17 Sep
2007
17 Sep
'07
11 p.m.
woodelf wrote:
Eew, nasty. :^)
Doc
Doc Shipley wrote:
Bear in mind that "computer" was a very vague idea to me at the time
(mid-70s to early 80s). Some of the shops I worked in had automated
lathes and vertical mills that were guided by punched mylar tape. Since
they normally made dozens or hundreds of the same part, the tape was looped.
Now I'd love to know what was in the guts of the thing, but at the
time I could have cared less. I liked them, though - I took the
tape-loop machines pretty much for granted, but now I marvel at their
reliability in markedly hostile conditions. They also made my life a
lot less boring. The automation of very simple, repetitve machining was
much more of a relief than a threat in my mind.
PS - This was all 20 years ago, and there were
tape-loop turret lathes
nearby, so it's on topic, right?
Just what is a tape-loop turret lathe? *runs*
Thows a wet tribble at you. :)