3D Experience World
Metalworking has been a pillar of the development of modern society. Of special importance to us, its use has been critical to building and repairing firearms. It could be argued that metalworking started more than a million years ago, when early humans learned to control fire, however, there is no obvious, definitive moment around the discovery of forging that any historian can point to. Metalworking is the product of a long evolutionary process spanning centuries.
In the American Gunsmith January 2022 article “Metalworking History”. The technology utilized by these original CNC machines was punched paper tape or punched cards to record data and control the machines, requiring an early mainframe. John T. Parsons, an early computing pioneer, developed it as part of an Air Force research project carried out at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). An experimental milling machine was built at the institute’s Servomechanisms Laboratory, with the goal of using motorized axes to produce helicopter blades and stiffer skins for aircraft Parsons was able to use an IBM 602A as the controller and the system cost a couple million dollars in 1950s-era money.
These technologies were phased out with the advent of analog and then digital computer processing which was developed in the 1950s and ‘60s. Today, serious CNC machines are affordable for small, independent shops, and “simple” units can be built by hobbyists for a few hundred dollars using free software.
The Dassault Systemes 3DEXPERIENCE World 2023 show will be hosted in Nashville February 12-15 at the Music City Center. 3DEXPERIENCE World brings together a vibrant community of designers, engineers, entrepreneurs and business leaders to learn, engage, share knowledge and drive innovation.
Tormach Inc. is one of the featured vendors. Known for its line of smaller, affordable CNC machines, the company will have numerous machines on the floor and operating. Being a dynamic event, Tormach machines will be operating as part of the Shop Floor in the 3DEXPERIENCE Playground. Described as ‘the heart of the event,’ the Shop Floor is an educational space where attendees can learn about manufacturing and its different levels, from Prototyping to Production. ERP, MES, CAM, Inspection, Robotics, Factory Flow, Lean/Kaizen events, and others are covered.
“We are thrilled to have Tormach back with us at 3DEXPERIENCE World,” said Mike Buchli, Sales Manager Expert – Manufacturing for DS SolidWorks Corporation. “Outside of the general sessions, the Shop Floor in the Playground Area is one of the most attended areas of 3DEXPERIENCE World. Tormach does a great job supporting the initiatives to help people understand the technology and processes required to get into machining or Prototyping. To extend this, we are hosting CNC101 sessions to provide a hands-on area to program a part.”
Buchli also said that this year, the Tormach machines will be connected to real-time process monitoring to showcase how this equipment can work in a production environment.
Tormach will have its 1100MX CNC machine set up and operating at the show, running a 4th axis demonstration.
In keeping with the Nashville theme, the 1100MX demonstration will include machining small pairs of cowboy boots.
Tormach will also have its 1300PL Plasma Table on the show floor, making stands for belt buckles.
Also in demonstration, six Tormach xsTECH desktop CNC routers will be in operation as part of a CNC101 course. These will be customizing a passive speaker demonstration and will allow attendees to learn about how to work with a CNC machine.
