John Cross
Data drive the accuracy and efficiency of the computerized numerical control (CNC) machines coming onto the market today. The latest CNC machines are equipped to collect data in real time as they run, and to control for factors such as thermal growth. The machines use algorithms to adjust themselves in a timely fashion to maintain accuracy.
To understand thermal growth, think back to your youth — specifically to that glass ketchup bottle with a metal cap that was too tight to remove. You may recall handing it to your mom, who went to the sink and ran the cap under hot water. Mysteriously, the cap came off easily after that. The science behind this home remedy is the fact that metal expands at a different rate than the glass when heated. The warmed cap eventually becomes larger than it was in its cold state, naturally releasing its grip on the bottle.