Re: What is Cad/ CAM, Controllers and... opinions

Tom,
Thanks for your reply.

I was not a machinist when I started on this CNC path either. I HAVE
been building "things" my whole life.

>I was under the impression this group was setup for those
>that wanted to have this as a hobby.

Of course. But like Frank Klaus(a Hungarian trained MASTER furniture
maker) says, "If you're a hobbyist, you have even LESS time to get
things done".

I can pretty easily jump from my "work" mentality to my "play" mode.
And try hard to assess the desires of those I respond to in this
list, so I'm wearing the right "hat" when I answer.

>Yes, DOS is a lovely OS. It runs with a minimum of overhead, rarely
>locks up or just dies with a blue screen. One of the reasons I want
>to use Windows is that I can put down a Windows program and six
>weeks or six months later fire it up and I don't have to re-learn
>all the commmands.

I just posted that ANY program written today "should" respect and
incorporate WINxx keystrokes and conventions. My formerly decent
typing has been destroyed by the use of CNC s/w. "If in MaxNC, press
5, if in stepster, pressF6"."Now where/what was that key?"

CNC is NOT TYPICAL PC USAGE! There are a slew of safety and
environment issues that NO windows program( in the general
marketplace, of course there are the control and process uses; these
usually have extensive HARDWARE support and specialized users.)has to
contend with.

>I wanted to be able to use the computers I have running on a small
>network without changing operating systems.

Boot(or reboot) to DOS is no big deal.

>Heck all I want is to cut out mud flap covers! Its not fair to
>expect everyone to have to deal with the baggage that some of the
>more complex systems carry when all they want to do is the simple
>stuff.

Did you try Kcam? It's perfect for the simple stuff. And so are some
of the others you dismissed.

I think you say simple stuff, but you mean simply done? And for you,
that means windows. And that means leaving out some GOOD choices,
where simplicity is concerned, either for usage OR setup. OK, but you
gotta live with the parameters of your choice.

For example,6 months ago, people were putting up with a "lot of
hassles" just to use EMC. Now they are enjoying the fruits of their
choice as EMC has hit its' stride, and improvements come very often.

>...when maybe all you wanted to do was have some fun and build a
>quick WEB site with those "candy" tools like FrontPage. You wouldn't
>want to spend the learning curve on how to use all those other
>tools.

But I WOULD STILL have the learning curve of Frontpage. And for me,
even this "candy" program, may be dificult. While someone else sits
by , thinking, Sheesh!, what a moron!

>I made disclaimers that it was MY saga and what I was looking for.

Yes, and I've acknowledged this. (and believe you're right to remind
others of your position)

>I am not a Gates groopee. I have cussed the "W" system for years.

Ooooohhh! Is this DENIAL !!! :-) (just kidding, REALLY!!)

>It was kinda nice the other day though when I had to install a new
>modem card in a Win98 box and it took 10 minutes start to finish.

Yes, I think we ALL appreciate plug-and-play, when it works(and it's
getting better)

>How about you guys spend some of your time and write some reports on
>what you think is the best solution and which programs are better
>for what. I see requests all the time in the group about newbies
>wanting advice on software and systems and rarely do they get many
>replies.

If you do a search of Ballendo, you will see nearly 300 posts! I DO
spend time trying to help people get the results THEY want. Hopefully
others on the list will back this up.

Problem is: (this is a quote from the book "microsoft secrets by
michael A. Cusumano and Richard W. Selby, MS set up an internal lab
to WATCH what people, both experienced and not, REALLY do when using
their S/W)

"...There's often a very big gap between what people say they do and
what they actually do- that was the other thing we noticed"

And as My eval of your eval points out, we all need and/or want
different things.

The tough part is keeping the "newbie eye", If you're left handed eat
dinner with the right hand tomorrow, you'll see what I mean. It's
easy to forget what it was like to be new at this. Things like your
"saga" help me remember. But, now I want to share with you what I've
learned, and you may not be ready for it yet. Understanding, and/or
acceptance.

I am on this list to learn, and to help others learn. I don't always
agree with everyone, but that's ok. They don't always agree with me
either.

Ballendo

P.S. When I said I was disappointed, I meant that I hoped there would
be more of this "thru newbie eyes" eval and since your original
parameters were so strict, not as much of this came thru. I DID NOT
mean to say it wasn't valid or pertinent. Push on, friend.