The PNC2C was the first controller fitted to Newing-Hall's Pantocut Engraving and Profile Milling machine that had initially been designed as a manually operated large area heavy duty engraving and profiling machine.

In 1980 the PC had not yet become the standard computing platform. Software permitting engraved signs to be designed and produced was initially developed for the Acorn Atom, this later became the BBC computer. In view of the limitations of the Acorn Atom based programming system NEE designed and developed the Programming Aid, this utilised a custom computer system having digital cassette program and font storage, a color monitor, and a large digitising tablet. The system made generating engraving and profiling jobs a straightforward process.

Since this time our machine controller and sign generation products have come a long way. The PNC2C machine controller evolved through the P4E, the P4ES and the Apex AMC. Each evolution increased the controller's capability and the machine's performance. During the same period the sign generation system evolved from the Acorn Atom through the Programming Aid to our Job Layout Software 'JLS'.

In 1987 NEE's founder John Perkin assisted Newing-Hall in investing in the purchase of Domitaeu, a Toledo, USA, based company who had encountered financial difficulties soon after Newing-Hall had become the UK agent. Domitaeu made innovative, small, competitively priced engraving machines.

The Domitaeu controller of the time was the TLC, named after the Toledo Logic Company who designed and developed it. This Zilog Z80 based controller was operating at it's limits but the engraving industry was requiring considerably increased capabilities.

NEE became involved in this project because we welcomed financial help in develop a new range of machine controllers, now known as the AMC series, and the associated signmaking software, JLS.

Two fundamental design requirements of the AMC were: a) to operate machines at the machine's limit, not the controllers limit, and, b) to produce the highest quality engraved and profiled parts possible in the shortest time, without impairing the life of the machine.

Before undertaking the development of the AMC, NEE carried out a thorough analysis of the limitations of currently available machine controllers to determine every facet of their operation that wasted time, many were identified. Time wasting facets included job download time, limited controller look ahead, limited controller computation ability, and limitations imposed by motion algorithms within the controller firmware.

Engraved part quality is mostly determined by: a) the stiffness and rigidity of the machine, b) the smoothness of machine movement, c) the suitability of the cutter, and d) the quality and speed of the spindle.

In 1989 during the initial design phase of the AMC and JLS, NEE correctly predicted the rise of the IBM PC, Microsoft Windows, and RISC processors, all are still used in our products today.

The AMC controller range was designed to give Newing-Hall the capability to greatly improve and expand their product range.

NEE have adapted the AMC controller range to meet or exceed the requirements of a wide range of applications. Today NEE machine controllers are used on: large dual table high speed wood routing machines with automatic tool changing; a wide range of engravers and routers, plasma cutting machines; laser cutting machines, laser welding machines; electrical discharge machines; rug cutters and carvers, high speed plotters; vinyl, textile and gasket cutting machines; dispensing machines; and innumerable others. More details can be found in the benefits for customers section of our website at neecontrols.com.

NEE has continued developing the capabilities and application software for our AMC range of controllers, this continuing development assures our future and our customer's competitiveness. Even after 15 years AMC motion controllers obtain unsurpassed performance from machines. We know this as we frequently are asked to retrofit controllers to machines replacing competitive controllers, our customers continue to be amazed at the resulting machines performance and productivity.

When Newing-Hall Ltd went into liquidation NEE took up the agency for the Teetz range of engraving, routing and milling machines. These robust machines are well made and when controlled by NEE's range of AMC machine controllers, offer world beating performance to our customers.

More NEE technical articles giving more details of how NEE controllers still achieve world beating performance are included in the Technical papers section of this Website.

NEE controls has a separate website at neecontrols.com. This site has considerably more information on the NEE controller range, more illuminating technical articles, details of some of the applications our controllers are used in, and numerous customer benefits.