On Tuesday 28 August 2012 17:05:59 Kent A. Reed did opine: > 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.
I am a hobbyist, but I don't see a huge problem given that both mesa and pico prices will likely descend a bit when the board orders are in 20's or more. Higher volumes are more economical, generally speaking. > 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. One here in the house, 4 all together. > 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. Put me in the stepgen/hobbiest cell. > 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. A 6 pack is about right, because I don't dare do more than 2 w/o sending my sugar skyward. So the loser is still a winner if he leaves 2 for me... :) Cheers, Gene -- "There are four boxes to be used in defense of liberty: soap, ballot, jury, and ammo. Please use in that order." -Ed Howdershelt (Author) My web page: <http://coyoteden.dyndns-free.com:85/gene> is up! The only real argument for marriage is that it remains the best method for getting acquainted. -- Heywood Broun ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 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
