Computer Numerical Control

Code:

EM609

Acronym:

COMNC

Instance: 2003/2004 - 1S

Active?	Yes
Responsible unit:	Automation, Instrumentation and Control Section
Institution Responsible:	Faculty of Engineering

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
LEM	8	Plano de Estudos EM Oficial a partir de 2000	5	3,5	7	-
		Plano para Bachareis EM a partir 2000	2	3,5	7	-

Teaching language

Portuguese

Objectives

- Develop in students the ability to design and implement flexible manufacturing equipments based on CNC technology
- Develop in students the ability to integrate CNC technology with other production systems as well as with Computer Aided Manufacturing Systems

Program

Introduction to CNC: fundamentals of Numerical Control; CNC technology as a building block of FMS; CNC technology vs mass production systems; trends.
Industrial applications of CNC technology: machining; turning; grinding; EDM; sheet metal working; inspection; handling; assembling.
Architecture of CNC: CNC structure; building blocks; functional blocks; interface level; processing level; process control level; axis control; examples.
Types of control: point to point control; contouring control; adaptive control; examples and applications.
Generation of tool trajectory: reference systems; axis nomenclature; resolution; systematic error; compensation of systematic error; variable errors; compensation of variable errors; trajectory tolerance.
Design of CNC machines and manufacturing systems: typical architectures; movements; rotating and linear axis; automatic tool change systems; automatic part load/unload systems; tool monitoring systems; tool dimension measuring systems; tool wear measuring; tool breakage detection.
NC programming: structure of NC language; ISO codes; tool dimension compensation; tool wear compensation; computer-aided NC programming; generation of NC programs through CAD/CAM systems; trends; examples of NC programming.
Integration of CNC with other systems: information exchange level integration; control level integration.
CNC equipment selection: criteria for assessing and comparing CNC equipments.

Main Bibliography

- HTM Limited - Mechatronics and Machine Tools
- Copy of the material used to support the theoretical and laboratorial classes

Complementary Bibliography

- G. E. Thyer – Computer Numerical Control of Machine Tools.
- Barry Leatham; Jones – Introduction to Computer Numerical Control.
- Chad; Hwa Chang – NC machine programming and software design.

Teaching methods and learning activities

- Room classes to expose concepts and give information regarding CNC technology.
- Laboratory classes to practice the use, parameterisation and set up of CNC as a control system of a three-axis equipment.

Evaluation Type

Distributed evaluation with final exam

Eligibility for exams

- Attending 75% of total classes

Calculation formula of final grade

- 75% final test
- 25% Continuous assessment

Classification improvement

- According the general assessment rules