CNC Machines

A numerically controlled machine is a machine or machine tool which operates by programmed commands on a storage medium, unlike a manually operated machine with dials, levers and handwheels. The very first numerically controlled (NC) machines were basically modified with motors that operated the controls to follow certain points, which were fed into the machine with a punched tape, and later magnetic tape. They were soon replaced with digital computers creating the computer numerically controlled (CNC) machines we see today, having revolutionized machines and machine tools. The modern CNCs of today use what is called end to end component design. It is highly automated, using computer aided design and computer aided manufacturing programs to produce a computer file that is interpreted to extract the commands required to operate machinery via a postprocessor, this is then loaded into a CNC machine for production. In some cases several machines can be programmed by just one single computer, relaying on any setting or relevant information to the operator who can then set, adjust or load the machine or machines.