Writing programs, volunteers needed for information

Hello list,

Firstly, I hope with the weekened here we can all have a rest and try to
come down from what happened this week, I know I will be trying. I also hope
the list can return to turning simple questions into funny stories from many
a year a go. I look forward to the reading. I'm looking for some help with
something. I mentioned possibly writing a small tool that could be of use
calculating torques, transverse speed and all the rest for use with cnc gear
as a school IT project. The problem, collecting resources! We've been asked
to write a letter to a company to ask what they need in a piece of software
and the likes. I'm no genius but I know when Pacific Scientific see a letter
arrive asking if they need help from an IT student with their $3000 programs
the first thing that'll happen is it'll be coverted to shreaded form, then
it'll go to the bins. The best idea I could think of was to ask on an actual
CNC list then compile any answers into my resources. It's nothing
complicated really since it's what we talk about all the time anyway. If you
could tell me any ideas you'd like to see in a CNC related program I'd be
very grateful, absolutely anything at all. Like, for instance, a section
that finds transverse speeds using the screw's pitch through such and such a
gear ratio. Or perhaps a dictionary of a number of metals and plastics that
lists their typical properties and uses? Or a list of the types of tooling
with a picture and explanation for beginners? Anything. If you feel like
typing, please do. Hopefully, if I'm anywhere near as okay with computers as
I think I am, it may be of some use.

Thanks for any help at all,
John He

(It's He now because I've found there are even John H's on the lists so it's
getting tricky finding who's who)