Automatic Control in Machining
In the past, machining a work piece required lots of physical work. Before a machining process can begin, an operator has to move the work piece, lock it up with a clamp or a magnet tool and then make plenty of adjustments to ensure precise alignment. An operator can already be fatigue even before the actual machining process can begin. The automatic control in machining has changed all this. Advancements in technology has resulted to machines that can be operated and controlled automatically. Precision devices and equipment such as servomotors, feedback devices and computers are being used in the machining industry. In order to truly be automatic, a machine tool must be able to machine work pieces repeatedly without the need of an operator to assist in loading or setting up, starting the machine and unloading finished parts. This has been made possible with the development of numerical control. Numerous types of machine tools and other industrial processes are now outfitted for numerical control. A numerical control device or system is one that allows for the control of the actions of a machine or a process through direct insertion of electronic data. The data or instruction is coded in the form of numbers, letters, words or symbols. The data in interpreted by the numerical control system and the instructed action is performed with precision. Automatic control not only improves efficiency but also the safety of the process as operators do not need to be close to the machining process to control it. An operation stays in a control room and performs the machining process from there.
