Lathe Machine

What is lathe machine? A Lathe Machine also known as Turning Machine which operates by rotating a workpiece about its axis to perform various machining operations such as cutting, drilling, reaming, tapping, parting, facing, threading, knurling and perform other operations. A single point cutting tool is fed against the rotated workpiece to remove the excess material or unwanted material to form a cylindrical shaped product. With a proper attachments and adjustments, a lathe can also bore, polish and grind. The variety of operations that lathe can perform make it one of the most useful and necessary machines in the market


Lathe Single Point Cutting Tool


Lathe Cutting Tool Carriage

The lathe operates on the principle of the work being rotated against the edge of a cutting tool. The major function of the lathe machine is to change the size and shape of a rotated workpiece by one cuts or a series of cuts with cutting tools that can be adjusted to the workpiece. The cutting tool is controllable and can be moved lengthwise on the lathe bed and into any desired angle across the rotated workpiece.

Manual turning machine also known as a conventional lathe machine or turning machine and the cutting operation is partially control mechanically or can be fully controlled manually which is designed to produce parts within an accuracy range of 0.01 mm. The ultra-precision turning machine is known as CNC Turning Machine. It has high levels of accuracy and repeatability which operates in micron ranges and this machine has a dimensional accuracy ten times better than a conventional lathe.


Manual Turning Machine


Precision CNC Turning Machine

Photos by Republic Lagun Machine Tool

CNC Plasma Cutter Machine

What is CNC Plasma Cutter? A CNC Plasma Cutter is a machine or a device uses to cut metal such as mild steel, aluminum, stainless steel or any other electrically-conductive metals by using a powerful electric arc and a gas such as a compressed air. The compressed air blows the arc through the metal at 20,000 feet per second and at the temperatures as high as 30,000 degrees Fahrenheit creating a fairly clean cut or with little slag.

If you boost a gas normally a compressed air to extremely high temperatures, you will get plasma. In this process the compressed air is blown at high speed out of a nozzle. An electrical arc generated by the torch electrode will be forced through that gas and turning some of that gas to plasma. The force of the plasma flow then literally blows out the molten area on the workpiece, leaving only a smooth clean edge behind or with a little slag. Plasma can also be used for plasma arc welding and other applications.

A CNC Plasma Cutter has a similar operation with a plotter and controls by a computer. It has three axes X, Y and Z. Stepper motor or servo motor will drive each axis and work together, going forward & backward, left & right and up & down in perfect synchronization to produce shapes of virtually any design.


AKS Tru-Kut CNC Plasma Cutter

AKS Tru-Kut is one of the Advanced Kiffer Systems, Inc product. It's extremely heavy-duty, rigid, high quality construction with versatile features and affordable price make AKS Tru-Kut CNC Plasma Cutter a superior value.


AKS Tru-Kut CNC Plasma Cutter Torch
Photos by AKS Cutting Systems

Milling Machine G Codes

The G Codes that use on most CNC Milling Machines Center.

G00 = Rapid position
G01 = Linear interpolation
G02 = Circular or helix interpolation CW
G03 = Circular or helix interpolation CCW
G04 = Dwell
G09 = Exact stop
G10 = Parameter setting
G17 = Circular interpolation plane selection XY
G18 = Circular interpolation plane selection ZX
G19 = Circular interpolation plane selection YZ
G20 = Select Inch units
G21 = Select Metric units
G28 = Return to reference point
G29 = Return from reference point
G30 = Return to secondary reference point
G40 = Cutter compensation cancel
G41 = Cutter compensation left
G42 = Cutter compensation right
G43 = Tool length compensation (+)
G44 = Tool length compensation (-)
G49 = Tool length compensation cancel
G50 = Scaling/mirroring OFF
G51 = Scaling/mirroring ON
G52 = Offset local coordinate system origin
G53 = Rapid position in machine coordinates
G54 = Select working coordinate system #1 (WCS #1)
G55 = Select working coordinate system #2 (WCS #2)
G56 = Select working coordinate system #3 (WCS #3)
G57 = Select working coordinate system #4 (WCS #4)
G58 = Select working coordinate system #5 (WCS #5)
G59 = Select working coordinate system #6 (WCS #6)
G61 = Exact stop mode
G64 = Cutting mode
G65 = Call macro
G68 = Rotate
G69 = Cancel rotate
G73 = High speed peck drilling
G74 = Counter tapping
G80 = Canned cycle cancel
G81 = Drilling and spot drilling
G82 = Drill with dwell
G83 = Deep hole drilling
G84 = Tapping
G85 = Boring
G89 = Boring with dwell
G90 = Absolute positioning mode
G91 = Incremental positioning mode
G92 = Set absolute positioning
G98 = Initial point return
G99 = R point return
G117 = Rotation of plane selection XY
G118 = Rotation of plane selection ZX
G119 = Rotation of plane selection YZ

