The NSCL control system
This paper describes the historical development, current state, and future plans of the computer control system of the National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory (NSCL). A proposal entitled, ``Proposal for a National Facility for Research with Heavy Ions using Coupled Superconducting Cyclotrons`` was submitted to the National Science Foundation in September, 1976. The proposal was approved and the first cyclotron, the K500, came on-line with a limited experimental program in late 1982. The second cyclotron, the K1200 (formerly called the K800), and another limited experimental program came on-line along with a full experimental program. Up to now, no formal paper has been submitted describing the computer control system for this facility; this paper seeks to fill that void.