Correct Answer - Option 1 : continuous path positioning
Explanation:
In order to perform the machining operation, the relative movement between the tool and workpiece must be controlled, in NC there are three types of the motion control system,
Contouring NC:
- Contouring is the machine tool control, which is capable of performing simultaneous control of more than one axis movement of the machine tool.
-
The path of the cutter is continuously controlled to generate the desired geometry of the workpiece. (i.e Continuous path positing)
- Straight or plane surface at any orientation, circular paths, conical shapes, or any other mathematically defined form are possible under contouring control.
- It is used in milling and turning operations.
Point-to-point NC:
- In a point to point control the machine tool control system moves the cutting tool to a predefined location.
- The tool performs the desired operation after reaching the desired position. It is used in drill presses.
Straight-cut NC:
- In this type of control systems the cutting tool moves parallel to one of the major axes at a controlled rate.
- In this type of control system, it is not possible to combine movements in more than one single axis direction.
NC/CNC Machining:
- The interpolator coordinates are the feed of axes in a CNC machine controller.
- In contouring systems, the machining path is usually constructed from a combination of linear and circular segments. It is only necessary to specify in the part program the coordinates of the initial and final points of each segment and the feed rate.
- The operation of producing the required shape based on this information is termed interpolation, and the corresponding software algorithm in CNC is the interpolator.
-
The interpolator coordinates the motion along the machine axes, which are separately driven, to generate the required machining path.
- An interpolator coordinates these axis motions in such a way that the programmed path is constantly maintained from the beginning to the end of the movement.
- The two most common types of interpolators are linear and circular.
