A Numerically Controlled Cam-Milling Machine

A special machine tool built by the Bendix Aviation Corporation utilizes numerical control techniques to simplify the manufacture of small three-dimensional cams. The machine is designed to produce master cams and engineering prototypes directly from numerical control information recorded on a punched plastic tape. This information is derived from dimensional data appearing on an engineering drawing by means of automatic punched-card office accounting equipment. The machine resembles a small lathe in basic configuration, except that a high-speed ball-end milling cutter is substituted for the tool. The cutter is positioned radially by a high-performance hydraulic servo in response to incremental control signals generated electronically from the punched tape. An over-all accuracy of approximately 0.001 inch is achieved from drawing to finished cam.