Monday, December 3, 2007

What is CNC machine??

CNC MACHINE

Computer control programmers and operators use computer numerically controlled (CNC) machines to cut and shape precision products, such as automobile parts, machine parts, and compressors.

CNC machines include machining tools such as lathes, multiaxis spindles, milling machines, laser cutting, water jet cutting, and wire electrical discharge machines (EDM), but the functions formerly performed by human operators are performed by a computer-control module. CNC machines cut away material from a solid block of metal, plastic, or glass—known as a workpiece—to form a finished part.

ADVANTAGES USING CNC MACHINE

CNC good at making small numbers of compicated shapes but CNC doesn't impose such restrictions, though to get nicely radiused corners, you might have to change tools, to make the last pass.


HOW TO GIVE INSTRUCTION TO CNC MACHINE TOOL??

A line in a G-code file can instruct the machine tool to do one of several things. G-code is a common name for the programming language that controls NC and CNC machine tools. Developed by the Electronic Industries Alliance in the early 1960s, a final revision was approved in February 1980 as RS274D.

sample of G-code:



Code Description
G00
Rapid positioning
G01 Linear interpolation
G02 CW circular interpolation
G03 CCW circular interpolation
G04 Dwell
G05.1 Q1. Ai Nano contour control
G05 P10000 HPCC
G10/G11 Programmable Data input/Data write cancel


THE MOVEMENT OF THE CNC MACHINE

Some machine tools can only do this in XY, and have to accept changes in Z separately. Some have two further axes of rotation to control the orientation of the cutter, and can move them simultaneously with the XYZ motion. Lately 4, and 5 axis machines have become popular. The 2 additional axies allow for the work surface or medium to be rotated around X and Y. For example, a 4-axis machine can move the tool head in XY and Z directions, and also rotate the medium around the X or Y axis, similar to a lathe.This is called the A or B axis in most cases.










HOME MADE CNC MACHINE
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A CNC Milling Machine











A CNC Turning Center









CNC panel Siemens Sinumerik










Siemens CNC panel




source: wikipedia.org, bls.gov, sheldonbrown.com

Sunday, December 2, 2007

Ohh~~ I almost WIN!!

There are dozens of different payout systems used in slot machines. In one of the simplest designs, a jackpot is detected by measuring the depth of notches in the discs that drive the reels. For simplicity's sake, we'll look at this sort of payout system in a bare-bones slot machine. The machine only accepts one kind of coin, and there is only one winning combination of images.

When you put a coin in this machine, it falls into a transparent case. The bottom of the case is a movable shutter that is connected to a metal linkage, as you can see in the diagram. Normally, the linkage holds the shutter closed. But when the machine hits the jackpot, the third stopper shifts the linkage up, opening the shutter so the coins fall out of the machine.

Each of the three discs has notches for each stop position of the reel. The notch for the jackpot stop is deeper than the other stops. Consequently, when the first reel lands on the jackpot stop, the first stopper moves farther to the left than it would for any other stopper. If the second reel stops on the jackpot as well, the second stopper also moves farther left. Same goes for the third reel and stopper.

But if only the second reel stops on the jackpot, the second stopper will not move all the way into the notch. The first stopper has a catch that keeps the second stopper from moving past it. The second stopper, in turn, has a catch that holds the third stopper back. For the third stopper to lock all the way into the jackpot notch, then, the first and second reels would have to have landed on the jackpot image. When this happens, the shutter opens to dump all of the coins that have been played since the last jackpot.

Typically, slot machines will have more elaborate versions of this design in order to pay out partially on certain combinations of images and pay out completely on the jackpot combination.

In another popular system used in some electrical machines, the discs have a series of metal contacts attached to them. When the reels stop, one of the contacts engages a stationary contact wired to a circuit board. In this way, every stop on each reel will close a different switch in the electrical system. Certain combinations of closed switches (jackpot winners) will configure the machine's electrical circuit to operate the payout mechanism.

A more advanced system uses photoelectric cells (also known as photo diodes), devices that generate a current when exposed to light, to detect the position. In this system, a series of holes are drilled through the rotating discs, all around their outer edges. The photo diode is positioned on one side of the disc, and a light source is positioned on the other side. As the disc turns, the light shines through the holes onto the photo diode. The pattern of holes in the disc causes the photo diode to generate a similar pattern of pulses of electricity. Based on this pattern, an electronic circuit can determine the position of the reel.



source: howstuffworks.com

How Slot Machine Work??

