Made in three versions, the 2DS, 3DS and 7, the Ward "Plug Programme" lathes were designed during the 1960s and capable of performing all of the functions normally carried out by a human machine operator. To achieve this control, air cylinders were are used to operate the spindle-speed change mechanism while Hydraulics provided control of all feed motions - both to the cross slide on its (manually-adjustable) saddle and the capstan slide and turret unit. Accurately adjustable limit stops were fitted, each able to be set with a 'dwell' to suit the operation being performed.
Any sequence of machine movements could be selected to form a complete cycle, the "pin board" controller, mounted above the lathe headstock being easily reached and manipulated. The Controller employed a reliable electronic switching system with the electrical circuits subdivided into a number of small units, each of which, in the form of a printed circuit board, could be easily replaced.
Provided with inbuilt 'logic units', that minimised the number of plugs required to define a particular programme, the controller had rows and columns of plugs - the vertical columns corresponding to a step in the sequence and horizontal to a command signal output. When each vertical line was energised all 'plugged' functions in that line would operate simultaneously and, when a timed or external signal (such as a limit switch), indicated the completion of those functions, the next column was energised. The controller continued to step, line by line until, the cycle was complete.
Hydraulic feeds to the two carriages carrying the cross and capstan slides were infinitely variable and controllable in both directions. Six independent feed selections were available for the capstan slide, adjustable from the front panel, and cross feeds selected and adjusted from a panel below the headstock.
When a job was set up for the first time, or when a pre-planned programme was not available, for setting-up purposes manipulation of the capstan slide was under the control of a single lever that could be used to engage rapid traverse or pre-set feeds in either direction - a similar arrangement beings used for the Cross Slide. All other machine functions, such as spindle speeds, could be selected by rotary switches - so allowing complete control without dependence on the plug board. However, to reduce cycle time, the plug programme permitted overlapping of the cross slide and turret operation, an undesirable (dangerous) feature during setting up. The setting of stops corresponded to normal Capstan procedure with the other trips and pre-set feeds able to be rapidly selected.
Programming could be either pre-planned, by employing a removable punched template, or 'plugging' carried out step by step by any competent setter operator. Idle times were, it was claimed, reduced substantially due to the very rapid tool approach and withdrawal, the safe overlapping of tool and slide movements and a combination of gear changing with other functions. As the feed rates were constant, and the correct speeds automatically selected, it was also found that tool wear was reduced.
The flexibility and simplicity of the system allowed for small, medium or repetition batch work to be undertaken while the control unit was adaptable to simple or highly complicated sequences and also to frequent and easily-made programme changes.
Simple automatic work-catching devices could be fitted to bar bar-work machines, enabling cut-off components to be cleared from the working area into containers suitably placed at the rear of the machine. It was also possible to carry out second-operation work with loading being either manual or by the use of suitable feed mechanisms - the factory maintaining a special department to advice on such matters.

Plug programming allowed all the functions normally undertaken by an operator to be reproduced aromatically - so allowing more than one machine to be attended to by a single supervisor. Largest of the Plug Programme Ward lathes, the No. 7 was a powerfully built machine with its 80 mm bore spindle running in taper roller bearings. The headstock was all-geared, with the twelve speeds from 25 to 1000 rpm reversible and all selectable during the automatic cycle.
Sliding directly on the induction hardened bed ways, the turret saddle was hydraucially driven by two cylinders rigidly attached to the end of the bed, these providing rapid traverse and infinitely-variable feed motions in both directions. Both indexed and clamped hydraulically, the turret head was fiited with full manual control for setting purposes.
Carried on an intermediate saddle, the cross slide could be adjusted manually and was hydraulically driven by an integral cylinder that provided both rapid motion and infinitely-variable rates of feed.