Mechanical Complexity and Precision

Precise mechanical positioning from 150 B.C.

Precise mechanical movements have been around a while. The Antikythera mechanism is thought to be from around 150-100 B.C. It can safely be assumed that they had been working at this for a while before they achieved this level of complexity.

The precursors to modern CNC devices were the ornamental lathes and rose engines. The bottom picture here is a rose engine. One other thing to note: this is a simple one. They got much more complicated. The power to drive this was the foot of the operator pumping a treadle.  I have been reading the Holtzapffel books on ornamental turning Several generations of them were the big names in ornamental turning from the late 1700s on.   When I ordered reprints of them from Dover Books, I didn't realize how comprehensive they were. Cool stuff. The sad thing is that there have really not been any substantive advances in machining technology since that time until computers were brought in to control stuff. 

Style and appropriate use of materials from 1780.

Compared to something like these, the mechanics of  CNC machines are pretty infantile. Maybe few gears, a timing belt or chain. Pretty basic stuff. When you look at the glossy brochures from the CNC companies, you would think that they are the pinnacle of mechanical invention.