The introduction of CNC machines radically changed the manufacturing industry. Curves are as easy to cut as straight lines, complex 3-D structures are relatively easy to produce, and the number of machining steps that required human action have been dramatically reduced.
With the increased automation of manufacturing processes with CNC machining, considerable improvements in consistency and quality have been achieved. CNC automation eliminated errors and provided CNC operators with time to perform additional tasks. CNC automation also allows for more flexibilty in the way parts are held in the manufacturing process and the time required to change the machine to produce different components.
In a production environment a series of CNC machines may be combined into one station, commonly called a "cell", to progressively machine a part requiring several operations. CNC machines today are controlled directly from files created by CADsoftware packages, so that a part or assembly can go directly from design to manufacturing without the need of producing a drafted paper drawing of the manufactured component. In a sense, the CNC machine represent a special segment of industrial robot systems, as they are programmable to perform many kinds of machining operations (within their designed physical limits, like other robotic systems).
CNC machines were relatively briefly preceded by the less advanced NC, or Numerical(ly) Control(led), machines.
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Computers advance stoneworking technology (http://www.stoneworld.com/CDA/ArticleInformation/features/BNP__Features__Item/0,4046,65312,00.html) – By Jill Critchley (Stone World; www.stoneworld.com), 10 Oct 2001
GE Fanuc Automation Europe S.A. (http://www.gefanuc-europe.com)
"What is CNC?" (http://www.pmozarks.com/article/what_is_cnc.htm) – By Mike Lynch
Fundamentals Of CNC (http://www.cncci.com/resources/articles/CNC%20basics%201.htm)
Such solid models may be used as the basis for finite element analysis (FEA) and / or computational fluid dynamics (CFD) of the design.
Through the application of computer-aided manufacturing (CAM), the models may also be used directly by software to create "instructions" for the manufacture of objects represented by the models, through computer numerically-controlled (CNC) machining or other automated processes, without the need for intermediate drawings.
Fundamental subjects of mechanical engineering include: dynamics, statics, strength of materials, heat transfer, fluid dynamics, solid mechanics, control theory, pneumatics, hydraulics, mechatronics, kinematics, and applied thermodynamics.
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