On 8/28/2012 3:04 PM, Dave wrote: > On 8/28/2012 2:46 PM, andy pugh wrote: >> On 28 August 2012 08:50, Michael Haberler<[email protected]> wrote: >> >> >>> I said: the LinuxCNC project needs an *alternative* realtime kernel which >>> runs on every washer and dryer, and it better be mainstream, that is: >>> installable with apt-get and no extra apt repo to add. That in my view is >>> the top priority - "simplify, simplify, simplify - and get rid of this >>> goddamn guru factor". >>> >> Arguably the LiveCD eliminates the guru-factor. The problem is >> persuading folk that they really want a separate, standalone CNC >> controller PC. >> >> > The problem is > persuading folk that they really want a separate, standalone CNC > controller PC. > > Do you think that is a problem with a serious machinist? I don't > think so. A hobbyist; maybe. > >
It seems to me there are two issues being discussed at once. One is the possibility of using general purpose computers for CNC as well as other work. I've long advocated that a machine controller should be a machine controller with little else to distract either the software or the user. It doesn't appear to be the cost that is driving most who resist this, rather, it's the convenience of doing everything from one console. I'm willing to bet a 6-pack of beer that everyone using LinuxCNC owns and uses more than one computer. The other issue is the ability to generate pulses in software on the same machine. It seems to me we have our users distributed across four cells in a 2x2 matrix with hobbyist/professional* on one axis and software-pulse-gen/hardware-pulse-gen on the other. (*I used "professional" for want of a better term to represent those who are trying to make money using their CNC equipment.) I don't know the distribution of users in the four cells, but I'm willing to bet that the preponderance of software-pulse-gen'ers are hobbyists. Not all, obviously; even I own a hardware pulse generator and all I have is a desktop 3-axis vertical mill. There are many serious machinists among the hobbyists. As well, there may be professionals who took the software-pulse-gen path but I'm willing to bet that they did it because they could and not because they couldn't afford to do otherwise. Geez, the one-time capital cost of products from folks like Pico Systems and Mesa Electronics is the same order of magnitude of the cost of the PC and a drop in the bucket compared to the ongoing tooling costs. In any case, we are talking about the future. If push comes to shove, we can always checkpoint LinuxCNC2 at some release as the last version capable of running on junkyard computers and directly feeding step/direction drives. Just my 2cents worth. Regards, Kent PS - when a graduate student, my standard bet was a pitcher of beer because we could walk up the street to a tavern to settle the bet (and losers got to drink some of the winnings!). Over email, a 6-pack seems a more convenient quantity. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Live Security Virtual Conference Exclusive live event will cover all the ways today's security and threat landscape has changed and how IT managers can respond. Discussions will include endpoint security, mobile security and the latest in malware threats. http://www.accelacomm.com/jaw/sfrnl04242012/114/50122263/ _______________________________________________ Emc-developers mailing list [email protected] https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-developers
