Been doing a bit of research on conversation mode. From memory, the chaps at John's work use the conversation mode exclusively.
I am and ex programmer and written off line code for both the SWI Trak CNC and my Anilam Lathe. The Anilam uses g-code, the mill not. For the mill, I create the Gcode from the DXF, create the paths using sheetcam and turn that into conversational code for the mill. ?? Why you ask, the running of the machine is so simple. The other reason is Why Not. I can do up to 99 procedures and to date, the most I have had is 78. I get part students on occasion to run the machine and I can train them to run it in a very short time. No Computer work requited to run the machine and make small adjustments. I do all the original DXF to conversational conversion. SWI and MackMotion do 'retrofits' provided you buy all the hardware. Starting at $9000. Maybe there is a gap here to make a full working environment in Linux CNC that uses conversation mode exclusively. No reason to not add Gcode, but the mission statement is make parts without Gcode. Shouldn't be that hard, my machine uses a Motorola 68000 and does it all. Some of the parts I make http://www.marshland.co.nz/ftp/Misc/Parts.JPG http://www.marshland.co.nz/ftp/Misc/Machining.JPG http://www.marshland.co.nz/ftp/Misc/Pendant.JPG PS I think my machine has made close to $1 million over the 15 years. Not bad for a $10 investment and this includes $5k for the shipping to NZ. Wallace _______________________________________________ Emc-users mailing list Emc-users@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users
