EMC, Was Re: CAD experiment entry

--- In CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com, Jon Elson <elson@...> wrote:
--SNIP----
> Yes, the "live CD" will operate a real machine, although you can't
> easily save the setup file after configuring it for your machine.
> There is a "sim" version that allows you to try the GUI, etc. without
> needing a real-time OS.

Jon, can you post a link to where someone would go to get the Live CD so they can try EMC?

Also, where is the best place on the net to go to ask questions and get help with the learning curve to get started.

Not trying to move this EMC discussion off the list. I think it is appropriate for CCED to be a forum to discuss various product in a neutral environment. But if someone really wants to get started or learn the real in depth details, I am guessing that there are already groups supporting it.

----snip------
> Well, there are other reasons. First, it handles real servos, which is
> my "bag". By "real", I mean with the servo loop closed by the PC, so
> you can constantly monitor the following error and other performance
> details.

For the sake of those just getting involved, I want to point out that there are different approaches to servos. One is driven like a stepper with pulses being sent to the drive with each step telling the drive to move the motor 1 increment (usually an encoder pulse) and then the drive electronics tracking the movement and adjusting accordingly. In this setup it is open loop as far as the computer is concerned. So the controller program does not actually know where the axis being moved really is. A very viable and low cost servo approach that gives you the acceleration and speed benefits of a servo. I have my Bridgeport series II (known by all the old timers on the group as Bridgett) running Gecko G320 drives which are this style.

The other approach that Jon is talking about is a more robust and generally higher performance method, where the feedback is brought all the way back to the control program so the system knows exactly where the axis is. This is the norm on industrial machines like my Haas mill and lathe. It has lots of advantages, but is more complex to understand and set up. Jon is a pro on this style of servo and designed and sold drive to do it back when most of us were just excited to see our computer make a bare stepper motor turn.

> It handles additional axes with coordinated motion, robots,
> hexapods, and other machines with different kinematics.

Speaking of hexapods, does anyone know of any hobby priced version or achievable DIY approaches? They are fasinating machines. If you don't know what one is you need to Google it. Maybe someone can post some links and we can talk about the pluses and minuses.

> Most Mach
> development seems to be in the are of screen sets, who the hell CARES?

Jon, I agree with you on this one. As I said before I have used EMC previously and was pretty active with it. Wrote an installer script for the first version many years ago. I actually like the clean lean industrial controller approach that EMC uses. Definitely more in line with what I am now used to on my Haas machines.

But, I talked to Art about it once. Not sure if he would admit to it in public, but what he told me was every time he added a button or widget to the screen he sold more licenses.

So here again, I think we have the industrial single purpose approach that EMC followed as it was intened as industrial grade harware and the hobbyist approach where turning your controller into a swiss army knife style widget is seen as desirable.

DIfferent strokes, but for the machine I have Mach on I wish it had an industrial/EMC style lean and mean interface.

> Most of the EMC2 development has been in extending the machining
> capabilities. Oh, also EMC2 supports rigid tapping, which I now use in
> production here. That alone is totally COOL, when you are drilling and
> tapping MANY holes. I get these combined drill-taps, so I can spot,
> drill and tap in one operation.

I agree rigid tapping is not only cool, it is amazing. On the Haas we tap 10-32 holes using a roll tap (thread forming tap, no chips) at 1000 RPM in and out. Rigid tapping alone would be a good reason to look at EMC.


> The license cost of Mach is totally insignificant. Just buy some
> toolholders for a mill or something.

Spoken like a true commercial guy. Productivity and reliablity are all far more important to me than the up front cost. But to the hobbyist, the $150 (at least what it was when I used to sell licenses) for a Mach license can be something that holds them back.

> I just won't feel confident with a stepper
> driven metal-cutting machine.

I have to disagree on this. I have full closed loop servo machines, open loop servo machine, and stepper machines. They all work and make fine parts. Different capacity and performance, but all capable of making a to tolerance piece.

But I do agress that the closed loop servo is higher performance and can be run faster. Being a guy, faster and higher performance is always something I would prefer <g>.

Jon, can you also post a link to where someone can get more details and pricing on your products for servos?


Thanks,
Tim Goldstein
A2Z Corp
A2Z CNC division
3955 S Mariposa St
Englewood CO 80110
720 833-9300
Toll Free 877 754-7465

www.A2ZCorp.us/store
USA made accessories for desktop mills & lathes.
Specialized tools for the jewelry industry.