RE: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] purpose of the group

Answers from my view point follow

> 1. Is the group for home shop or commercial people? most of
> the email I
> have read seems to be focused toward commercial machines.

This group is oriented to home shop people. There are some commercial people
on the group and a number of home shop types that run second income business
from their home shop which may make then quasi commercial. Also, the
approach of may of the hobbyists is pretty high end and may make you thing
they are commercial.

> 2. Most of the software that is stated in the group seems to
> be commercial
> grade.

That is because most of the hobbyists find that commercial grade software is
just nicer to work with and less frustrating in the end. My feeling is if
you are going to have a CNC machine you need a CAD/CAM combination of some
sort. If you are going to hand code your g-code and build anything very
complex it will be a S L O W and frustrating process.

> 3. What is "EMC" that a lot of people seem to be using.
> Commercial or
> freeware?

EMC is the Enhanced Machine Controller. It is actually a technology transfer
piece developed by the National Institute of Standards and Technology. It is
currently public domain software. EMC is able to drive steppers through the
parallel port (that is how I have it set up also using the Camtronics 5 amp
controller) or it can drive servos with a Servo To Go card.

> 4. Why is Linux being used instead of Windows or Dos on a PC?

Linux is being used for EMC. They wanted a Real Time operating system and
found the ones available for Windows NT to de problematic and expensive.
Linux is able to be enhanced with an open source real time extension by
compiling a new kernel with the extensions in place. There are many people
on the list that are running other controller software on DOS and Windows.

> 5. Why is everyone interested in Servos and by passing steppers. The
> present mill retrofit that I am using uses steppers and have
> had no problem
> programming or running "G" code on it. The speed is
> appropiate and why is
> every one wanting speed.

The interest is servos is the closed loop positioning, the speed, and the
elimination of discrete steps (use steppers on a lathe and turn a long taper
and you will see the steps). Another thing is remember that most of us are
men and it is just never fast enough.

> I run a small home shop business and am using at present a
> CNC Mill and am
> working on a retrofit for a lathe. I have Dan's 5 amp 3 axis
> board that I
> am going to use.

Welcome aboard Earl. I look forward to hearing more about your setup.

Another thing about the list is that the topic of discussion will change
over time. It takes quite a few months to see it, but for a while the
discussion will focus on steppers and then it will wonder off to PIC based
DROs. Right now it is servos.

Tim
[Denver, CO]