CNC is a highly developed technological product of modern industry, which has replaced a large number of labor force, but also provides the basis for the increasingly complex products. Since the 1950s, the world's numerical control machine tools have mainly experienced six decades of two stages, nc (NC) and computer numerical control (cnc). The development process is roughly as follows:
1. Numerical control (nc) stage
The first generation of numerical control system began in the early 1950s, the system all uses the electronic tube original, logic calculation and control using hardware circuit to complete; The second generation of CNC milling began at the end of the 50's, with transistor components and printed circuit boards widely used in CNC system as a symbol; The third generation of numerical control systems began in the mid-1960s, due to the emergence of small-scale integrated circuits, its smaller size, lower power consumption, improved reliability, promote the further development of numerical control systems.
2. Computer numerical control (cnc) stage
The fourth generation of cnc system began in the 1970s, when the first cnc device using small computers appeared at the Chicago exhibition, marking the advent of CNC technology; The fifth generation of numerical control system, in the late 1970s, the large scale integrated circuit technology has made great achievements, to promote the low price, smaller volume, higher integration, reliable microprocessor chip production, and gradually applied in numerical control system; The sixth generation of numerical control system began in the early 90's, affected by the rapid development of general computer technology, numerical control system is moving towards the personal computer as the basis, open, intelligent, networking and other directions further development.
Although the history of cnc technology has changed dramatically, some cornerstones remain the same. It still requires three major components, which include a command function, a drive/motion system and a feedback system. As technology develops in the future, and as manufacturing continues to promote the use of robots and automated processes in almost every field, there may be even more incredible elements to add to it.