KNOW SLOT MACHINE MECHANISM TO WIN!!


A series of events takes place after a person pulls the handle on a slot machine. Here's a rundown:



Click on the three "click here" areas to see the different parts of the mechanism animated. Then read the description below for details.

  • The handle rotates a hook mechanism, which grabs hold of the kicker, pulling it forward (toward the player).

  • A catch on the opposite end of the kicker grabs a control cam piece and pivots it forward. This rotates a series of gears connected to the control cam. A spring pulls the control cam back to its original position, but the gear assembly slows it down considerably -- the gears act as a mechanical delay.

  • When the control cam is pivoted forward, it releases a spring-mounted cam plate extending across the back of the machine.

  • The control cam also pulls the stoppers away from the notched discs. As the kicker keeps moving, it pushes the stoppers against several catches on the cam plate. These hold the stoppers in place, so the discs and reels can rotate freely.

  • As the handle continues to move the kicker, the kicker paddles push the discs forward briefly. When the handle is pulled all the way back and the kicker has passed the discs, the bottom of the hook mechanism moves up against a slanted surface. The slant pivots the hook forward, which causes it to release the kicker.

  • The kicker spring jerks the kicker backward at a good speed. The kicker paddles hit the notches on the discs, spinning the reels rapidly.

  • While all of this is happening, the control cam is slowly returning to its original position. When it does return, it pushes the cam plate back, which releases the stoppers. The different catches holding onto the different stoppers are positioned so that the cam plate will release the stoppers one at a time. Each stopper springs forward and locks into a notch, holding the reel in position.

From the player's point of view, here's how it looks. The player pulls the handle. There is a clunk, and the three reels start spinning. Then the three reels stop abruptly one at a time, followed by the payout (if necessary). The "stopping one at a time" part builds suspense. If the first reel stops on the jackpot symbol, then you have to wait for the next reel to stop to see if it is a jackpot, and then finally the third. If all three display the right symbol, the player wins.

Conventional mechanical slot machines eventually gave rise to electrical machines that worked on similar principles. In an electrical machine, the reels are spun by motors and the stoppers are generally activated by solenoids, but the game basically plays out the same way. Electrical machines have more sophisticated money-handling systems, like those you might find in a vending machine, and flashier light and sound displays.

In both types of systems, once the reels have come to a stop, the slot machine needs to read whether the player has won or lost. In the next section, we'll examine some systems for making this determination.







source: howstuffworks.com

Vending machine innovation

INNOVATION OF VENDING MACHINES..

Vending has gone through significant changes over the decades. Many machines are still evolving to take credit cards and monitor machines from afar.

Doug M. Sanford of Vending Times notes that "many vendors today do not remember the urgency with which industry leaders called on their peers to install coin mechanisms that held the patron's money in escrow until the vend was made; to post a telephone number that a customer could call to report a failure and request a refund; to make sure their drivers were cleaning the machines adequately and replacing burnt-out lamps; and so on and on". More recent innovations include improved coin and bill validation and the rapid adoption of sense-and-feedback systems to verify that the vend was made.

One of the newest vending innovations telemetry. According to Michael Kasavana, National Automatic Merchandising Association Endowed Professor at The School for Hospitality Business, Michigan State University, the advent of reliable, affordable wireless technology has made telemetry practical and provided the medium through which cashless payments can be authenticated. This is important because research shows that 50% of consumers will not make a purchase from a vending machine if its "use exact change only" light is on. Machines equipped with telemetry can transmit sales and inventory data to a route truck in the parking lot so that the driver knows exactly what products to bring in for restocking. Or the data can be transmitted to a remote headquarters for use in scheduling a route stop, detecting component failure or verifying collection information. Telemetry could be one of the most significant developments in vending technology since the invention of the bill changer.

With consumers wanting quick and convenient access to competitively priced products, the vending industry has seen a great deal of growth over the last ten years. Vending offers new entrepreneurs a way to start businesses which can grow quickly. Snack, beverage, candy and food vending machines continue to be the most lucrative and stable in the market place. New innovations in service vending machines include internet kiosks and DVD vending. Cashless vending now allows consumers to use debit cards for added convenience. Vending is a multi-billion dollar industry, and growing.

