Contemporary CNC machines focus on minimizing human intervention. This ensures consistent and continuous performance, which facilitates smart manufacturing and delivers excellent results. However, CNC machining operations require careful consideration from initial design to final manufacturing. The whole process is divided into three distinct steps.
1. Design
This is the first step and the deliverables are design files in CAD, CAM and CAE formats. Engineers and designers use CAD/CAM packages to help them create overall designs of parts and products and then analyze them for manufacturability. This analysis, sometimes referred to as DFM (Design for Manufacturing), is a holistic process, as it ensures maximum benefit at minimum total cost, while Meet the limitations of available technology.
In most cases, the CAD tools available in the market come with internal CAM tools, which facilitate pre-processing and programming, which is the next step in the CNC process.
2. Preprocessing and programming
The main method of communicating with a CNC machine is through G-code or M-code. The CAM package generates these codes, which are basically a navigation map for the cutting tools in the CNC machine. In most cases, if the design complies with DFM standards, the CNC machinist will Pre-op or pre-processing is not necessary, and if not, some intervention may be required to ensure good performance.
This is a common and general step in any CNC machining operation. How much time preprocessing takes depends on the overall quality of the design process. Program G-code or M-code in minutes. However, they depend on design. If the overall design conforms to the necessary conventions of the DFM, the code will be correct and provide acceptable results. Conversely, flaws in design lead to flawed code, which naturally produces unacceptable results.
3. Machining
The final stage is the actual machining process, which uses the code provided in the previous step to remove excess material from the block.
Often, precision machine tools are extremely important, but they cannot reproduce exactly the same dimensions as the CAD model. This is why machinists typically use tolerances, which vary according to the requirements of the industry, and a general rule of thumb states that precise tolerances result in a more expensive manufactured unit.
