NC, CNC

What is NC/CNC?
NC is an acronym for Numerical Control and
CNC is an acronym for Computer Numerical
Control.
 What is the difference between NC and CNC ?
The difference between NC and CNC is one of
age and capability.
The earliest NC machines performed limited
functions and movements controlled by punched
tape or punch cards.
As the technology evolved, the machines were
equiped with increasingly powerful
microprocessors (computers) with the addition of
these computers, NC machines become CNC
machines.
CNC machines have far more capability than
their predecessor.
 What is the difference between NC and CNC ?
Some of the enhancements that came along

with CNC include: Canned Cycles, Sub

Programming, Cutter Compensation, Work
coordinates, Coordinate system rotation,
automatic corner rounding, chamfering, and B-
spline interpolation.
 Where did CNC get started?
1940 Jhon Parson developed first machine able

to drill holes at specific coordinates

programmed on punch cards.
1951 MIT developed servo-mechanism

1952 MIT developed first NC machines for

milling.
1970 First CNC machines came into picture

Now-a-day’s modified 1970’s machines are used.

 Do all machines speak the same CNC
language
No, while there is fairly standard set of G and M

codes, there is some variation in their

application. For example a G0 or G00 command is
universally regarded as the command for rapid
travel. Some older machines do not have a G00
command. On these machines, rapid travel is
commanded by using the F (feed) word address.
 What is a “Conversational Control”
CNC machine tool builders offer an option

what is known as the conversational control.

This control lets the operator/programmer use
simple descriptive language to program the
part. The control then displayed a graphical
representation of the instructions so the
operator/programmer can verify the tool path.
 Are CNC machines faster than
conventional machines?
Yes, No, Sometimes. When it comes to making

a single, simple part it is hard to beat a

conventional mill or lathe. CNC machines move
faster in rapid travel than conventional
machines.
 Are CNC machines more accurate
than conventional machines?
Yes, they can be. But like anything else it

depends on who is running the machine, how

well the machines has been maintained, quality
of setup and so on.
 NC/CNC Machines-Advantages
High Repeatability and Precision e.g. Aircraft
parts
Volume of production is very high
Complex contours/surfaces need to be
machined. E.g. Turbines
Flexibility in job change, automatic tool
settings, less scrap
More safe, higher productivity, better quality
Less paper work, faster prototype production,
reduction in lead times
 NC/CNC Machines-Disadvantages
Costly setup, skilled operators

Computers, programming knowledge required

Maintenance is difficult
 NC/CNC/DNC
Direct Numerical Control is a system that
uses a central computer to control several
machines at the same time
Distributed Numerical Control (DNC): the
central computer downloads complete
programs to the CNC machines, which can be
workstations or PCs, and can get the
information for the machine operations.
The speed of the system is increased, large
files can be handled and the number of
machine tools used is expanded.
12
Direct numerical control

13
DNC

14
 Stepper Motor
The stepper motor is special type of
synchronous motor which is designed to rotate
through a specific angle (Called step) for each
electrical pulse received from the control unit.
Basic CNC
Principles
 Basic Length Unit (BLU)
In NC machine, the displacement length per
one pulse output from machine is defined as a
Basic Length Unit (BLU).
In the CNC computer each bit (binary digit)
represents 1 BLU.
Bit = BLU
Example: If one pulse makes a servo motor
rotate by one degree and the servo motor
moves the table by 0.0001 mm, one BLU will be
0.0001 mm.
The lead of a ball screw is related to the
displacement unit of the machine tool table.
 Control Systems possible in CNC Machine
Point to point mode:
Point-to-point straight line mode
 Co-ordinate system
All the machine tool use Cartesian Co-ordinate
system.
The first axis to be identified is the Z – axis,
This is followed by X and Y axes respectively.

