobcad.com/10-top-advantages-to-using-cad-cam-in-the-cnc-manufacturing-process/ [Accessed 2 Sep. 2018].

Google.lk. (2018). Different types of Applications in Industry - Google Search. [online] Available at: https://www.google.lk/search?q=Different+types+of+Applications+in+Industry&rlz=1C1CHWL_enLK806LK806&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwj6n-jwk5zdAhVBfX0KHRy4BjAQ_AUICigB&biw=1920&bih=943 [Accessed 2 Sep. 2018].

O’Reilly | Safari. (2018). CAD/CAM: Computer-Aided Design and Manufacturing. [online] Available at: https://www.safaribooksonline.com/library/view/cadcam-computer-aided-design/9780132441889/chapter01.html [Accessed 2 Sep. 2018].