A low-cost magnetic tape control system for machine tools

Digital recording techniques are applied to the operation of a die-sinker. The system described uses magnetic recording in preference to punched paper tape where cost, transportation and simplicity are the major design considerations. Irregular shapes and contours are traced by a stylus which is electrically connected via an arc to a conductive coating on the model. The position of the stylus is related to pulses which are recorded on tape. The recorded tape may be transported to any workshop which employs similar techniques for cutting a work-piece with a permissible tolerance of ±0.005 in.