Milling M Codes Definitions

M codes use to control the overall machine and use to perform specific action in CNC programs such as to start & stop the machine, turn ON the spindle, turn coolant ON/OFF and etc. Most of the M codes have default function but can be customized with the use of macro files including the predefined M codes except M02, M06 & M25.

These are some of default M codes used on most CNC Milling Machines types. The M codes are user customizable, the user can edit, change, modify, add, delete or customize base on the application and definition.

M00 = Stop for operator
M01 = Optional stop for operator
M02 = Restart program
M03 = Spindle ON CW
M04 = Spindle ON CCW
M05 = Spindle OFF
M06 = Start tool change
M07 = Mist coolant ON
M08 = Flood coolant ON
M09 = Coolant OFF
M10 = Clamp ON
M11 = Clamp OFF
M14 = Swing arm pot up
M15 = Unclamp tool (air ON)
M16 = Unclamp tool (air OFF)
M18 = Home tool changer
M19 = Orient spindle
M20 = Pickup tool
M21 = Move head up
M22 = Move head to ATC level
M23 = Rotate carousel
M24 = Start too put back
M25 = Move to Z home
M26 = Set axis home
M39 = Air drill
M50 = Index tool plus
M51 = Index tool minus
M60 = Probing macro
M80 = Carousel in
M81 = Carousel out
M91 = Move to minus home
M92 = Move to plus home
M93 = Release motor power
M94 = Turn ON input X
M95 = Turn OFF input X
M98 = Call subprogram
M99 = Return from subprogram
M100 = Wait for input to open
M101 = Wait for input to close
M102 = Restart program
M103 = Programmed action timer
M104 = Cancel programmed action timer
M105 = Move minus to switch
M106 = Move plus to switch
M107 = Output BCD tool number
M108 = Enable override control
M109 = Disable override control
M115 = Protected probing move
M116 = Protected probing move
M120 = Open data file (overwrite existing file)
M121 = Open data file (append to existing file)
M122 = Record position(s) and/or comment in the data field
M123 = Record value and/or comment in data field
M125 = Protected probing move
M126 = Protected probing move

What is Milling Machine ?

What is a milling machine? A milling machine is a machine tool that removes material with a multiple-tooth cutting tool from a workpiece by rotating a cutter called a milling cutter and moving it into the material. The cutting action of the many teeth around the milling cutter provides a fast method of machining. The workpiece must somehow be securely fastened to the milling machine table and it is fed against the revolving milling cutter. The milling cutters can have cutting teeth on the periphery or sides or both. The cutting teeth can be straight or spiral.

Milling machines are among the most versatile and useful machine tools due to their capabilities to perform a variety of operations. Milling machines are basically classified as vertical or horizontal. These machines are also classified as knee-type, ram-type, and bed type. Most milling machines have self-contained electric drive motors, coolant systems, lubrication system, variable spindle speeds, and power-operated table feeds. milling machines delivering accuracy, productivity and rugged dependability for your milling, drilling, and boring needs

Knee Type 3 Axis Supra CNC Milling Machine
Photo by CNC Masters



Bed Type 3 Axis CNC Milling Machine
Photo by Hasil Karya



Ram Type 3 Axis CNC Milling Machine
Photo by Made In China

What is milling? Milling is the process of machining flat, angular, curved, or irregular surfaces by feeding the workpiece against a rotating cutter containing a number of cutting edges. The surface may also be milled to any combination of shapes. The milling machine consists basically of a motor driven spindle, which mounts and revolves the milling cutter, and a reciprocating adjustable worktable, which mounts and feeds the workpiece.

What is CNC ?