Right-hand coordinate systems

5 axes CNC vertical axis machining centre
Absolute and Incremental Coordinate
System

Absolute Coordinate System Incremental Coordinate System

 The following are the steps to be followed
while developing the CNC part programs.
Process planning
Axes selection
Tool selection
Cutting process parameters planning
Job and tool setup planning
Machining path planning
Part program writing
Part program proving
For a CNC machine control unit (MCU) decides
cutting speed, feed, depth of cut, tool
selection , coolant on off and tool paths. The
MCU issues commands in form of numeric
data to motors that position slides and tool
 Part Programming
FANUC CONTROLL

SIEMENS CONTROLL
 CNC programming
Important things to know:
• Coordinate System
• Units, incremental or absolute positioning
• Coordinates: X,Y,Z, RX,RY,RZ
• Feed rate and spindle speed
• Coolant Control: On/Off, Flood, Mist
• Tool Control: Tool and tool parameters
Programming Key Letters
 O - Program number (Used for program identification)
 N - Sequence number (Used for line identification)
 G - Preparatory function
 X - X axis designation
 Y - Y axis designation
 Z - Z axis designation
 R - Radius designation
 F – Feed rate designation
 S - Spindle speed designation
 H - Tool length offset designation
 D - Tool radius offset designation
 T - Tool Designation
 M - Miscellaneous function
 Table of Important G codes
Code Meaning Format
G00 Rapid Transverse N__G00 X___ Y___ Z___
G01 Linear Interpolation N__G01 X___ Y___ Z___ F___
G02 Circular N__G02 X__ Y__ Z___ R___ F___
Interpolation, CW N__G02 X___ Y__Z__I ___J __K __
F __
G03 Circular N__G03 X___ Y___ Z__R__F___
Interpolation, N__G03 X__ Y__Z__I __J __K __ F
CCW __
G04 Dwell N__G04P___

G17 XY Plane
G18 XZ Plane
G19
YZ Plane
 Table of Important G codes
Code Meaning Format
G20/ Inch Unit
G70
G21/ Metric Unit
G71
G28 Automatic Return to
Reference Point
G40 Cutter compensation
cancel
G41 Cutter compensation left N__G41D__
G42 Cutter compensation right N__G42D__

G43 Tool length compensation N__G43H__

(plus)
 Table of Important G codes
Cod Meaning Format
e
G44 Tool length N__G44H__
compensation (minus)
G49 Tool length
compensation cancel
G80 Cancel canned cycles
G81 Drilling cycle N__G81 Z__R__F__

G90 Absolute positioning

G91 Incremental
positioning
G92 Absolute preset, N__G92X__Y__Z__
change the datum
position
 Rapid traverse: G00
G00:
to make the machine move at maximum speed.
It is used for positioning motion.
G90 G00 X20.0 Y10.0
End
G90:
(20,10
absolute )
coordinat (10,10
es )

Start (0,0
)
 Linear interpolation: G01
G01:
linear interpolation at feed speed.
G91 G0l X200.0 Y100.0 F200.0

Y
G91: End
increment 100.0
al
coordinat
es

Start 200.0 X
 Circular interpolation: G02, G03
 G02, G03:
 For circular interpolation, the tool destination and
the circle center are programmed in one block
 G02 is clockwise interpolation, G03 is
counterclockwise interpolation

End Circle center,

point radius
Circular interpolation: G02, G03
Y

X R=-50mm
End Specify R
with sign
before it:
180° +R
Start R=50mm
>180° -R

G91 G02 X60.0 Y20.0 R50.0

F300.0
G91 G02 X60.0 Y20.0 R-50.0
F300.0
Circular interpolation: G02, G03
 Specify Center with I, J,
Y End
K
 I, J, K are the
X incremental distance
from the start of the
Start arc;

j  Viewing the start of arc

Center as the origin, I, J, K
i have positive or
negative signs.
Circular interpolation: G02, G03
N0010 G92 X200.0 Y40.0 Z0 ;
N0020 G90 G03 X140.0 Y100.0 I -60.0 F300 ；
N0030 G02 X120. 0 Y60.0 I- 50.0 ； G92:
Or To define
N0010 G92 X200.0 Y40.0 Z0 ； working
N0020 G90 G03 X140.0 Y100.0 R60.0 coordinate
F300 ；
N0030 G02 X120.0 Y60.0 R50.0 ；

