On Fri, 2012-12-07 at 21:18 -0600, Jon Elson wrote: > Gene Heskett wrote: > > Those too are valid questions, with very iffy answers for the hobbiest like > > me. The improvement probably would be appreciated, but in nearly 10 years > > of having the basic machinery, I have only re-couped maybe 10% of their > > original cost. And those jobs were so simple I could have cranked them out > > with hand cranks. > > > Well, there are all classes of users, ask Stuart Stevenson how much > EMC/LinuxCNC > has saved him! I suspect it would be quite a bit. Sure, it has also > cost him a good deal > of his time, and more than a few gray hairs, too. > > I've been using EMC/EMC2/LinuxCNC for 14 years, and can't IMAGINE what > it would be like if I was still struggling with that ghastly > Allen-Bradley control! > The G-code was very limited, some things were just a bit buggy, and it kept > breaking down. I make commercial parts on it, and while most of it could > be done manually, it would be MUCH slower, with more waste. So, just > speaking for me, LinuxCNC+CNC machine has WAY more than paid for the > equipment. > > Jon
I cannot in any way claim that emc has earned me $$ but more enabled a retirement rich in challenge. I started out knowing almost nothing about machining, milling machines, etc. I vaguely understood cnc but had only a little experience on a lathe, making small parts when the guys in the machine shop at WSU's Division of Research didn't have time to make something for me. I rather dimly understood that servos were the way to go but also got sold on glass scales. It as a really slow start and I could only shake loose enough from my retirement to buy a glass scale every few months. Finally I connected with Jon, Ray and Matt, (the three musketeers ?). With a LOT of guidance I got servos and a ppmc up and running on a contourmaster I bought at auction. I owe my sanity to emc and the people associated with it. Ray finally convinced me that even the big guys didn't use glass scales and it was not a matter of dollars. AH! Whole new world. Then along came JMK and the concept of using encoders for motion and glass scales for absolute position. I have not done that but the possibility is out there. I make small parts and do a lot of dithering since being ADHD I often get about halfway thru a project before a really better idea of how to do it comes along. Lots of scrap litters the path. As the old swede said; "Ve get old so fast and smart so slow" Dave > ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ > LogMeIn Rescue: Anywhere, Anytime Remote support for IT. Free Trial > Remotely access PCs and mobile devices and provide instant support > Improve your efficiency, and focus on delivering more value-add services > Discover what IT Professionals Know. Rescue delivers > http://p.sf.net/sfu/logmein_12329d2d > _______________________________________________ > Emc-developers mailing list > [email protected] > https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-developers ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ LogMeIn Rescue: Anywhere, Anytime Remote support for IT. Free Trial Remotely access PCs and mobile devices and provide instant support Improve your efficiency, and focus on delivering more value-add services Discover what IT Professionals Know. Rescue delivers http://p.sf.net/sfu/logmein_12329d2d _______________________________________________ Emc-developers mailing list [email protected] https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-developers
