Hi Stuart, Here's the short answer:
a programmer that can make changes (like a different GUI) for a retrofit, an individual that can either supply a computer or guide the selection and assembly of a computer and techinical support of the software and computer after the retrofit. Here's the long answer: I can do anything (not just bragging, its true - see www.cncservices.ws) with machine tools (rebuild, retrofit, align, calibrate (laser and level for 6 axes of movement linear, pitch, yaw and roll around the X,Y and Z axes, spatial positioning measurement and compensation, 4th and 5th axis measurement and compensation), G code programming, troubleshooting (electrical, electronic, hydraulic, mechanical, pneumatic, etc.), communication (DNC, wired and wireless), scrapping, etc., etc.) except electronic board repair and software troubleshooting. When troubleshooting a machine if I can prove that the machine is functioning correctly and I can demonstrate that the software is not issuing commands correctly to the machine then the problem is in the software or the hardware that runs the software. With adequate technical support I can address these problems also. Many of these problems I can address myself if a parameter needs to be changed (all of the controls that I have worked on so far are parameter based, Fanuc, Yasnac(Yaskawa), Mitsubishi, Centroid, etc.). On more than one control I have replaced a hard drive, partitioned the hard drive, reloaded software, configured the software for the mill and got the mill up and running again with technical support. In one of these situations I had to get the machine connected to the customers network so that parameters could be downloaded from the control to the customers office computer. With instructions I set up a network connection (I am a computer user, not a computer technician). I am willing to tackle that which I do not know (and do not have the time to learn, I just can't duplicate others knowledge and experience in many areas) if there is adequate technical support to address the problem. I am not comfortable supplying a control system to a customer that does not have adequate technical support because the customer's machine could be down because I am unable to address a certain issue and unable to get the answer for the issue from technical support. My customers trust that whatever I do for them will enable them to make parts and if the making of parts is interrupted that I will be able to get them back up and running promptly. In my ideal world paid technical support would: assist in the retrofit process by - being a programmer that is comfortable with me not becoming a programmer - being a programmer that is comfortable with me being the onsite hands while they are the brain guiding the hands (technical support) - being a Linux enthusiast that will interact with the Windows world (all of my customers front offices are Windows based) without bashing Windows or Bill Gates in front of the customer (the machine control almost always have to be networked with the customers office computers for the transfer of programs) - having the programming ability to create a different GUI for EMC that would be more industry standard (I have designed this GUI, it just needs to be programmed) - having the programming ability and the people skills to talk me or a customer through entering software commands and reporting results so that issue of the moment can be identified and resolved - an alternative to the previous step would be a direct connection via the internet to the machine tool control so that the programmer could remotely evaluate the computer note: I am willing to travel to be onsite whenever onsite activity needs to occur, the programmer would not be required to travel - having the programming ability to make changes as needed so that EMC will function externally in a more industry standard manner (Ray H. generously took time from his very busy schedule to educate me about the momentary contact nature of the inputs to EMC because of the perspective when EMC was first created that there may be more than one control station on a single machine, apparently some of this could be accomplished through the ladder) - advising me which hardware components to purchase (motherboard, memory, hard drive (or hard drive equivalent), power supply, etc.) to put together a computer and provide instruction on how to do so - advising how to load software onto the computer - advising how to configure the software to the machine (I would provide detailed list of machine functions) - writing the ladder logic from my detailed list of machine functions or provide instruction how to write the ladder logic (I have written ladder logic for other systems) OR - providing a computer preloaded with the software and preconfigured per my detailed list of machine functions - providing techinical support as the computer is being attached to the mill (technical support for other systems appreciates my contact and questions because I am very detailed, very focused, I do not call technical support with general questions, I call with a very narrow focus and many details related to the issue) assist after the retrofit is complete by - responding to technical support questions to advise the question has been received (should not be more than 24 hours, ideally would be 2 hours or less) - responding to the technical support question with a solution or an estimate of the time it will take to determine the solution (24 to 48 hours) - advising if it would be helpful to update the software running the machine or remain at the current version level, if the machine computer is connected to the internet then possibly doing a software update remotely - having the programming ability to resolve bugs, add features, etc. as the customer's use of the machine causes some things to be noticed or wanted assist in the overall process by - defining expectations for the delivery of requested tasks, cost for those tasks to be completed and terms for payment Note: If a problem was solved by the collaboration of several individuals from the EMC forum and none of the individuals involved wanted direct payment I would be willing to make a payment to an EMC fund, the Ubuntu fund or wherever the individuals might direct the payment. I am not comfortable receiving contributions (programming, computer build advice, etc.) that enable me to receive compensation from my customers and then keeping all the compensation. That would bug my business conscience. Suppliers that enable me to receive compensation from my customers deserve to receive a portion of the compensation. I would not necessarily care where the compensation payment went (EMC, annual EMC event, Ubuntu, Wikipedia, etc.). I would just want to make the payment. Like Doug, I would want to give back because I had received. These are the major points. If I am forgetting anything, it is minor. My thanks to Ray H., Matt S., Steve S., others who have taken time to explain various things about EMC