Re: Black boxes

Paul,

Thank you for ther clarification(s). So the opencnc claims are hype.
Is this firsthand knowledge? BTW, I didn't mean to imply that open
cnc WAS "open" in the s/w sense of the word.

I was "patent searching" some months back and I think I saw their
system details (might have been anothers, but it DID have an
interesting approach) Now that the entire US patent archive (To the
1790's) is easily searchable online, this stuff can be addictive (tho
viewing the pics/drawings can be frustrating as a "not widespread"
pic format is used, but there is a free viewer (however it won't run
on two of my computers))

It is good to hear that there are other interface cards being worked
on for EMC.

Ballendo

--- In CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@y..., Paul <Paul.Corner@t...> wrote:
>
> Hi Ballendo
>
> I took a look at this thing a couple of years ago - Over £4000 for
the
> software plus another £1500-2000 for the hardware. Although the
encoder-servo
> loop is closed by the software, interface cards are still required
to connect
> to the outside world.
> And Open it ain't - Try asking some detailed questions about the
inner
> workings or express an interest in the source code. The API might
be readily
> available, but this hardly qualifies it as "open" IMO.
>
> Whilst EMC may only have drivers for one interface card at present,
several
> users are using alternatives, and I know of at least two projects
to increase
> the range of supported cards. Having free access to the source code
is a
> great help when it comes to writing new drivers.
>
> Regards, Paul.
>
>
>
> On Friday 25 January 2002 9:37 am, ballendo wrote:
>
> > Proprietary, at least in my dictionary, means "exclusively
> > owned /private", or "befitting an owner"...
>
> > On another point you raise, No, we have not reached the end of the
> > line "hitching our star" to desktop pc's. The OpenCNC control is
> > entirely software based, runs in windows: http://www.mdsi2.com
It is
> > a very advanced control; only its price prevents more widespread
use.