Small and Mini Languages in Numerical Control

Abstract

It is a matter of fact that the first numerically controlled machine tools were designed for contouring work applied to complex shaped workpieces. The preparation of the movements of the tool had therefore to be computed by special programs which were developed for this particular purpose. One of the most comprehensive languages was APT developed at M.I.T. at the beginning of the 60s and supported later by a special organisation: the APT Long Range Program (A.L.R.P.). Other languages were developed by private firms for special applications, but their development could not generally be supported after a certain interval of time¹. For this reason, the large systems which exist actually belong to one of the following classes,

• (1) Languages from the IBM Company, big computer companies, like ADAPT, AUTOSPOT, etc.

• (2) Languages supported by industrial or public organisations, similar to A.L.R.P., which were developed especially in Europe as subsets to the APT system: for example, IFAPT, EXAPT and 2 C,L.