What is CNC? Basically, the CNC stands for Computer Numerical Control which refers to a computer controller that controls the movement of every axis of the machine using G codes instructions and drives the spindle or machine tool into a raw material to fabricate or to remove the unwanted material from workpiece more accurately without human intervention.

High performance and user-friendly CNC controller for milling applications
Photo by Centroid CNC

Fully integrated CNC machines will use G codes, M codes and others CNC programming languages codes such as F, S, N, X, Y, Z, A, B and C codes to control the overall machine.

G codes is a common name in the CNC programming language that begins with the letter G. Basically, the G codes tell the machine tool what type of action need to perform and trigger the CNC machine tools axis movement.

Typically, the CAM software such as Edgecam, Bob-CADCAM, Alphacam, MasterCAM, ProCAM 2, SurfCAM, Artcam and DelCAM may be used to generate the G codes files. The translators called post-processors will optimize the G codes output and it's user editable for further customization if needed.

The CNC milling machine simple programming language that use G codes and other CNC codes to perform drilling some holes and milling a circle pocket clean out.

; ICN_PATH = c:\intercon\test-run1.icn
; --- Header ---
N0001 ; CNC code generated by Intercon v2.61 Dev Test, Rev 8
; Description: test
; Programmer: vast
; Date: 11-Sep-2008
M25 G49 ; Goto Z home, cancel tool length offset
G17 G40 ; Setup for XY plane, no cutter comp
G21 ; millimeter measurements
G80 ; Cancel canned cycles
G90 ; absolute positioning
G98 ; canned cycle initial point return
; --- Tool #5 ---
;Tool Diameter = 6.0000 Spindle Speed = 1000
;d5
G49 H0 M25
G0 X0.0 Y0.0
N0002 T5 M6
S1000 M4
M8
G4 P1.00 ; pause for dwell
G43 D5
; --- Drill BHC ---
N0003 X20.0 Y0.0 Z2.54 H5
G81 X20.0 Y0.0 Z-1.0 R2.5 F100.0
X12.47 Y15.637
X-4.45 Y19.499
X-18.019 Y8.678
X-18.019 Y-8.678
X-4.45 Y-19.499
X12.47 Y-15.637
G80
; --- Circ Poc ---
N0004 X200.0 Y-1.0 Z2.54
G1 G91 X0.0 Y0.0 Z-2.54
X0.0 Y0.0 Z0.0 F300.0
X0.0 Y1.0 Z-1.0 F100.0
G2 X0.0 Y3.5 Z0.0 J1.75 F300.0
X-3.5 Y-3.5 Z0.0 J-3.5
X3.5 Y7.0 Z0.0 I8.75
X0.0 Y0.0 Z0.0 J-7.0 F400.0
X0.0 Y-7.0 Z0.0 J-3.5
G0 G90 X200.0 Y0.0 Z2.54
; --- End Prog ---
N0005 G49 H0 M25
X200.0 Y0.0
G40 ; Cutter Comp Off
M5 ; Spindle Off
M9 ; Coolant Off
G80 ; Cancel canned cycles
M30 ; End of program

The G codes generated by CENTROID's Intercon Conversational software used in Centroid CNC Milling Machine controller

CNC Machining Center

What is CNC machining center? The CNC machining center is a sophisticated CNC machine that can perform multiple machining operations with a verity of tools and operation methods by making used of several axes under fully integrated computer numerical control.


CNC Turning Machining Center
Photo by USOCA


The CNC Machining Center also known as CNC Machine Center. Most of machining centers are proven mechanical stability and high production efficiency. The machine centers are casted from high rigid cast iron through a series of procedures from back fire of blast furnace, normalizing, high frequency heat treatment to precision grinding process for outstanding material stability and assures long-term deformation-free performance, to increase cutting rigidity, machining accuracy, and to increase the overall stability of the machine.

The CNC machining center can be categorized into several categories base on type of machining center and machines function to cater your needs such as Vertical Machining Center, Horizontal Machining center, CNC Turning Center, CNC Router Center, column traverse type Vertical Machining Center, double column type Vertical Machining Center, high speed Vertical Machining Center, multi-function CNC Turning-Milling Machining Center etc.


CNC Horizontal Machining Center
Photo by HI-TECH Machine Tools



CNC Vertical Machining Center
Photo by TOS KUŘIM