RE: Re: Why Linux?

Ron -

Here's my vote for I-LPT as the driver for your VB frontend. I've been
looking for a VB frontend for I-LPT ever since I first heard about it. (I
can't believe they don't offer a Flashcut clone, minus the box!!). I agree
with your feelings against developing your own .DLL, since Indexer already
exists, and I hear it's very smooth, fast, has excellent lookahead, and etc.
I stay away from DOS, and even further from anything else, and see many
benefits with sticking to a Windows interface. I'll admit, I have enough
problems with Windows, and keeping everything on my machine working together
is already enough of a challenge. But I'm a one-OS kind of guy, and I need
Windows for work... I'm planning on checking out Hoyt McKagen's DOS
frontend, and I'm really impressed with the functionality and flexibility he
claims; I just wish it was Windows. I'd love to see customizable scripts in
a Windows app. like what he supports; I can't see why you wouldn't include
that in any "translator" that writes to Indexer. I'd use custom scripts for
the usual canned cycles, plus for running an automatic tool changer, for
operating a mill in die-sinker EDM mode, for creating hybrid
positioning/robotic system, etc, etc.

If you're talking about collaboration, I'd love to help in any way I could.
I've got experience in developing detailed product specs. and GUI's for
machine control, if that's any help.

Carlos Guillermo

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Ron Ginger [mailto:ginger@...]
> Sent: Wednesday, October 13, 1999 3:37 PM
> To: CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@onelist.com
> Subject: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] Re: Why Linux?
>
>
> From: Ron Ginger <ginger@...>
>
> I will stay out of the flame war, but this is an interesting topic.
> Someone just re-posted my original note describing my AcuRite clone. I
> have been thinking about this for some time. Here is my delima:
>
> I have a working AcuRite clone under Win95/VB. Its only real drawback is
> the lack of real time control- once I send the motors off on a move my
> VB gode is completely locked up in a .ddl. I cant abort the cut, and I
> cant update the display to show whats happening. The program does work,
> and I have made real parts with it. Ive also extended it to read g-code
> generated from Bobcad, and I can output real AcuRite files, which my
> friend can run on his real AcuRite.
>
> I see a couple solutions to this:
>
> 1) I have considered fixing this by buying I-LPT. I bought an old
> version (my very first expirement with the Sherline lathe) but I would
> need the new version to get the real-time control.
>
> 2) I bought a Tiny Tiger microprocessor and implemented the movement
> function in this. I can communicate to this via a serial line. This
> works, but it requires an external hardware box, and Ive knocked
> FlashCut for that, Im not to eager to follow it. If I ever consider
> selling my software, I dont want to also get into the hardware business.
>
> 3) I could try to write a real-time .dll, but that is re-inventing
> I-LPT, and would still have the limitations of WIN95, and be caugh up in
> the endless upgrade to support Microsoft.
>
> I have considered moving my project to use EMC/Linux. (I am a senior
> Unix consultant in real life, for which people may my company outrageous
> ammounts of money for me to administer their unix systems) I can cope
> with Linux just fine. But, the GUI tools on Linux are weak. I have a
> rough start on a VB like program using Perl/Tk- It puts up a toolbox
> window, you click controls, place them on a form, and the perl code
> writes the perl/tk code to run that form. You would 'simply' have to
> write the callback code. To finish this I need the tk to emc binding,
> which Fred recently said he was doing.
>
> Is there anyone else here that would consider joining some kind of
> collabrative project to develop this under EMC/Linux?
>
> Is it more valuale to continue with the WIN95/VB track?
>
> Or should I chuck this whole thing and return to making models, which is
> why I got into all this in the first place!
>
> ron
> http://www.ultranet.com/~ginger
>
>
>
> ron
>
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