PC based machine control - Was Re: Re: Re: Re: CNC Etch-A-Sketch, EggBot

>    From: Chris L <datac@...>
> Subject: Re: Re: Re: CNC Etch-A-Sketch, EggBot

<s>

>Even though there are many who despise the concept of PC
> in control, It sure looks like it is going to go there.
>
> I can see where the Cad/Cam production world and Industrial
> communication thru Browsers will indeed collide very soon. We may all
> need to know machine code and the related "code" for html, Intranet and
> Extranet use very soon. <s>

Chris L

There has been some lively discussion of this on the Automation List
<LISTSERV@...> Many of the PE's report attacks on their
process and machine control networks coming through the office and
extranet connections. I've been around several computer controlled
processes that I wouldn't want exposed to hackers, viruses and other
creeping things.

I don't have any objection to the notion of making process stats available
to other networks but exposing the control buttons and the whole process
logic through a two-way connection is stupid. How many times have they
had to tow that PC controlled warship home to the debug dock? Hey I got
nervous at NIST when Fred Proctor logged into their EMC powered minimill
from his office. It wasn't visions of sugarplums I had dancing in my
head!

It's one thing to let the guy in the air conditioned office know that it's
taken you nine minutes to change a 300 lb casting in the lathe. It's a
whole other world to give him even the possibility of remote chuck clamp
and cycle start buttons! And then you get the hotshot who comes along and
proclaims that he has the security smarts to prevent unexpected intrusion.
Microsoft's XP security assertion and emerging issues ought to be
sufficient proof of concept here.

RayH