What is the difference between CNC machine tools and ordinary machine tools?

Machine tools are machines that manufacture machines, as well as machines that can manufacture the machine tools themselves. Turning, milling, planing, grinding, boring, drilling, electrical discharge machining, shearing, bending, laser cutting, and so on are all mechanical processing methods. Mechanical processing refers to processing metal blank parts into the required shape, including both dimensional accuracy and geometric accuracy. Equipment that can perform the above functions is called a machine tool, and CNC machine tools are developed from ordinary machine tools. CNC machine tools are high-precision and high-efficiency automated machine tools. The meaning of numerical control is numerical control. 

I am not very familiar with the machine tool industry and am a layman. However, in recent years, with the development of manufacturing, CNC machine tools have become a popular term that friends often discuss to some extent. I want to know, what is a CNC machine tool? What is the difference between it and ordinary machine tools? 

Numerical control machine tool, simply put, is a digital controlled machine tool, which is an automated machine tool equipped with a program control system. The system is capable of logically processing programs with control codes or other symbolic instructions, and decoding them to enable the machine tool to operate and process parts. The control unit of the CNC machine tool is responsible for the operation and monitoring of the CNC machine tool, which is the brain of the CNC machine tool. The CNC equipment we generally refer to mainly refers to CNC lathes and machining centers.

In fact, CNC technology is inseparable from CNC machine tools nowadays. Numerical control machine tools, in a simple sense, refer to adding a numerical control system to the machine tool. Of course, CNC machine tools are not just about adding a CNC system. Numerical control technology is the most advanced processing equipment currently used in the mechanical processing industry, which includes various categories such as CNC lathes, CNC milling machines, CNC milling and boring machines, CNC machining centers, CNC wire cutting, etc. The so-called numerical control technology refers to the use of digital program signals to control the machining process of machine tools through computers. 

The use of CNC machine tools to complete the machining process has incomparable characteristics compared to ordinary machine tools:

1. It can significantly improve productivity. After the workpiece clamping is completed, input the pre programmed machining program, and the machine tool will automatically complete the machining process. When the machined parts are changed, generally only the CNC program needs to be changed, which greatly shortens the machining time and can increase productivity by several times compared to ordinary machine tools. 

2. It has high processing accuracy and stable product quality. Due to the automatic processing according to the program, the processing accuracy can also be corrected and compensated by software, so extremely high processing accuracy can be obtained. Nowadays, almost all high, precision, and sharp products in various enterprises are processed and manufactured using CNC machine tools.

3. The high degree of automation greatly reduces labor intensity and dilutes the difference between physical and mental labor to a large extent. The working process of CNC machine tool operators has a high technological content, requiring high quality of operators and even higher technical requirements for maintenance personnel. It no longer belongs to the traditional definition of 'blue collar workers'. People who can operate CNC machine tools are called "gray collar" by people; People who know how to repair CNC machine tools are called "silver collar" by people; A CNC generalist who knows both operation and maintenance is known as a "golden collar" by people.