SWINBURNE UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY SARAWAK CAMPUS

FACULTY OF ENGINEERING, COMPUTING AND SCIENCE

MEE20005 MATERIALS AND MANUFACTURING 1
LAB SHEET – 3 / CNC MILLING/TURNING

Guidelines before you start writing lab report

• Use assignment cover sheet.
• Lab report can be typed.
• Failure to do the above will result in point deductions.

What do you have to do?

Write lab report using the format you have done in previous units. You must have Introduction,
Experimental Procedure, Results, Discussion and Conclusion. Further instruction follows this
section.

Aim

Using CNC Simulator to produce machining codes and display the final workpiece image and
dimensions. Draft a 2D design using plexiglass plate and Develop a NC part program using an
Absolute programming and Incremental system based on the standardized system of codes (G and M
codes are provided).

Equipment and apparatus

• CNC milling or turning machine
• 200mm X 150mm X 10mm Plexiglass workpiece (milling)
• 150mm X 15mm steel rod (turning)
• CNC Simulator software (https://cncsimulator.info/download)

Data that are provided

• Briefing on CNC Simulator software operating procedure

Experimental Procedure

(1) CNC Simulator briefing

During the briefing, you will be shown the basics of programming and simulating the
machining workflow using CNC Simulator software. You may download the free version (valid
one month) using the link above.

(2) Using the CNC Simulator software

Below is the link to the tutorials you will refer for this lab activity.
https://cncsimulator.info/OnlineHelp2/index.htm# (Front Page)

https://cncsimulator.info/OnlineHelp2/tutorial_1_milling_1.htm?ms=AAAAAA%3D%3D&st=
MA%3D%3D&sct=MjA0&mw=MjQw# (Tutorial 1 Milling)

https://cncsimulator.info/OnlineHelp2/tutorial_2_turning.htm?ms=AAAAAA%3D%3D&st=M
A%3D%3D&sct=MjA0&mw=MjQw# (Tutorial 2 Turning)
 You also have the choice to explore the built-in tutorials.

Results
Paste the code that was developed to produce the design on your workpiece. Include the image of your
final product that was cut using CNC milling or turning. You do not have to do both milling and
turning, choose one CNC machining only.

Discussion
Discuss about the advantages and limitations of using the CNC milling machine/software that was
available to you.

Summary & Conclusion

Recommend some improvements to your design, materials and software.
Appendix
Theory of Numerical Control in Manufacturing

Numerical Control (NC) refers to the method of controlling the manufacturing operation by means of
directly inserted coded numerical instructions into the machine tool. It is important to realize that NC is
not a machining method, rather, it is a concept of machine control. Although the most popular
applications of NC are in machining, NC can be applied to many other operations, including welding,
sheet metalworking, riveting, etc.

Types of NC systems

• Traditional numerical control (NC);

• Computer numerical control (CNC);
• Distributed numerical control (DNC).

The original numerical control machines were referred to as NC machine tool. They have “hardwired”
control, whereby control is accomplished through the use of punched paper (or plastic) tapes or cards.
Tapes tend to wear, and become dirty, thus causing misreadings. Many other problems arise from the
use of NC tapes, for example the need to manual reload the NC tapes for each new part and the lack of
program editing abilities, which increases the lead time. The end of NC tapes was the result of two
competing developments, CNC and DNC.

CNC refers to a system that has a local computer to store all required numerical data. While CNC was
used to enhance tapes for a while, they eventually allowed the use of other storage media, magnetic
tapes and hard disks. The advantages of CNC systems include but are not limited to the possibility to
store and execute a number of large programs (especially if a three or more dimensional machining of
complex shapes is considered), to allow editing of programs, to execute cycles of machining
commands, etc.

The development of CNC over many years, along with the development of local area networking, has
evolved in the modern concept of DNC. Distributed numerical control is similar to CNC, except a
remote computer is used to control a number of machines. An off-site mainframe host computer holds
programs for all parts to be produced in the DNC facility. Programs are downloaded from the
mainframe computer, and then the local controller feeds instructions to the hardwired NC machine. The
recent developments use a central computer which communicates with local CNC computers (also
called Direct Numerical Control)

NC program
A program of NC consists of a sequence of directions that causes an NC machine to accomplish a
certain operation. The NC program describes the sequence of actions of the controlled NC machine.
These actions include but are not limited to
• Component movements, incl. direction, velocity and positioning;
• Tool selection, tool change, tool offsets, and tool corner wear compensation;
• Spindle rotation and spindle rotation speed, incl. possibility to change it to keep constant
• Cutting speed for different diameters in turning;
• Application of cutting fluids.
A part program is simply an NC program used to manufacture a part. Part programming for NC may be
performed manually (manual part programming) or by the aid of a computer (Computer-aided part
programming).
Example of Workpiece Dimensions after Turning