MEC 322 Lecture Notes - Lecture 8: Direct Numerical Control, Continuous Production, Microcomputer

• School: Ryerson University
• Department: Mechanical Engineering
• Course: MEC 322
• Professor: Krishnan Venkatakrishnan

Document Summary

Soft product variety: small differences between products (between car models with many common parts) Fixed (hard) automation: process or assembly steps and their sequence are fixed by the equipment configuration: highest production quantity, low product variety, high initial investment for specialized equipment. Coordinate system: three linear axes (x,y,z) and three rotational axes (a,b,c) Rotational axes are used to orient work part/cutting tool to access different surfaces for machining. Control systems: point-to-point: work piece is moved to a programmed location with no regard for the path taken to get to that location. Processing action completed once move is completed. Used for drilling, punching and straight milling. Makes curves by shortening distance between points (circular interpolation) Higher speed: compromise on resolution, less smooth: continuous path system. Continuous simultaneous control of more than one axis, thus controlled path followed by tool relative to part.