Re: Mazatrol

Ballendo,

What does it really mean to have a PC based controller?

On one level we have the low end systems like Ahha, which are truly
based on a garden-variety PC.

Then I see the higher end controllers advertising as being PC based.
I think Vickers is one, Mazak (?) and for sure, Autocon. But you ask
these people if you can replace their motherboards with a generic
board and the answer is always, NO!! (I've had salesmen tell me the
advantage of being PC based is you can get repair components from
your local Radio Shack....not likely, I think).

I'm wondering if this "PC based" business is more advertising hype
than anything else. My guess is you're still stuck buying high
priced proprietary boards.

thanks,

Doug

--- In CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@egroups.com, ballendo@y... wrote:
> Hello all,
>
> I mentioned in an earlier thread that it is not uncommon in RECENT
> commercial cnc machines(like Mazac) for there to be up to 5(five!)
> PC's "hiding" under the hood. One (or more) for motion (with a high-
> end motion card(s),another for GUI (as you describe), another for
> IO,process management,etc.
>
> The number five was from a machine a few years ago. It is entirely
> conceivable that with the increased memory and speed of today's PC,
> that it would only take one (EMC is just such an example) or maybe
> two.
>
> Ballendo