(CIM) Wooden Block CIM whitepaper

Here is a link to the Home Shop CIM white paper that I promised earlier:

http://tkosan.javadevices.org/jcim/files/home_shop_cim_white_paper.pdf

My intent is to use this whitepaper as a guide for actually building
the software and hardware needed to implement the vision it describes.

I will be at a software conference all next week so if anyone has any
questions or comments on the whitepaper I will probably not be
able to address them until I get back.

Ted


PS, here is an excerpt from the whitepaper that describes what a
snap-together CNC controller might look like:

<excerpt>

Snap Together CNC Controller (concept)

(This section is not finished but here is how a snap-together CNC
controller scenario might work:)

a. Assume that a 3 axis CNC router has had servo motors attached to
it and that each servo motor is driven by a GeckoDrive
(http://GeckoDrive.com).

b. Assume that a box which we will call an 'Outpost'
(http://embedlets.org) is available which can be attached to an
Ethernet network and also to a GeckoDrive. The Outpost can produce
TTL compatible step-speed and step-direction signals and it can also
take error, emergency and limit switch signals as inputs. An Outpost
has been attached to each GeckoDrive on the CNC router.

c. Assume that one Windows, Linux or Macintosh PC (or Tablet or PDA)
is available and that it has a Java enabled web browser installed on
it (probably either Microsoft Internet Explorer or Mozilla).

d. A $40 Ethernet switch and cables are available.


1. Snap the PC into the Ethernet hub.

2. Snap the X axis Outpost into the Ethernet hub and power it up.

3. Power up the PC and the Outpost will configure its network
settings (using DHCP).

4. Bring up a browser and enter 'outpost.org' in the URL bar (a mini
DNS server on the Outpost will translate this URL into the IP address
of the Outpost).

5. The Outpost serves a web page (which contains a Java Applet) to
the browser. A Java applet is a fully functional GUI application that
runs inside of a web browser and so the Outpost's Graphical User
Interface lives inside of the Outpost itself.

6. The Java Applet asks what kind of a system the Outpost is attached
to and it gives the following options:

- Milling Machine.
- Lathe.
- Plasma Cutter.
- Wood Router.
- Robot.
- Work Cell.
- etc.

7. 'Wood Router' is selected.

8. The applet then asks how may axes the machine has and '3' is entered.

9. A graphic image of a CNC router is shown on the screen and the
user is then asked which axis the Outpost is attached to (X, Y or Z).
'X' is entered, the X axis motor lights up on the graphic router
image and then an axis configuration window appears which allows the
user to configure it. Configuration consists of entering information
like distance per step, axis length, backlash, maximum speed, etc.

10. After the X axis has been configured, the user is prompted to
power up the Y axis Outpost. As soon as the second Outpost powers up
the Y axis motor lights up on the graphic router image and a window
appears which allows the user to configure it.

11. The same procedure is followed for the Z axis.

12. The applet is then told to switch from configuration mode into
run mode and the controller is now ready to start producing parts.
After the initial configuration, the Outposts can be powered up in any
order and the CNC router's GUI interface will always come up in run
mode by default.

Notice that the router's CNC controller is actually a network
application that distributes itself across as many network nodes as
needed in order to fulfill its function.




Snap Together CIM workcell (concept, can be found at the end of the
whitepaper)


</excerpt>