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Machine tools can be powered from a variety of sources. Human and Animal power are options, as is energy captured through the use of Waterwheel s. However, machine tools really began to develop after the development of the Steam Engine , leading to the Industrial Revolution . Today, most are powered by Electricity . Machine tools can be operated manually, or under automatic control. Early machines used Flywheel s to stabilize their motion and had complex systems of gears and levers to control the machine and the piece being worked on. Soon after World War II , the NC , or ''numerical control'', machine was developed. NC machines used a series of numbers punched on Paper Tape or Punch Card s to control their motion. In the 1960s , Computer s were added to give even more flexibility to the process. Such machines became known as CNC , or ''computer numerical control'', machines. NC and CNC machines could precisely repeat sequences over and over, and could produce much more complex pieces than even the most skilled tool operators. Before long, the machines could automatically change the specific cutting and shaping tools that were being used. For example, a Drill machine might contain a Magazine with a variety of Drill Bit s for producing holes of various sizes. Previously, either machine operators would usually have to manually change the bit or move the work piece to another station to perform these different operations. The next logical step was to combine several different machine tools together, all under computer control. These are known as Machine Center s, and have dramatically changed the way parts are made. Today, it is possible to design a complex part on a computer, put a bar or rod into a machine center, and have a finished part within a matter of minutes. Examples of machine tools are:
When fabricating or shaping parts, several techniques are used to remove unwanted metal. Among these are:
Other techniques are used to ''add'' desired material. Devices that fabricate components by selective ''addition'' of material are called Rapid Prototyping machines. Several regions of the United States became centers for machine tool development, including Cincinnati, Ohio , Rockford, Illinois and Springfield, Vermont . |
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