On Wed, 2016-08-31 at 06:42 +0000, [email protected] wrote: > Got into a bizarre argument... so of course it was initially "Computer > Numeric Control". I was noting people breaking it down to explain it to > people as "which means it's 'computer numeric controlled'" but that seems to > add nothing to the meaning. In fact it's confusing. > > It's computer-controlled, sure. I say "computer controlled" for people who > don't know the term "CNC". But what is the "numeric" adding? I presume that > meant something in like the 80's, but it's not used anymore. Computers use > numbers... and bits... and memory... and code... and electricity. It doesn't > seem to convey anything now but implies there's some special number thing > going on, which is why I always just say "CNC" or "computer controlled". > > Thing is, people occasionally become confused how a laser cutter or 3D > printer is NOT "computer numeric control", we never call those CNC. Well, > they ARE all computer-controlled, equally so, really. And numbers are > involved. But the term "CNC" seems limited to mills, routers, and plasma. A > waterjet or wire EDM, I just hear those without the "CNC" in front, because > there's no manual waterjets around. There are handheld plasma cutters > through. > > It seems like expanding it to "computer NUMERIC control" implies that > something entirely different in its core concept than laser cutters or 3D > printers... or, like, a paper printer, and people ask what that is. > > I was arguing the best answer is "CNC just means CNC, and specifically > cutters and plasma". > > Danny
I always think the term CNC is associated with the method of control and not with the method of material removal/addition. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ _______________________________________________ Emc-users mailing list [email protected] https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users