G90: Y
absolute 100 R50
coordinate 60 R60
s 40
X
O 90 120 140 200
Circular interpolation: G02, G03
Annotation for Circular Interpolation
I0.0, J0.0, and K0.0 can be omitted.
If X,Y,Z are all omitted in the program, that
means start and end of arc are same points.
N0020 G02 I20.0 (a full circle)
If I, J, K, and R all appears in circular
interpolation instruction, R is valid and I, J,
and K are invalid
 GATE - 2005
The tool of an NC machine has to move
along a circular arc from (5, 5) to (10,10)
while performing an operation. The centre
of the arc is at (10, 5). Which one of the
following NC tool path commands
performs the above mentioned operation?
(a) N010G02 X10 Y10 X5 Y5 R5
(b) N010G03 X10 Y10 X5 Y5 R5
(c) N010G01 X5 Y5 X10 Y10 R5
(d) N010G02 X5 Y5 X10 Y10 R5
Tool Compensation
Tool-Radius Compensation
Left hand G41
Right hand G42
Cancel tool-radius compensation G40
Tool-Height Compensation
Positive G43
Negative G44
Cancel tool-height compensation G49
 Tool-Radius Compensation
Tool-radius compensations make it possible to
program directly from the drawing, and thus
eliminate the tool-offset calculation
G41 (G42) D
 D: the radius of tool to compensate is saved in a
memory unit that is named D
 G41/G42 is directly related with direction of tool
movement and which side of part is cut.
 Cancel Tool Compensation: G40
Note the difference between two
ways
N0060 G01 X2.000
N0060 G40 G01 X2.000 Y1.700
Y1.700
M02
N0070 G40 M02

ramp off effective to the end

block point
Tool-Height Compensation
G43 (G44) H
H: specified memory unit used to save
height compensation of tool.
Positive compensation (G43):
real position = specified position + value saved
in H
Negative compensation (G44):
real position = specified position - value saved in
H
Tool-Height Compensation
Example:
N0010 G91 G00 X12.0 Y80.0 G91:
N0020 G44 Z-32.0 H02 ； increment
al
coordinat
If we put 0.5mm into H02, es
real position = -32.0 - 0.5 = -32.5

Cancel tool-height compensation: G49

Table of Important M codes
M00 Program stop
M01 Optional program stop
M03 Spindle on clockwise
M04 Spindle on counterclockwise
M05 Spindle stop
M06 Tool change
M08 Coolant on
M09 Coolant off
M10 Clamps on
M11 Clamps off
M02 or M30 Program stop, reset to start
Rules for programming
Block Format

N135 G01 X1.0 Y1.0 Z0.125 F5

Sample Block
• Restrictions on CNC blocks
• Each may contain only one tool move
• Each may contain any number of non-tool move G-codes
• Each may contain only one feed rate
• Each may contain only one specified tool or spindle speed
• The block numbers should be sequential
• Both the program start flag and the program number must
be
independent of all other commands (on separate lines)
• The data within a block should follow the sequence shown
in the above sample block
Example of CNC Programming
What Must Be Done To Drill A Hole On A
CNC Vertical Milling Machine
 Tool Home

Top
View

1.) X & Y Rapid To Hole Positi

Front
View
Top
View 2.) Z Axis Rapid Move
Just Above Hole

3.) Turn On Coolant

4.) Turn On Spindle

.100”
Front
View
 Top
View
5.) Z Axis Feed Move to
Drill Hole

Front
View
 Top
View 6.) Rapid Z Axis Move
Out Of Hole

Front
View
 Top
View 7.) Turn Off Spindle

8.) Turn Off Coolant

9.) X&Y Axis Rapid

Move Home
Front
View
 Here’s The CNC Tool At Home
Program!

Top O0001
View N005 G54 G90 S600 M03
N010 G00 X1.0 Y1.0
N015 G43 H01 Z.1 M08
N020 G01 Z-.75 F3.5
N025 G00 Z.1 M09
Front N030 G91 G28 X0 Y0 Z0
View N035 M30
 Tool At Home

Top O0001
View O0001
Number Assigned to this program

Front
View
 Tool At Home

Top O0001
View N005 G54 G90 S600 M03
N005 Sequence Number
G54 Fixture Offset
G90 Absolute Programming Mode
S600 Spindle Speed set to 600 RPM
M03 Spindle on in a Clockwise Direction

Front
View
 Top O0001
View N005 G54 G90 S600 M03
N010 G00 X1.0 Y1.0
G00 Rapid Motion
X1.0 X Coordinate 1.0 in. from Zero
Y1.0 Y Coordinate 1.0 in. from Zero

Front
View
 Top O0001
View N005 G54 G90 S600 M03
N010 G00 X1.0 Y1.0
N015 G43 H01 Z.1 M08
G43 Tool Length Compensation
H01 Specifies Tool length compensation
Z.1 Z Coordinate .1 in. from Zero
Front M08 Flood Coolant On

