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Part Overview

COMPUTERS IN MANUFACTURING

Throughout history, the development of new tools and machines helped to change the lifestyles of people and improve the standard of living throughout the world. Humanity has progressed through the Stone Age, Bronze Age, Iron Age, and Machine Age, and each period has helped to improve our lot in life and make it more productive. We are now in the Computer Age, and nothing in past history can compare to the effect that the computer is having on the way we live, work, and play, Fig. 2-1. The computer has made us more productive, provided us with more leisure time, removed the drudgery of home chores, and in general radically changed the way we live.

Figure 2-1

The introduction of computers into manufacturing has reduced the need to rely solely on the operator's skill in manufacturing processes and replaced it with high-precision, computer-controlled machinery, Fig. 2-2. While this helps to reduce human error, it does not reduce the production knowledge required of the machine tool operator. The CNC machine tool operator still has to understand the fundamentals of cutting tools and manufacturing processes as much as ever. But now there is a need to develop other skills in order to produce the most accurate parts in the least amount of time possible, with computer-assisted manufacturing techniques and hardware.

Figure 2-2