Direct Numerical Control of Machine Tools in a Nuclear Research Center by the CAMAC System

The production of mechanical parts in research centers can be improved by connecting several numerical controlled machine tools to a central process computer via a data link. The CAMAC Serial Highway with its expandable structure yields an economic and flexible system for this purpose. The CAMAC System also facilitates the development of modular components controlling the machine tools itself. This paper describes a CAMAC installation controlling three different machine tools connected to a central computer (PDP11) via the CAMAC Serial Highway. Besides of this application, part of the CAMAC hardware and software can also be used for a great variety of scientific experiments.