Customer Reviews

CNC Programming Techniques: An Insider's Guide to Effective Methods and Applications

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This handbook by Smid on the subject of CNC programming tackles the subject from a different angle than his bestselling "CNC Programming Handbook". That book is a more basic one aimed at beginners. This book is more advanced and contains several programming subjects that are very difficult to find either in other books or on the web. Even where there is overlap with the author's "CNC Programming Guide", this book provides much more depth of coverage on various subjects than that book does. As is standard with this author, this book includes many clear detailed drawings that greatly assist in visualizing the procedures covered. Whenever applicable, a complete programming example is provided. Equations and all tools used in each example are boxed and clearly labeled. As always, this author's instructions and explanations are clear and detailed. I show the table of contents next as the best way of explaining the book's contents:
1. Part Program Development
2. Calculating Contour Points
3. Formulas for Contouring
4. Using Cutter Radius Offset
5. Part Reversal in Milling
6. Using Tapered End Mills
7. Special Purpose G-COdes
8. Tool Length Offset Change
9. Block Skip Applications
10. Standard and Rigid Tapping
11. Polar Coordinates
12. Subprogram Development
13. Turning and Boring in Depth
14. Programming Tapers
15. Techniques for Grooving
16. Techniques for Threading
17. Restrictions in Threading
18. Practical Thread Milling
19. Knurling on CNC Lathes
20. Four-Axis Lthes
21. Pallet Changers
22. Working With Planes
23. Programming CAMs
24. Introduction to Macros
25. Did You Know That?
26. References and Resources

Technical readers who are familiar with the CNC Programming Handbook by Peter Smid will, without doubt, also react favourably to this book. The format is similar and there are hundreds of excellent illustrations and programming examples. While the previous book dealt mainly with theory and concepts, this work moves on to real life applications of these concepts. Examples include the use of tapered endmills in programming, multiaxis lathes, custom cycles, knurling, and other tips and tricks.

Peter Smid has not only the depth of knowledge on CNC programming but also has perfected to technique of explaining it in a well organised and easily readable book. If you are learning CNC programming, or are well versed in the subject this book should be on your shelf as a tutorial or as a reference item. In fact I have purchased other books by the same author and they all have content that I have found very useful. I refer to them frequently.
Easy to follow, full of detail and easy to use as a quick reference book.

I've been learning CNC in fits and bumps over the last few years through reading, videos, and practice. It has been challenging without local resources. This text was exactly what I needed to break through several areas that I struggled to fully understand. It is significantly easier to digest without losing the technical detail and precision that is necessary. This is the best resource i have found to move through my midlevel learning block.

I found many typos and errors in the things I am familiar with and now wonder about the things I'm not.