See Also: numerical control(encyclopedia)
numerical(dictionary)
Numerical(medicine)
numerical(dictionary)
numerical taxonomy(medicine)
Numerical Aperture(medicine)
numerical hypertrophy(medicine)
Numerical (as used in expressions)(encyclopedia)
numerical analysis(encyclopedia)
numerical notation for teeth(medicine)

numerical control (sh)




(NC)

Control of a system or device by direct input of data in the form of numbers, letters, symbols, words, or a combination of these forms.

It is a principal element of computer-integrated manufacturing, particularly for controlling the operation of machine tools. NC is also essential to the operation of modern industrial robots. The two basic types of NC systems are point-to-point, in which a device is programmed to perform a series of motions with fixed starting and stopping points, and continuous-path, in which a point-to-point programmed device has sufficient memory to be "aware" of its former actions and their results and to act in accordance with this information.