Tried running a job with the old school paper tape reader versus a USB stick

We had to make a short run of parts on our old Bridgeport last week. Boss wanted to try the original paper tape system, said it was 'more authentic'. It took an hour just to load the program and it jammed twice. Then I loaded the same G-code from a USB in about 30 seconds, no issues. Why do some shops cling to methods that just slow everything down? Anyone else have a boss who loves outdated tech?

3 comments

3 Comments

jennifer20417d ago

Oh man, that paper tape story is wild... it reminds me of my grandpa's shop. He had this ancient lathe that used punched cards, and he refused to upgrade because he said the new machines had 'no soul'. We'd spend half a day just setting up a simple cut... I guess for some people, the old way just feels right, even if it makes no sense.

xenaf5117d ago

Read an article about how that tactile feedback from old machines actually helps some people focus better. Makes the "no soul" thing click a bit more.

amy97417d ago

Isn't it funny how this shows up everywhere now? Like people buying vinyl records for the crackle or using a paper planner. The new way is faster, sure, but something about the old process makes you pay attention. Maybe that's the soul part, having to actually work with the thing. It forces a different kind of care.