and Linux and whoever was the individual that was so patient assisting me to get my first computer running with Ubuntu and EMC that discovered the problem preventing the correct execution of commands was my lack of knowledge that Unix based systems are case sensitive. All you programmers enjoy your amusement. :-) Does it make sense now that I need technical support? :-) My thanks to Paul C. who has patiently answered questions that went unanswered on the forum about Linux and EMC in terminology that a non-programmer can understand. I own a knee mill that could be retrofit with EMC. The mill is identical to the mill that Chris H. retrofit. It is a Hurco KM3P. Chris H. can run EMC with the current GUI. If I retrofit my mill for my use I can run with the current GUI. I would like to retrofit this mill and sell it. The current GUI's are not suitable for this. It also could be done with Ajax (Centroid in pieces, http://www.ajaxcnc.com/). The Centroid system is very reliable and technical support is available. For me, this system is the bench mark for comparison with an EMC system. In the same shop where my mill is located the owner's have a knee mill that they have offered me $5000.00 to retrofit. They have been very patiently waiting while I have been trying to find an individual(s) to do the items discussed above so that both of these mills could be retrofit with EMC. Well, Stuart, if you bothered to read all of this I think that you can appreciate as a business owner why I haven't stepped out with EMC. You do not do all the functions of your business. Your business relies on the knowledge, skill and experience of many people. Some of those people are key to the operation of your business. If they did not show for work, your business would limp very badly or not function at all. In order for my efforts with EMC to be successful, I must have an individual involved with my business who will address the software and computer hardware side of the system. Thanks for asking the question. Have a good day, Jim Fleig CNC Services ----- Original Message ----- From: "Stuart Stevenson" <[email protected]> To: "Enhanced Machine Controller (EMC)" <[email protected]> Sent: Friday, April 17, 2009 11:02 PM Subject: Re: [Emc-users] What's coming in manufacturing > why could you 'not go commercial'? > > On Fri, Apr 17, 2009 at 7:26 PM, Jim Fleig - CNC Services > <[email protected]> wrote: >> Prior to Doug offering to donate to EMC's development, I have made the >> same >> offer. Kirk correctly comments that this was not received >> enthusiastically. >> Why not? (Gentle "Why not?") Cars are manufactured for commercial sale >> and >> the number of car hobbyists and tinkerers is huge! What is missing in my >> perspective? It would seem to me that thankful commercial ventures like >> Doug, others and myself making contributions would enable EMC to organize >> and fund events, pay for web server time (I have to pay for my website to >> be >> on the internet), perhaps forward a percentage of the donations received >> by >> EMC to the Linux development, etc. Wouldn't the hobbyist and the >> tinkerer >> benefit from the advancements that may be driven by commercial need and >> commercial contribution to enable the need being met? >> >> Any comments Ray H., Steve S.? >> >> Jim >> >> PS (Comments above are my thoughts. I'm not mad at anybody and I am not >> seeking to "stir the pot". Just sharing my 2 cents and am interested in >> others perspective on this issue. I actually have turned down retrofit >> work >> due to the lack of ability to go commercial with this software. That was >> disappointing.) >> >> >> ----- Original Message ----- >> From: "Kirk Wallace" <[email protected]> >> To: "Enhanced Machine Controller (EMC)" <[email protected]> >> Sent: Monday, April 13, 2009 2:11 PM >> Subject: Re: [Emc-users] What's coming in manufacturing >> >> >>> On Mon, 2009-04-13 at 13:14 -0400, Doug Pollard wrote: >>>> I am am almost 75 years old and some kind of excited about this new >>>> industrial revolution that is creeping up on us all. >>> ... snip >>>> Wouldn't it be something if free software changed the economy of >>>> the >>>> whole world?? I find this really exciting stuff and it seems it may go >>>> as far as you can imagine. >>>> >>>> Doug >>> >>> I agree that the potential is there, but at this point it is hard to see >>> where this potential will go. >>> >>> The subject of donations to EMC2 has come up before, and it was not >>> received enthusiastically. I think that most of the developers feel that >>> this is a pastime, and bringing money into the mix would diminish the >>> fun. I am very curious about what could be done with EMC2 (and some sort >>> of CAM) if a more commercial approach where pursued. This may be an >>> indication that open source software and free software are are can be >>> very different ideas. >>> >>> -- >>> Kirk Wallace >>> http://www.wallacecompany.com/machine_shop/ >>> http://www.wallacecompany.com/E45/index.html >>> California, USA >>> >>> >>> ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ >>> This SF.net email is sponsored by: >>> High Quality Requirements in a Collaborative Environment. >>> Download a free trial of Rational Requirements Composer Now! >>> http://p.sf.net/sfu/www-ibm-com >>> _______________________________________________ >>> Emc-users mailing list >>> [email protected] >>> https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users >> >> >> ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ >> Stay on top of everything new and different, both inside and >> around Java (TM) technology - register by April 22, and save >> $200 on the JavaOne (SM) conference, June 2-5, 2009, San Francisco. >> 300 plus technical and hands-on sessions. Register today. >> Use priority code J9JMT32. http://p.sf.net/sfu/p >> _______________________________________________ >> Emc-users mailing list >> [email protected] >> https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users >> >> > > > > -- > you can lead a person to knowledge > but you cannot make him think > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ > Stay on top of everything new and different, both inside and > around Java (TM) technology - register by April 22, and save > $200 on the JavaOne (SM) conference, June 2-5, 2009, San Francisco. > 300 plus technical and hands-on sessions. Register today. > Use priority code J9JMT32. http://p.sf.net/sfu/p > _______________________________________________ > Emc-users mailing list > [email protected] > https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Stay on top of everything new and different, both inside and around Java (TM) technology - register by April 22, and save $200 on the JavaOne (SM) conference, June 2-5, 2009, San Francisco. 300 plus technical and hands-on sessions. Register today. Use priority code J9JMT32. http://p.sf.net/sfu/p _______________________________________________ Emc-users mailing list [email protected] https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users
