Pancho, I gather from this that their primary patent claim may be on their "user-friendly" user interface that allows operators to machine specific parts directly from a blueprint. This sounds an awful lot like the "parametric programming" that we were doing at Omicron around 1978. The first such controller that they produced was application-specific - a controller for a Tru-Flute grinder, and may have been the first parametrically-programmed CNC controller. (Parameters were entered directly at the machine.) But they incorporated similar functionality into later general-purpose controllers.
Allen-Bradley bought Omicron, and may have claims that preceed Hurco's.
I also subsequently worked on similar products for Ecco Systems, located in Troy, Mi.
Where is Hurco headquartered, and whhere did they start? I note the Farmington Hill, MI. location for some of their operations. Omicron was located in Madison Heights, Michigan. Both are suburbs of Detroit.
A person that joined Omicron around the time that I left was named Norm Hurley. (I didn't like the guy, in fact he was a big part of the reason why I left - besides being offered more salary...) Could this possibly be the founder of Hurco?
Obviously, I have not followed the industry or Omicron's progress up to the point that A-B bought them out, nor where the people went, or I'd probably know the answers to these questions. :) |
