Metalomechanics – discover the history!

Since the Paleolithic era, man has innovated the area of ​​metallomechanics, giving rise to inventions that, from century to century, have revolutionized our existence.

Metallomechanics has existed since the beginning, and is constantly evolving from age to age.

Since ancient times, namely since prehistory, man has used and developed tools to assist his daily tasks.

This need has given rise to the metallomechanical evolution!

Metallomechanics in the Paleolithic era

Dating back to the stone age, man made the first tools. These tools helped you to perform everyday tasks, such as knives, harpoons, saws, drills, etc.

After the discovery of various metals, these rudimentary tools underwent an adaptation that greatly contributed to the development of the metalworking industry.

In order to create a movement of rotation of the pieces and to modernize the tools themselves for working the metals, two machines appeared: the arc drill and the violin bow vise.

These tools, although they needed the action of Man, were composed of a bow and a rope, triggering a rotating movement.

From that time on, all ages were marked by events and inventions that marked the metal mechanics towards a path of evolution.

The evolution of metallomechanics

Of these events, we can highlight the improvement of the lathe and the introduction of hydraulic technology, which appeared before the industrial revolution.

In 1250, the pedal-operated lathe was created. This invention represented a great advance, since it allowed both hands to be free to work the metallic parts.

At the end of the century. XV, by the hands of Leonardo da Vinci, there are sketches of lathes that served as guidance for the construction of machines that ended up appearing in the century. XVI.

These machines were used for coinage, as well as the laminator and the balance sheet.

They were the first machines, in the metallomechanical area, to be used for large-scale production.

At the end of the Middle Ages, the main tools used were the sharpener with abrasive rotating stone, the arc drill and the lathe with continuous movement.

At this stage, the manufacture of metallic gears began, mainly in brass, which were mainly used in the production of astronomy instruments and watches.

After the invention of the continuous-motion lathe, an improvement phase began, and elements such as the supports of the main axis, the counterpoint and the support of the tool were introduced.

In 1777, the hydraulic press was patented, although it was developed a few years earlier for coinage.

However, it was in 1840 that the manufacture of high-pressure hydraulic presses began.

Metallomechanics at the time of the Industrial Revolution

The time of the Industrial Revolution was marked by inventions and advances in metallurgy and mechanics that really revolutionized and modernized the world.

This modernization led to other inventions originating, leading the metalworking industry to move towards what we know today.

Thus, in 1765 the steam engine was created and in 1780 it started to be used for industrial purposes.

In 1775, a technically more advanced boring machine was built, with greater precision and driven by a hydraulic wheel.

In order to standardize the measurements of the parts produced and even the machines themselves, there was a need to improve their accuracy, especially those that produced other machines.

Thus, in 1897, a lathe was built to roll, a metallomechanical invention that gave rise to a new stage in the manufacture of machine tools.

Its construction was completely metallic and had in its constitution flat guides of great precision.

Metallomechanics in an industrial context

The industrial development of the century. XIX was the first phase of the evolution of different types of machine tools and the application of metal parts in the manufacture of various materials.

This phase is characterized by the invention of steam engines, boats, automobiles, textile machinery and material for railway lines.

Already from the century. XX, there was a great development in the metalworking industry and in the manufacture of machine tools. This was the most relevant event and continues today – the use of electricity for industrial purposes.

Thus, there is an impulse to the use of direct current and alternating current motors, which replace steam engines and turbines.

The latter were responsible for the transmission of energy in large industries.

Also in the century. XX, we witness the implementation of the CN system (Numerical Control) on machine tools.

With the development of microelectronics, the CN evolved into CNC, and a computer was then incorporated into the control system.

This automation of metallomechanics has been a constant! For this reason, it has given space for new parts machining techniques to be boosted, thus guaranteeing the continuous evolution of this sector of activity!