View
 Top O0001
View N005 G54 G90 S600 M03
N010 G00 X1.0 Y1.0
N015 G43 H01 Z.1 M08
N020 G01 Z-.75 F3.5
G01 Straight Line Cutting Motion
Z-.75 Z Coordinate -.75 in. from Zero
Front F3.5 Feed Rate set to 3.5 in/min.
View
 Top O0001
View N005 G54 G90 S600 M03
N010 G00 X1.0 Y1.0
N015 G43 H01 Z.1 M08
N020 G01 Z-.75 F3.5
N025 G00 Z.1 M09
Front G00 Rapid Motion
Z.1 Z Coordinate .1 in. from Zero
View M09 Coolant Off
 O0001
N005 G54 G90 S600 M03
Top
View N010 G00 X1.0 Y1.0
N015 G43 H01 Z.1 M08
N020 G01 Z-.75 F3.5
N025 G00 Z.1 M09
N030 G91 G28 X0 Y0 Z0
G91 Incremental Programming
Front Mode
G28 Zero Return Command
View X0, Y0, Z0
X,Y,& Z Coordinates at Zero
 Top O0001
View N005 G54 G90 S600 M03
N010 G00 X1.0 Y1.0
N015 G43 H01 Z.1 M08
N020 G01 Z-.75 F3.5
N025 G00 Z.1 M09
Front N030 G91 G28 X0 Y0 Z0
View N035 M30
M30 End of Program
 APT Language
APT (Automatically Programmed Tools)
The APT language consists of many different types
of statements made up of the following valid letters,
numerals and punctuation marks.
Letters: ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ
Numerals: 0123456789
/ A slash divides a statement into two sections.
eg., GO/PAST,
, A comma is used as a separator between the
elements in a statement generally to the right of
the slash.
= An equals is used for assigning an entity to a
symbolic name, e.g., P1 = POINT/25,50,30.
 Words
The words to be used in the statements are

built up from one to six letters or numerals with

the first one being a letter. No special character
is allowed in the words.
 The complete APT part program consists of
the following four types of statements
Geometry

Motion

Post processor

Compilation control
 Other Part Programming Languages
ADAPT (ADaptation APT) was the first attempt to
adapt APT programming system for smaller
computers
AUTOSPOT (AUTOmatic Sytem for POsitioning
Tools) was developed by IBM and first introduced in
1962
EXAPT (EXtended subset of APT) was developed
jointly in German in about 1964 by several
universities to adapt APT for European use. It is
compatible with APT and thus can use the same
processor as APT
COMPACT was developed by Manufacturing Data
Systems, Inc. (MDSI)
SPLIT (Sundstrand Processing Language Internally
Translated) was developed by Sundstrand
Corporation, intended for its own machine tools 71
 APT Language
Additional statements:
 MACHIN/DRILL, 2
 COOLNT/
For example: COOLNT/MIST COOLNT/FLOOD COOLNT/OFF
 FEDRAT/
 SPINDL/
For example: SPINDL/ON SPINDL/1250, CCLW
 TOOLNO/
 TURRET/
 END

72
 Point (POINT)

PTA = POINT/ 3,4,5

y
(3, 4, 5)

PTA

x
 Point (POINT)

PTB = POINT/ INTOF, LIN1, LIN2

LIN2

PTB
LIN1
 Point (POINT)

PTD = POINT/ YSMALL, INTOF, LIN3, C1 y

PTD = POINT/ XSMALL, INTOF, LIN3, C1
PTC = POINT/ YLARGE, INTOF, LIN3, C1
PTC = POINT/ XLARGE, INTOF, LIN3, C1
PTC

LIN3
C1

PT
D

x
 Point (POINT)

PTE = POINT/ YLARGE, INTOF, C1, C2

PTE = POINT/ XLARGE, INTOF, C1, C2 y
PTF = POINT/ YSMALL, INTOF, C1, C2
PTF = POINT/ XSMALL, INTOF, C1, C2 C1

PTE

PTF C2

x
 Point (POINT)

PT7 = POINT/ CENTER, C6

C6

PT7

x
 Line (LINE)

LIN1 = LINE/ P1, P2

P2

P1

LIN1

x
 Line (LINE)

LIN4 = LINE/ PT6, 15, -30, 3

PT6

L4 (15, -30, 3)

x
 Line (LINE)
L12 = LINE/ PT4, ATANGL, 20, XAXIS
L14 = LINE/ PT1, ATANGL, 40
L15 = LINE/ 32, -3, 2, ATANGL, -15, XAXIS
L16 = LINE/ PT3, ATANGL, 40, YAXIS

y
PT3 L14

40
° PT1 L12
L1
6 PT4

40 20°
°
15 x
L15 °
(32, -3, 2)
 Line (LINE)

