Any advancements in CNC technology in last 2 decades?

[vij]

I am not much into machines. I am a software engg. Dad runs a factory that has various machines. The company also owns a 6 axis Fanuc CNC machine that is a 1990 model and he is very proud of it. Uses it to machine all steel tyre moulds and precision components.

I have a question. Haven't CNC machines evolved much in the last 20 years. Can a machine that was manufactured 20 years back still be considered cutting edge or even competent?
Computers have evolved to be more than 10 times faster in the last decade, but not CNC machines? Really?

Can we conclude that CNC machines matured and reached their potential 20 years back?

[Geof]

....Can a machine that was manufactured 20 years back still be considered cutting edge or even competent?......

......Can we conclude that CNC machines matured and reached their potential 20 years back?

Yes a machine that is 20 years old can still be considered competent, but over the past 20 years there have been significant improvements in CNC machines. Part of the improvement is of course more powerful processors so CNC machines are not limited by how fast the controller can crunch numbers or how much memory space is available. However, I think a greater improvement has been the introduction of much more powerful and fast acting servos and spindle drives and higher quality bearings that make spindle speeds above 10,000 rpm commonplace and feed rates in the many hundreds of inches per minute also commonplace; not to mention rapids that move in the blink of an eye and toolchangers that perform fractional second toolchanges.

[sinha_nsit]

The hardware is more reliable now.
Maintenance has become easier with several diagnostic tools.
Plus macro programming which was perhaps not there 20 years back.

Actually a CNC machine has several features which many people have not even heard of. A good car is only as good as its driver!