Features of CNC Machining Centers

Lab 4:

Identification

CNC Machine Components

Cutting Tool / Collet Caddy– Very common to have 100 or

more diverse cutting tools loaded into a collet caddy

– They are numbered for ease of identification

– The operator must know the common tools by simple visual observation

Boxford Vertical Mill Cutting Tools

Collet Caddy # Tool in Collet (different lengths)

5 2mm end mill, ball end

6 2mm end mill, slot drill

3 4mm end mill, slot drill

4 6mm end mill, slot drill

1 8mm end mill, slot drill

2 25 mm end mill, facing cutter

CNC Bench Vise

Notice the smooth machined surfaces; be careful not to damage surfaces

CAM & X-axis Table Alignment

To machine a part with CNC, the end of the tool must be known relative to the bench vise, x-axis table, or some other fixed distance

Z-axis Arbor

Keep the lands clean and oiled

– A slight tilt will cause noticeable cut deformations

– Align the protrusions with slots in the cutting tool quick change adapter body

Air Nozzle

Used for: Keeping cutting area

free of excessive cutting debris

Quick cleaning When supplied with

misting, provides cutting tool cooling

End Mill / Facing Cutter

Hogs off large amounts of material

– Radius of cut very large– Provides a known

surface from which to measure from

– Requires workpiece to be robustly supported due to high torque created

Quick Change End Mill Adapter

Helps provide quick changing of cutting tools without having to use complex setup procedures

Power Panel

Lockable On-Off Switch Circuit Breakers Power Cord

Control Panel

1. FEED HOLDActs as an interrupt control to the program when pressed, preventing any further tool movement until canceled. During an Automatic cycle, after canceling CYCLE START must be pressed to resume the cycle.

2. SINGLE BLOCKWith machine running in automatic mode controlled from the PC, this allows the operation of only a single block (line) of the program at a time to be toggled on/off. Press CYCLE START to proceed.

3. CYCLE STARTThis sets the machine in automatic mode and starts the machining from the PC program. Also used to resume an Automatic cycle after a FEED HOLD is canceled and to action the next line if Single Block is active.

Control Panel

4. FEED SPEED CONTROL

Provides stepless control of tool feed speed in the X, Y and Z axes from 0 to 100% in 10% increments.

5. JOG TABLE AXIS CONTROLS

These four buttons control manual movement of the table in the X and Y axes.

Move the table in the X axis while held pressed.

Move the table in the Y-axis while held pressed.

6. JOG HEAD AXIS CONTROLS

Move the head in the Z axis while held pressed.

Pressing this button together with any of the other six axis control buttons provides rapid movement of the axes in the indicated direction.

Control Panel

7. MANUALWhen lit, machine is operated from control panel (Manual mode). Pressing MAN puts light out and machine is controlled by computer (Automatic mode). Press MAN again to revert to manual mode operation.

8. AIR MIST CONTROLSwitches on or off the optional air mist coolant when fitted.

9. DATUM M/C - PROGRAM ABORT After initially powering up the machine and pressing the Power Reset button (23), with the machine in Manual mode (Manual mode button lit) press to datum the machine axes.

• With the machine in Manual mode, the machine can be re-datumed at any point. This should always be done if a physical stall of the axes has occurred.

•During an Automatic Cycle with a Feed Hold (1) active, pressing will Abort the current job.

Control Panel

10. TOOL CHANGEWith auto tool changer fitted, press to change to next tool automatically.

11. TOOL RELEASEReleases the tool holder from the spindle if fitted with the auto tool changer. Guard door must be open and tool holder held.

12. WORK HOLDING UN-CLAMPControls un-clamping of workpiece in pneumatic work holder vice, when fitted.

13. WORK HOLDING CLAMPControls clamping of workpiece in pneumatic work holder vice, when fitted.

14. DOOR OPENControls opening of the automatic doors when fitted.

Control Panel

15. DOOR CLOSEControls closing of the automatic doors when fitted.

16. SPINDLE CONTROLSThese control the speed and direction of rotation of the spindle.

Spindle Forward - Pressing this button starts the spindle rotating forward. Holding it down increases forward speed. Pressing and holding the 'Spindle Reverse' button reduces speed in the forward direction.

Spindle Reverse - Pressing this button starts the spindle rotating in reverse direction. Holding it down increases spindle speed in reverse direction. Pressing and holding the 'Spindle Forward' button reduces speed in the reverse direction.

Spindle Stop - Pressing this button stops spindle rotation.

Control Panel

17. EMERGENCY STOPPressing this pushbutton stops all machine movement and switches off the electronics, and the button locks in the depressed position.

If the machine is in production, an appropriate message is displayed on the PC screen.

The button must be turned to release it and the Hard Reset button (23) pressed to enable the machine to be started. The machine must be datumed using the Datum M/C key (9).

If the machine was performing a production cycle, the cycle must be repeated from the beginning.