Re: EHP External Hardware Proposal

----- Original Message -----
From: hansw
To: CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@onelist.com
Sent: Tuesday, February 01, 2000 10:44 PM
Subject: Re: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO]EHP External Hardware Proposal


From: hansw <hansw@...>



It appears there is not real standard for G-Code, just bits and snippets everywhere, some committee has folded and appears not
to have done a good job.. See previous postings about this...

I guess I missed the previous Postings. Here is the standard:

: ANSI/EIA 274-D-1980 (R1988): Interchangeable
Variable Block Data Format for Positioning, Contouring, and
Contouring/Positioning Numerically Controlled Machines.

Here is an interesting link from a school with lots of nice pictures and words about CNC (they have a copy of the standard in their library):

http://iesu5.ieem.ust.hk/dfaculty/ajay/courses/ieem215/lecs/CNC.html


The problem with G-code is not the standard, but the fact that manufacturers of controllers have historically ignored it and taken advantage of the fact that there are some optional ranges of G-codes that were intentionally left up to their discretion. Most of them also add non-standard things into the "standard" words for "competitive" advantage.

Also along this same thread, I personally reject ANY solution that requires Windows NT OS. The per seat license is outrageous and you will spend more on that OS than the savings in time between the Linux installation problems. Really, the only acceptable hobbyist solution is to utilize the goldmine of used wintel boxes that all were OEM licensed for either Dos or Win95/98. A typical 486 or pentium machine does not have enough hard drive to support Linux, but has plenty of gusto on the parallel or Rs232 port to do this kind of project. Best of all they can be purchased NEW for under $250, and used ones, while not quite a dime a dozen, are probably found for less than $100.00, WITH MONITOR! I think that is why Tom Kaluga's DRO project was so popular.


Best Regards,

Fred Smith
IMService

imserv@...
Phone: 248-486-3600 or 800-386-1670
Fax:248-486-3698


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