Selection of the Best Design for a Numerical Control System Used for Lasers in Material Processing

Abstract

In this research,the best design forportable CNCsystemto control thelasers processing materialswas chosen. Manycomputer numerical controlsystems werestudiedand comparedwith each other, then the best control system parts were selected. The tables system were chosen to control a billet with dimensions of 100 mm and 100mm in the x-axis and y-axis. The possibility of coupling the y axis with a pneumatic system was considered in choosing the system, with minimum speed of 392 mm/s, holding torque 48.6 g.cm, a step angle of 7.5 degree and maximum speed of 3.2 mm/s. The x axis was always coupled with a stepper motor with the same specifications of the y axis. An electronic system was selected on the basis of the Microcontroller 16f877 and the LabVIEW program was chosen so that the user can send the standard operating commands G- code which can be read by the program through the text file. The validity of the numerical control system was verified by the execution of two tests: The first test was done by applying Co2 laser micro-machining of poly methyl methacrylate sheets. At which the positioning accuracy was equal to ± 0.05 mm. In The second test, the repeatabilityof the system was tested. The x-axis and the y-axis were moved to a distance of 10 mm, 20 mm or 30 mm back and forth with the maximum speed and for 5 times for each distance.The axis repeatability was equal to ± 0.0025mm. The numerical control system was selected in a way that can work with electric motor or pneumatic system. If small step electric motor is used, the control system accuracy will be increase