History of Machining

The use of simple machines dates back to early 1200's when the first horizontal bench lathe appears. This machine used a foot treadle that rotated the object while it put holes into the wood to create simple tools.

As people became more mechanically inclined, they created machines to do some of the hard work such as the grinding wheel which appeared in the early 1500's. Then the windmill which turned up in the 1550's which was used to operated saws and bring water to the soil surface. As people saw the power water provided, they turned to building machines alongside rivers and river banks. The water provided the power needed to turn the wheels on their machines and bore holes in wood to create even more precise machines.

It was in the early 1700's that people started turning to iron to make parts. They saw the iron would make a sturdier machine plus it would last longer. This is the beginning of the machining age. They saw by using metal they could make machines that could handle even greater work such as the cannon boring machine. This machine was adapted so it could create precise cylinders for Boulton & Watt's steam engine. John Wilkinson invented this machine in 1775 in England.

With inventions like the cotton gin by Eli Whitney in 1818 we see that the person that operated the tools had to be very skilled at what they were undertaking. They did not have instructions to follow instead using only trial and error to correct their machine inventions. Today we rely on computers, CNC machines, and proven technology to guide us into the world of new technology. Look how far we have come.