CNC lathe machine is a tool which functions to cut or grind wood or metal into certain shapes or forms. CNC is abbreviated form of Computer Numerical Control, which defines this type of machine from that of the regular, non-computerized, ones. CNC lathe machine are made to make the work faster, have a better precision, as well as reduce the number of injury.
History
John T. Parsons is named as the person who found CNC machining in 1940s. The work was developed in collaboration with MIT. CNC lathe machines thus replaced the use of numerical (NC) machines in metalworking industry. It is said that Parsons’ work is made to order by the U.S. Air Force that aimed to create a cost-effective tool for making convoluted aircraft parts.
Development
CNC lathe machine were improved in 1972 when these devices have gained much attention from public. The improvement deals with the use of Computer Aided Design (CAD) and Computer Aided Machining (CAM). Not until the year of 1976 the enhanced system of the machine, namely 3D CAD/CAM, was released. Since then, these machines were considered as a standard.
Features
CNC lathe machines mainly consist of 12 holders and coolant pumps which function to cool down the machine so that premature wear can be prevented. To make a precise cut, this machine uses tools that can be indexed and a computer program that will work with the most intricate work. Both things cannot be achieved through using conventional lathe machines.
On the other hand, you can find basic control specifications of a lathe machine in CNC lathes. These machines are also capable of reading G code and many programming languages.
Since the first time the idea of CNC lathe machine appeared, continuous attempts have been made to increase the ability of the machine. And these days, as IT industry keep growing and improving, there is a chance that the machine will be always updated.
