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In Industry it is not efficient or profitable to make everyday
products by hand. On a CNC machine it is possible to make hundreds
or even thousands of the same item in a day. First a design is
drawn using design software, then it is processed by the computer
and manufactured using the CNC machine. The machine featured below
is the BOXFORD DUET. This is a small CNC machine and can be used
to machine woods, plastics and aluminium. In industry, CNC machines
can be extremely large. The Duet is one of the smaller CNCs and
is ideal for use in schools.
The VICE: This holds the material to be cut or shaped. Material
must be held securely otherwise it may 'fly' out of the vice when
the CNC begins to machine. Normally the vice will be like a clamp
that holds the material in the correct position.
The GUARD: The guard protects the person using the CNC. When the
CNC is machining the material small pieces can be 'shoot' off
the material at high speed. This could be dangerous if a piece
hit the person operating the machine. The guard completely encloses
the the dangerous areas of the CNC.
The CHUCK: This holds the material that is to be shaped. The material
must be placed in it very carefully so that when the CNC is working
the material is not thrown out at high speed.
The MOTOR: The motor is enclosed inside the machine. This is the
part that rotates the chuck at high speed.
The LATHE BED: The base of the machine. Usually a CNC is bolted
down so that it cannot move through the vibration of the machine
when it is working.
The CUTTING TOOL: This is usually made from high quality steel
and it is the part that actually
cuts the material to be shaped.
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