From punched tape to touch screen

CNC Computerized Numerical Control was patented 64 years ago. Sure, the need had been around for a long time and John T. Parsons and Frank L. Stulen had already solved the problem themselves by inventing a machine tool controlled by a punched tape or -card in 1946.

Parsons Corporation had managed to convince helicopter manufacturer Sikorsky that it would be able to manufacture highly dimensionally accurate helicopter blades. By then the company had only produced one of them.

John T. Parsons understood that machine tool values needed to be numerically controlled. In accordance with the proposal of the winner of the naming competition, the solution began to be called NC - Numerical Control. In its time, the invention was a huge revolution in the world of machine tools. In Finland, the first NC machine tool was delivered to Tampere in 1962 at Valmet's aircraft plant in H?rm?l?. It was a punched tape guided boring machine.

As Parsons became acquainted with the early computers, he realized that there was a solution. Together with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and IBM, a programming language and servos were developed to control the machines automatically. The first computer numerically controlled (CNC) machine was completed in 1952 and patented in 1958 by Parsons.

However, the development costs were such that Parsons was fired from his own company. And hired back when the royalties from the patent began to run.

In practice, punched tape guided NC machines prevailed until the mid-1970s. Operators did not see any advantage in early CNC machines over punched tape versions and development was slow. The situation changed with the development of quality systems. Products made with CNC machines began to be required, and the design of products and production also began to be done on a computer (CAD/CAM).

The Swiss company Cybelec SA was founded in 1970 to develop CNC controls for various machine tools. The operations quickly became more international, and the company realized the importance of screens. Images said more than the text and numbers. The screens were initially modest in size, as they had to withstand the demanding conditions of factory premises.

Aliko's first press brake delivered to the customer was completed in 1980. In search of the best control system, the choice fell on Cybelec and the collaboration began in 1985. Today, Cybelec is the world's leading supplier of control systems for metal bending and cutting machines. Aliko has become Cybelec's OEM partner in Northern Europe.?

Looking at the large and tiltable touchscreen of today's press brake, it doesn't immediately occur to you that without the work of John T. Parsons and his team, we could still adjust the values with manual control. Programming has made it possible to manufacture highly demanding products at competitive prices and enabled the soaring development of technology. Without CNC machines, the car buyer should still be afraid of getting a Friday afternoon model where the adjustments haven't been quite right.