The modern industry has seen how CNC machining changed conventional metalworking and fabrication processes. Today, fully automated machines are responsible for efficient, quick, and easy methods of milling, lathing, and grinding.
However, before there were CNC machines, there were so-called NC machines first. Let’s get to know its history and how it changed modern machines to produce more precise results without direct human assistance.
We owe the invention of numerical control to the American inventor John T. Parsons. It was in the year 1942 when an American aircraft manufacturer subcontracted Parsons to build the wood stringers in their helicopter rotor blades. Two years later, Parsons thought of using stamped metals stingers which are more robust than wood eliminating the need for screw fastening.
In 1946, Parsons hired Frank L. Stulen, an aircraft engineer to help him. Stulen came up with the idea of using IBM punch cards to determine the stress levels of the rotor blades.
Three years later, the US Air Force sought help in manufacturing precise wing and awarded the contract to Parsons. During this time, Parsons and Stulen are building the machine with Snyder Machine & Tool Corp. They use servomotors so the machine can function precisely.
In 1952, Parson files a patent application for “Motor Controlled Apparatus for Positioning Machine Tool. That same year, MIT, which took over the US Air Force NC Machine deal files patent for “Numerical Control Servo-System”. Six years later, the US patent office granted the patent to Parsons. He also received the US patent 2,820,187 and sold exclusive licenses to Bendix, Fujitsu, GE, and IBM–after they started developing their machines.
Since then, the machine tool manufacturers started producing their own commercial NC machines in the market. Today, CNC machines use computers to control a variety of machine tools such as routers, lathes, and grinders. They produce complex designs with high levels of precision and allows for repetitive tasks. Indeed, the old NC machines have come a long way.
True Gear and Spline uses CNC machining as we turn gear blanks into precise gears according to your specifications and requirements. The CNC machining truly complements our gear cutting capacities!
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