Automation of a Brazing Process with an Intel 8008 Microprocessor

A production brazing machine was adapted for automatic control by an Intel 8008 microprocessor. Previously, the process was run open loop with no control whatsoever, and quality assurance suffered from poor repeatability. A noncontact temperature sensor provides feedback information to the microprocessor which manipulates the process via a stepping motor. The stepping motor regulates the power applied to an induction heating coil. The microprocessor exhibited excellent noise immunity and reliability. System flexibility was considerably enhanced by virtue of the programmability of the processor. Several major redirections of the project were made during development without affecting the microprocessor hardware.