LIN = LINE/ POINT, ATANGL, ANGLE (in degrees), LINE

y
LINE2

P1

30° LINE1

LINE2 = LINE/ P1, ATANGL, 30,

LINE1
x
 Line (LINE)
LIN = LINE/ SLOPE, SLOPE VALUE, INTERC, MODIFIER, d
where the slope value is y/x. The modifier options are [XAXIS,
YAXIS], and d is the corresponding intercept value on the selected
axis (i.e., modifier).

LINE
1

LINE1 = LINE/ SLOPE, 1, INTERC,

XAXIS, 6
x
(6,0) Point of X-
Intercept
 Line (LINE)

LIN = LINE/ ATANGL, DEGREES, INTERC, MODIFIER, d

The modifier options are [XAXIS, YAXIS], and d is the
corresponding intercept value on the selected axis (i.e.,
modifier).

LINE
1
LINE1 = LINE/ ATANGL, 30, INTERC,
= d
30°
x
d
 Line (LINE)

The LEFT & RIGHT modifier indicates whether the line

is at the left or right tangent point, depending on how
one looks at the circle from the point.

L1 = LINE/ PT51, LEFT, TANTO, C11

L1

C11

PT51
 Line (LINE)
L2 = LINE/ PT51, RIGHT, TANTO, C11
L3 = LINE/ PT40, RIGHT, TANTO, C11
L4 = LINE/ PT40, LEFT, TANTO, C11

L Right
3

PT40
L
1
Left

Left L
4
PT51

Right L2
 Line (LINE)
L6 = LINE/ LEFT, TANTO, C3, LEFT, TANTO, C4
L6

C4
Lef
C3 t
Right

L8 L
9
L7

The descriptive words LEFT and RIGHT are

used by looking from the first circle written
towards the second circle.
 Line (LINE)

L6 = LINE/ RIGHT, TANTO, C4, RIGHT, TANTO, C3

L6
Right
C4

C3

Left

L8 L
9
L7
 Line (LINE)

LN3 = LINE/ PNT6, PARLEL, LN15

LN4 = LINE/ PNT5, PERPTO, LN13

y
PNT6 PNT5
LN
3
LN
4

LN15
LN1
3

x
 Line

LN5 = LINE/ INTOF, PLAN1, PLAN2

LN5

PLAN1

PLAN2
 Plane (PLANE)

PLAN10 = PLANE/ PT6, PT12, PT15

PLAN1
PT1 0
5
PT6 PT1
2
y 3.0

PT4
z
PLAN1
4

x
 Plane (PLANE)

PLAN14 = PLANE/ PT4, PARLEL, PLAN10

PLAN14 = PLANE/ PARLEL, PLAN10, YSMALL, 3.0

PLAN1
0
PT1
5
y PT6 PT1
2
3.0

PT4

z
PLAN1
4
x
 Circle (CIRCLE)

C1 = CIRCLE/ 3, 6, 5, 4.3
C1 = CIRCLE/ CENTER, PT3, RADIUS, 4.3
y
C1

4.3

PT3
(3,6,5)

x
 Circle (CIRCLE)

C3 = CIRCLE/ CENTER, PT6, TANTO, LN4

C7 = CIRCLE/ CENTER, PT8, PT5

y y
LN4
PT5

PT6 PT8
C3 C7

x x
 The Machining Plan

Contouring:
Part surface: the surface on which the end
of the tool is riding.
Drive surface: the surface against which
the edge of the tool rides.
Check surface: a surface at which the
current tool motion is to stop.
 The Machining Plan

z
Drive Check surface
surface
y

Direction of
cutte cutter
r motion
x

Part surface
 The Machining Plan

CS CS CS

DS DS DS

TO ON PAST
 The Machining Plan

Motion commands:
GOLFT/ : Move left along the drive surface
GORGT/ : Move right along the drive surface
GOUP/ : Move up along the drive surface
GODOWN/ : Move down along the drive surface
GOFWD/ : Move forward from a tangent position
GOBACK/ : Move backward from a tangent position
FROM/PTARG
GO/TO, L1, TO, PL2, TO L3
GORGT/L3, PAST, L4