Dr. Mahmoud Atia (Master)

Thesis Title

Computer Numerical Control of Mechanical Systems

Awarding University and Year

University of Al-Mansoura- Faculty of Engineering- Industrial Engineering Department-1996

Abstract

The national industry in the development race, faces different types of problems during the adaptation of imported advanced Numerically Controlled (NC) and Computer Numerically Controlled (CNC) mechanical systems and machine (M/C) tools, due to the machines complete dependency upon their far away mother company. The present work aimed at investigating the ease and difficulties of designing and constructing, a national computer aided mechanical control system, from both theoretical and experimental approaches, to offer a helping tool for the national industry. So, our principal aim is to accomplish a satisfactory matching between computer hardware-software capabilities and mechanical operations, in other words, building electromechanical system capable of reducing the manual effort and achieving mechanical system motion control through computer programming. Research objectives were carefully selected and studied to meet the requirements of the national industry from different perspectives. The results could be outlined as:-

· A quite satisfactory newly developed computer numerical control system, matches between computer hardware/software capabilities and mechanical system operation, has been built.

· The system enables the accomplishment of the controlling task with maximum flexibility in modification and upgrading. It relies mainly on computer programming, so tends to decrease the overall cost and sophistication

· The system has been applied to a light duty lathe, by controlling the cutting tool X-Z motions throughout the processing task, by the aid of a specially written CAD/CAM program. It is a quite flexible and easy system, to be modified for using in any other application.

· Finally the hardware based on personally designed and constructed electronic circuits and could be considered as a broad and general base for controlling mechanical motion.

This work could be considered as a step towards introducing simple, unsophisticated control system, on personal scale, to be applied in mechanical operations, instead of using ordinary complicated, expensive, and unavailable, CNC machines.