What device was used to store and input machining commands for the first NC machines?

What device was used to store and input machining commands for the first NC machines?

• A. Punch Cards
• B. Magnetic Tape
• C. Tape
• D. Magnetic Disk

Answer: (C)

The main idea is that the earliest NC machines read instructions from a continuous stream encoded on perforated tape. This punched tape carried a sequence of holes that encoded movement commands, tool actions, and speeds, which a tape reader on the machine decoded in order to execute the program. It was well-suited for long, sequential instruction sets and could be edited by preparing new tape rather than reorganizing many separate cards. Over time, magnetic storage like tape and disks became common for storing programs, but for the first NC systems, punched tape was the primary input method. Punch cards existed for other automated tasks, but they are not the standard method used to input the initial NC machining commands, and magnetic storage served more as a later storage medium rather than the initial input channel.

The main idea is that the earliest NC machines read instructions from a continuous stream encoded on perforated tape. This punched tape carried a sequence of holes that encoded movement commands, tool actions, and speeds, which a tape reader on the machine decoded in order to execute the program. It was well-suited for long, sequential instruction sets and could be edited by preparing new tape rather than reorganizing many separate cards. Over time, magnetic storage like tape and disks became common for storing programs, but for the first NC systems, punched tape was the primary input method. Punch cards existed for other automated tasks, but they are not the standard method used to input the initial NC machining commands, and magnetic storage served more as a later storage medium rather than the initial input channel.