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Marietta (Lockheed
Georgia Research 1965-1967)
I returned to Lockheed to work with my friend
Jim Kennedy in the new research facility. We developed the first timeshare
multi-user graphics system for part programming numerical control machine
tools. Now called Computer-Aided Manufacturing CAM, an offshoot of
Computer-Aided Design CAD.
We had large display consoles as used for air
traffic radar with light pens. Operators would use the light pen to maneuver
shapes on the display to simulate the motion of cutting tools, making parts for
aircraft. The result would be a tape for the milling machines to cut out the
pieces.
A visiting Professor from Delft University
and I co-authored an article for Software Age on a graphics program for airfoil
design. My only published work.
I lived in another rented house with my cat,
Tiger. He lived mostly in the linen closet. I had a small sailboat on a trailer
and sailed on the two large lakes north of Atlanta. I did a little local flying
in rental planes but lost the enthusiasm I once had.
The factory was
churning out C-130s and C-141s, and it was just starting on the C-5A. Lockheed
was booming with over 4,000 engineers, mostly contractors. Again, I was living
in a rented house with no companionship or social life. It was not fun for me,
and I wanted a change. So, I asked to be hired by Control Data Corporation at
the Digigraphics Division in Burlington, MA, where they made the graphics
system we were using.
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