Re: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] Re: Thanks Mariss/Where are you!

Hi Jerry:

>>Would this product eliminate the need for EMC, CncPro, Master5, TurboCNC,
>>etc.? If so, it sure sounds like a winner.

I suspect that some people will think my opinion is tarnished by being an
author of a CNC controller, but really I would be all for a good black box
controller.

I suspect that where it will lead is to the realization that to get constant
velocity countouring from such a box, will require enough computing power
and look ahead that the micro-core will have to be upgraded almost to the
level of the computer connecting to it. On the other hand, if this nut can
be cracked, I think Marris is just the guy to do it.
I don't think that a box of this kind can replace controller software,
but if Marris can do it, it will make programs much more robust and easy to
write and may even create a more standard method of interfacing to
controller software. This would allow the programmers to make much richer
featured programs for control that add more toys with much fewer problems.
Movement algorithms are , as Marris says, rather easy in and of themselves,
but the coordination between them and the control of the cycle times and
such is not. Personally I would welcome such a box at a reasonable price
that can control systems without the setup problems almost all control
programs experience on some systems, but I find it hard to believe it can
all be compressed into a box small enough and cheap enough to do the job on
a systemic basis. After all, this is exactly what the Compumotor and Parker
box's do. You send the commands via ascii through a serial line to the box,
it then computes trajectories, profiles, etc. and the movement is
spectacular. (So is the price). If Mariss can pull it off at a more
reasonable price, it will definitely create a change in the controller
software field. It seems that whenever Ebay sells another compumotor box
with intelligent ascii drive, I get another letter asking if I can support
sending ascii out the serial port. Few progams do. It would not be a difficu
lt program to write, but it is such a design change that unless there is a
reasonably priced box for general use, it wouldn't be worth writing. Most
people won't pay $1500.00 per axis for a drive system for home use. It would
be a great thing to have though. I get a lot of complaints about limited
software for all these type of products because the software to drive them
is limited usually to DOS or propritary software which is sold for big
bucks. Hopefully Marris can build one in the price range of us Home
Hackers. Oh, how nice the software will become. If I didn't have to worry
about the pulseing, I think I could lose myself in the design work of an
interface to drive such a beast. So many toys to code, so little time.

Just a 2Cent opinion.
Art
Master5 Software
http://users.andara.com/~fenerty/master.htm