I created this page to document the project that brought me to America. It is not so much the heritage of St Croix, except it is my heritage, and there is so little information on the web referencing the very first Flexible Manufacturing System.

The Molins System 24 was a revolutionary concept in the field of industrial automation and application of machine tools. Developed in the mid-20th century by Theo Williamson, best known as the originator of the push/pull amplifier, System 24 represented the very first implementation of a Flexible Manufacturing System (FMS). Unlike earlier machine tools that were designed for single-purpose or sequential tasks, the System 24 machine tools aimed to streamline the production of light alloy parts through an integrated, automated, and highly adaptable workflow.

Origins: TSMLA and the Birth of Flexibility

The precursor to the System 24 was the TSMLA (Twin Spindle Milling Light Alloy) machine. This system laid the groundwork for what would become a modular and fully automated concept. The TSMLA was eventually replaced by the Unit 1, a machine tool featuring twin 20HP Pelton wheel-driven spindles mounted on a movable carriage operating in the X and Z axes.

Workpieces were mounted on twin pallets and introduced via the vertical Y axis, using a dedicated workloader. Feeding this system was the MOLAC (Molins On-Line Automated Conveyor)—an early example of an intelligent conveyance mechanism capable of serving multiple machine tools within the manufacturing line.

Expanding Capability: Units 3 and 6

To expand the versatility and functionality of the system, the Unit 3 was introduced. This iteration retained the twin-spindle configuration but replaced the Pelton wheels with swash plate hydraulic motors, enabling advanced operations such as drilling and tapping. This shift to hydraulic actuation also allowed for smoother spindle control and better torque characteristics.

Further innovation came with the Unit 6, a six-axis machine tool. In addition to the traditional X, Y, and Z axes, the Unit 6 incorporated C, W, and an additional axis (B or U) to allow for simultaneous multi-axis machining, marking a major step forward in the evolution of precision engineering.

Legacy and Impact

The Molins System 24 predated the widespread use of digital CNC systems but anticipated many of their core principles: programmability, modularity, and automation. It set a benchmark for future FMS designs in aerospace, automotive, and defense manufacturing where light alloy components are critical.

Though it may not have gained the mainstream fame of other industrial automation systems, the Molins System 24 holds a special place in the history of modern manufacturing as an audacious, forward-thinking implementation of flexible, automated production.

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