Engineering and fabrication
Can Machining and Turning centres be run without computerisation?
Public Comments
- Yes. In the early days of CNC (computer numerical control) Programming and set up were harder than to day. CNC was used almost exclusively for high volume production work. Custom one of a kind pieces were done on manually operated "Bridgeport" Mills and lathes. Now, it is so easy to go from CAD drawing to machine program that CNC machining centers are often used for one of a kind parts, especialy if the geometry is complex.
- I do it all of the time prototyping on my old 1942 Monarch tool makers lathe!!
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- They didn't have computers for over 100 years. Computers made them easier to operate. Computers did not create the machine.
- This could boil down to a question of semantics, exactly what do you mean by "Machining and Turning centres"?
Certainly there were manual milling machines and turret lathes before there were computer controlled versions (and there still are of course) . There were also automatic turning machines (screw machines) that used cams and hydraulics, before there were electronic NC (Numerical Controll) which in turn predated CNC (Computerized Numerical Control)
But as far as running a modern turning center with the computer disconnected or otherwise inoperable, I don't think so, I doubt any have a mechanical manual mode, any manual, jog or teach mode probably does rely on the computer. For a milling center, some of the smaller ones (job shop type) may have the possibility for direct manual control, but for big production machines, I'd think it is unlikely, but this would depend on where one makes the distinction between "machining center" and "CNC mill" (the mill may well have manual handwheels)