In order to prevent injuries or death from tipping or striking the machine, most modern snack vending machines equipped with spirals to hold products contain lasers near the access door at the bottom. If a purchased item does not break the laser beam when falling, the spirals will automatically turn, usually three times to ensure that a product will fall. If this still does not occur, the customer will be asked to make another selection or will be refunded their money.







Source: wikipedia.org


How does a vending machine read dollar bills?

HOW MACHINE READ MONEY??

While vending machines use a variety of methods to read bills, they check four different characteristics used to verify paper money:
  • Bills are printed with magnetic ink, and different denominations generate distinctive magnetic fields.
  • Bills have different conductivities (the rate at which they can conduct low levels of electricity).
  • Ultraviolet scanning technology can determine the different fluorescent properties of bills.
  • Digital cameras can reference the optical patterns in bills with a database of authentic patterns.

A vending machine has to verify whether a bill is authentic before it determines its value. The U.S. Bureau of Engraving and Printing hosts this cool fact sheet the security features used on its currency: color-shifting inks, watermarks, and micro printing.

Those nifty currency counter you see operated by shady types in gangster movies use a similar array of technology: magnetic sensors, ultraviolet readers, fluorescent bulbs, and optical magnifiers. After all, criminals need to watch out for counterfeit bills, too.


source: Ask Yahoo!

Vending Machine

VENDING MACHINE


In many countries, vending machines generally serve the purpose of selling snaks, beverages, but are also common in busy locations to sell other items such as newspaper

Some countries sell alcoholic beverages such as beer vending machines, while other countries do not allow this.

The first vending machine is believed to have been invented by Hero of Alexandria, a first-century inventor. His machine accepted a coin and then dispensed a fixed amount of holy water coin was deposited, it fell upon a pan attached to a lever. The lever opened up a valve which let some water flow out. The pan continued to tilt with the weight of the coin until it fell off, at which point a counter-weight would snap the lever back up and turn off the valve.




source: wikipedia.org

Tennis Ball machines



Looking for a tennis partner that will sharpen your playing skills, build your confidence, and raise the level of your game, you've just met your match.

Tennis ball machines are a must have for any up and coming tennis player. There are many type of selection of both A/C Battery powered tennis ball machines including such brands as Prince, Lobster, Playmate, and Wilson.




A tennis ball machine can improve a tennis player's game tremendously. It is one of the most revolutionary training aids ever developed in tennis with precision balls hurled automatically to you in whatever direction you desire. You can instantly regulate the spin - topspin or backspin, speed, height, and direction of the ball. It speeds up a tennis player's development.

Tennis ball machines are not simply an expensive substitute for a practice partner or coach. Ball machines provide a serious player with consistent, correct, repetition of stroke patterns that are essential to producing a dependable stroke. Repetition is by far the best teacher and by providing a practice ball that has the same height, depth, and pace, tennis ball machines allow strokes to be reinforced correctly.

It acts as a tennis ball thrower to a coach. Without it, he simply throws the ball at a student. With the tennis ball machine, the tennis coach does the job more effectively, freeing him to more concentrated instruction while the balls are being dispensed by the machine.

A tennis ball machines can do the process more effectively than a tennis coach. It can throw the ball with gradual speed, soft at first, if you're a beginner and faster and with more power as you progress. And remember, a tennis ball machine has such accuracy that you develop the right forehand, backhand, lob, overhead smash. Any tennis stroke, in fact, except the serve.

This page has some of the most popular tennis ball machines in the market. Although these machines are all good, they differ in the features for each brand and/or model. You can choose one for yourself according to pricing and/or your level of play.

All of the widely known brands of ball machines are well-made and should give you many years of service. Remember that the more features, the more you should expect to pay, generally speaking. It all depends upon your dedication to the game: if you think that it's just one of those stuff like exercise machines that you will likely give up after a few times of use, buy the most basic ones which will run you a couple hundred dollars.

But if you think that down the road, you'll be still devoted to the game of tennis, get the one with the features that will serve you well like an oscillating machine which allows you to develop your footwork. These machines throw balls at different areas of the court at different velocity, providing a more realistic setting for your practice outings.









source: all-about-tennis.com