Description

Lucid explanation of the basic principles of numerical control of machine tools. Describes the first numerically controlled machine tool developed in 1952 by the MIT Servomechanisms Lab (later called the Electronic Systems Lab) under sponsorship of the U.S. Air Force Air Materiel Command. Films shows graphically the decoding of commands punched on paper tape into control signals which are applied to servomechanisms which drive the axes of machine motion. The basic steps of manual preparation of the input-control tape are also covered. [notes from Museum files] (CC)