The CNC machining They usually have industrial and manufacturing applications and the CNC process can be subtractive or additive. In today's article we explain what each process consists of and we explain each of the phases of this type of machining.
The subtractive process refers to a manufacturing process with material removal, that is, it is carried out with cutting tools capable of removing layers of material from a piece, to achieve a completely precise and custom-made product.
Just as a cutting process is carried out, machining can also be worked in an additive way, that is, with the contribution of material. Additive manufacturing or 3D printing is another type of CNC machining with which parts can be produced.
The process of CNC machining It is divided into 4 different operations:
- The design of the piece; It is the creation of a 3D solid part or 2D vector CAD design. The design program allows you to create a model of the part along with its technical specifications, geometries or dimensions to produce the part.
- Conversion of part to CNC program; The formatted CAD file is made through a program which is usually computer-aided manufacturing, also known as CAM, in order to extract the geometry of the part and create the digital programming code that will be able to control the CNC machine and manipulate the tools to produce the custom created piece.
- Preparation; In this phase, the machine is prepared for operation and includes the fixation of the workpiece directly on the machine, be it the head, clamping devices, etc.
- Execution of CNC machining; In this phase you take action, following the instructions programmed for the CNC machine. The program sends the orders and commands from the machine that order actions and movements of the tools to the computer that is integrated into the machinery.
What is the language of CNC machining?
It is a programming language and the best known is the G code, which controls where, how and when the machines, tools move, to know when the head starts up, how the machining progress occurs, etc. . You can also use the M code, which is responsible for controlling auxiliary functions, such as the activation of the coolant, activation of the tailstock when we talk about CNC lathes, etc.
It is a code generated by CAM, a program that has been prepared by a postprocessor, since each machinery manufacturer designs its code, G or M.
In the CNC machining It is important to carry out each of the phases in an orderly and exact manner, so that the final result of the piece is as expected.
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