APT III(ID:2678/apt006)

Automatically Programmed Tools v3 


Hardware:
Related languages
APT II => APT III   Evolution of
APT III => APT 77   Evolution of
APT III => APTLOFT   Extension of
APT III => MCL   Adaptation of
APT III => MCL   Adaptation of
APT III => NUCOL   Extension of
APT III => Swym   Extension of
APT III => UNIAPT   Implementation
APT III => UNIVAC 1108 APT III   Implementation
References:
  • Bates, EdgarA. "Automatic programming for numerically controlled tools - APT III" view details
  • Bemer, R "ISO TC97/SC5/WGA(1) Survey of Programming Languages and Processors" December 1962 view details
          in [ACM] CACM 6(03) (Mar 1963) view details
  • S. A. Brown , C. E. Drayton , B. Mittman, "A description of the APT language" view details Abstract: The APT (Automatically Programmed Tools) language for numerical control programming is described using the metalinguistic notation introduced in the ALGOL 60 report. Examples of APT usage are included. Presented also are an historical summary of the development of APT and a statement concerning its present status. Extract: Introduction
    INTRODUCTION

    The application of numerical control (N/C) to manufacturing has increased steadily in importance since its feasibility was demonstrated by MIT's Servo-mechanisms Laboratory in 1952. The introduction of the computer to assist in the preparation of the numerical control information has been a key to practical utilization of N/C for a variety of manufacturing processes. In contour milling, for example, it is often necessary to approximate a space curve by straight line segments (cuts) within a few thousandths of an inch. tolerance. To accomplish this one may require the generation of thousands of coordinate points lying on the curve (or within tolerance of the curve) and for each of these points a cutter-radial offset must be calculated to determine the cutter center path.

    A great number of computer systems have been developed for numerical control programming. Among these are APT, WALDO, AUTOPROMT, SPLIT, AUTOSPOT, AUTOMAP, etc. APT (Automatically Programmed Tools) is the most general and most widely used of these systems. The current APT system is presently available on one large scale computer and is being implemented on others. The APT system is in daily use in a number of manufacturing organizations.

    In this paper the development of APT is summarized, its present status is discussed, and its language characteristics are described.
    Extract: Historical Summary
    Historical Summary
    In 1955, a prototype APT system was coded for the Whirlwind computer at MIT to demonstrate feasibility.

    This rudimentary version required the programmer to specify the endpoints of each straight line cut to be performed by the machine tool. In 1957, member organizations of the Aerospace Industries Association (AIA), in cooperation with MIT, undertook further development of the APT system. As a result of this development, a more advanced system was prepared for the IBM 704 in 1958. This system, called APT II, relieved the programmer of the responsibility of computing successive cutter locations and enabled him to describe the curve in an artificial language resembling English. The APT system provided a language translator. This was the beginning of the APT language as we know it today, a language which permits the so-called part programmer to describe the part to be machined and the functions to be performed on that part.

    Several versions of APT II have been used successfully in production by many aerospace companies. A still more effective system, known as APT III, was produced for the IBM 7090 as a cooperative AIA project and was released in December of 1961.

    During 1961, realizing that the APT concept was practical, but that its capabilities and potential had been just barely tapped, the AIA established the APT Long Range Program. Armour Research Foundation (now the IIT Research Institute) was selected to assume maintenance and validation responsibility for the existing APT system, and to direct the future course of a long-range developmental program. At the same time, the APT system, which previously had been available only to AIA members, was made available to any American company or government facility which desired to participate in the program. Companies joining the APT Long Range Program receive the complete APT system, documentation, training, etc., and by participating, help to underwrite the cost of further development.

          in [ACM] CACM 6(11) (Nov 1963) view details
  • Jantzen, K. "The symbolic programming of numerically controlled machine tools with APT III" (in German) Werkstattstechnik 1967 57(3), 167-173. view details
          in [ACM] CACM 6(11) (Nov 1963) view details
  • Mangold, W.E. "APT part programming of the sculptured surface" ASTME Paper MS68-117 American Society of Tool and Manufacturing Engineers, Dearborn: Mich., 1968. view details Abstract: Instructions and illustrations for the APTLOFT/FMILL programs, here used in conjunction with APT.
          in [ACM] CACM 6(11) (Nov 1963) view details
  • Freitas, Robert A., Jr. and Gilbreath, William P. "Advanced Automation for Space Missions" Proceedings of the 1980 NASA/ASEE Summer Study the University of Santa Clara in Santa Clara, California, from June 23-August 29, 1980 view details Extract: Robot control languages
    Robot control languages. Numerous machine languages exist for the control of semiautomated machine tools (Lindberg, 1977). These include APT (automatic programming tool) and ICAM (integrated computer aided manufacturing). McDonnell Douglas Aircraft Company has recently extended APT to MCL (manufacturing control language) in order to program a Cincinnati Milacron T3 robot to rivet sheet metal. Higher-level robot control languages, obvious requirements for advanced automated space systems, include VAL (versatile assembly language) for the Puma robot and "HELP" for the Pragmac robot (Donata and Camera, 1980). The problem of extending high-level languages from comparatively simple machine tools to more sophisticated multiaxis integrated robot systems which may be found in future automated space factories must be viewed as a top priority research item.
          in [ACM] CACM 6(11) (Nov 1963) view details
  • Ross, Douglas "CAD Timeline at MIT LCS" Online resource view details
          in [ACM] CACM 6(11) (Nov 1963) view details