Re: What is everyone doing, building, wanting to learn?

Tim,

I am one of the silent majority on this list. I have read all the
pertinent contributions to my cause for the last ten months and have
learned many things.
I am the proud owner of a Bridgeport Series I CNC Boss 6 rigid ram
three stepper motor (x,y,z) vertical knee mill.

My plan is as follows:
1. Build a phase converter, for which I have obtained the components
and plans already (10 HP).
2. Attempt to fire up the mill with its existing Boss 6 control,
just to see if it works, which, even if it does it may not be
practical for me long term due to the high cost of maintenance(I've
located a California based maintenance outfit).
3. Select a combination of hardware/ operating system/ software,
etc. that is:
A. PC based, because it is IMO less expensive in the lang haul and
is and is my personal preferance and is the industry trend as I see
it.
B. User friendly. I do not wish to learn Linux, EMC, or any other
mind bending topics if it can be avoided. Ideally I am looking for a
windows based system possibly utilizing a PCI or ISA motion control
card plus motor drivers from suppliers on this list and some
relatively low cost, user friendly software.
4. This off the shelf control card will control either stepper
motors (Bridgeport originals) or possibly some servo motors, on a
future upgrade some time in the near future.
5. I am content to watch and learn from the pioneers on this list,
the ones with arrows sticking out of their backsides, by virtue of
their experiences. Therefore my contribution to this list will not
be in the first wave but will hopefully follow closely behind. I am
currently focussing on resolving numbers 3 & 4 above. Any input in
these areas is greatly appreciated. As my progress unfolds I'll
submit an update to the list. Thank you all for your numerous and
insitefull contributions.

Respectfully, George Maithonis

--- In CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@egroups.com, "Tim Goldstein" <timg@k...> wrote:
> I was just reviewing past messages and it is amazing. We have
almost 1000
> people on this list and there are only about 10 of us that
regularly say
> things and probably only 30 or so that have even posted in the past
month.
>
> What is going on with the rest of you? If you are trying to learn
this
> stuff, start asking some questions so we can have some discussion
on topics
> other than the esoteric. If you are a pro already please jump in
and share
> your knowledge. Tell the group what you are building, what you want
to
> build, what you have made that was a failure. Come on, there has to
be more
> happening out in our collective workshops than BSing about
digitizers most
> of us will never build and writing G-code parsers most of us will
never
> write. Don't mean to disparage these topics, but they are not high
on my
> list of exciting discussion topics. Let's hear about cutting some
metal and
> making chips or sparks (didn't want to forget the EDM part of our
name).
>
> Tim
> [Denver, CO]
> On the quest to broaden our discussions