Numerical Control Programming: Manual CNC
by George C. Stanton, CMfgE
Associate Professor (Ret.)
Department of Technology, East Tennessee State University


HTML Layout & Editing by Bill Hemphill
Assistant Professor
Department of Technology, East Tennessee State University


Image scanning by Ms. Brandy Maddux

Chapter 1,   2,   3,   4,   5,   6,   7,   8,   9,   10

Chapter 1 What Is Numerical Control & What Does It Do?
  CAD/CAM, Computers, and Marriage
Where Do People Fit In?
COMPACT II and APT
What Comprises an N/C System?
Feedback: Open vs. Closed Loops
Where Did N/C Come From?
CNC: Computerized N/C
Direct Numerical Control
Is N/C Automation and Vice Versa?
What are the Advantages of N/C?
What are the Disadvantages of N/C?
Review Questions
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Chapter 2 How Does Numerical Control Work?
     What Moves--The Cutter or the Workpiece?
Getting Oriented: Axes, Directions, Locations, and Positioning
   Which Axis is Which?
   Which Direction is Which?
   Locating the Cutting Tool Point
   Absolute vs. Incremental Positioning
N/C Formats and Grammar
   Blocks & Statements
   Fixed Sequential Format
   Tab Sequential Format
   Word Address Format
Commands
   Modal vs. Nonmodal Commands
   Axis Commands
Cutting Tool Length
   Preset Tooling
   Tool Length Offset (TLO)
Subroutines and Loops
   Branching Commands and Subroutines
   Loops
Four Essential N/C Program Elements:
   Where to go, How to go, How fast, & What to do
Review Questions
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Chapter 3 Programming: Making N/C Do What You Want
  Preparatory Functions and Codes
   G-Code Commands
Cutting Tool Motion Commands
   Linear Cutter Motion
   The Cutter Radius
   Circular (Arc) Cutter Motion
Miscellaneous Commands
   Automatic Tool Changing
Spindle Speed Selection
   Controlling Spindle Speed
   What Is the Right RPM?
       Heat & Cutting Tool Life
   Mathematics
   Constant-Velocity Lathes
   Special Treatment
Feedrate Commands & Economics
   Determining the Ideal Feedrate
       Material Removal Rate (MRR)
       Material Removal Factor (MRF)
   More Mathematics
Review Questions
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Chapter 4 Feeding the Controller
  Of Bits & Bytes in the Digital Age
       Hexadecimal Notation
       ASCII
   Paper Tape
   Binary Coded Decimal
   N/C Tape Codes
   Parity: Which Code is Which?
Hardware
   N/C Tape Readers
   Magnetic Tape
Review Questions
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Chapter 5 The Preliminaries of Programming
  The Part Drawing
   Workpiece Geometry
   Notes, Symbols, and Title Block Specifications
The Purchase Order
Process Planning
   Which N/C Machine to Use
   Holding The Workpiece
   Selection of Cutting Tools
   Where to Change Cutters and Workpieces
   Where to Start the Cutter From
   What to Machine First
   To Climb or Not to Climb, That is the Question
Review Questions

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Updated Jan. 14, 2005
Copyright © 1988, 2001-2005 by George Stanton and Bill Hemphill
All Rights Reserved