Re: Interface. Gauging interest.

Hi Phil,

Not sure what you are basing this opinion on, but, don't expect RS274
(or simply put, G-Code programming) to go away. The most complex
shapes that are machined today are done with G-codes on ordinary CNC
machines all over the world.

The G-Code method of programming has been around since the beginning
of CNC, and will remain there, probably forever. There really isn't
anything lacking with it, nor is there anything that can't be machined
with it.

There have been a number of attempts over the years to "change the
world", most have failed, some have done okay. For example, at one
point in time, it was thought that programming on the shop floor was
the best way to get things done. During that phase, control mfgs. came
out with various "Conversational" controls which were somewhat of a
CAM system on top of the basic G-Code interpreting control.

While this method of programming is still around and still applicable
in short-run shops, production shops frown on it as being very
inefficient. I mean really, you have a $150,000.00+ machine tool
being used as a $5,000.00 CAM system.

As to the various flavors of G-Code programming, there have been many
attempts to change and it seems as though every control mfg puts their
own little spin on it. But it's still the basic G-Code and cartesian
coordinate system that gets the work done on machine tools.

So, while you may think it is "Crap", the leaders in the machine tool
industry put their money on G-Code programming as THE method of
programming CNC machines.

Don't expect it to change anytime soon.

Chris

> After a careful reading of the various flavors of RS274 it looks to

me like

> RS274NGC is pretty much an outdated piece of crap when it comes to

machine

> control, surviving only by virtue of familiarity and inertia. Not

that I

> think it is going away any time soon, but it certainly doesn't look

like

> golden handcuffs if you're interested in the general motion-control

market.

> I suspect it may not really have much of a strangle-hold on the

hobby CNC

> market either, since that will have many new-comers if it is in fact

growing

> rapidly.