Gentlemen, I had a machine tool dealer/long time personal friend stop by last week. I have known him since 1989. He tried to hire me as his service department in 1993. I have purchased three new machines and one used machine from him but no machines since I started putting controls on old iron. The Cinci at MPM is the used machine I purchased from him. I give you that as background. In 1997 I installed MDSI's OpenCNC on three 5 axis mills. He was apprised of the situation from the beginning. When I would explain what I was doing his eyes would glaze over as this information would not result in a machine sale for him. Last week he asked me if LinuxCNC has tool length compensation and cutter compensation and work piece offsets. After all these years he still had to ask as there is no way a control you download free can do anything real. I said yes and tried to explain to him about the LinuxCNC kinematics I wrote to correct the geometry on the Cinci 5 axis. Again, I saw the eyes glaze over. How could he make profit on the purchase of an old machine and installing a free control even if it was a better than new machine when you finished? I don't have a killer UI to show him. All I have is UI the operators will use but not tell people they prefer over other control UIs. The UI acceptance is critical as the person in control of the purse is not usually the one running the machine (in the environment of this conversation). The operator must be able to explain the benefits of using the control and without a sweet UI the explanation of benefits will never happen. The conundrum I see is without the prospect of commercial profit you will get no interest in implementation of LinuxCNC in the commercial world no matter how much better it is compared to as it is now with the software free and the developers giving their time without monetary compensation. Several years ago I had a dealer bring his importer for a visit. During the conversation I asked if they would allow me buy a machine without a control. After they discussed it for a minute they agreed to allow me to buy a new machine without a control. I was not in a position to take advantage at that time but I believe it could be done today (maybe easier). I have considered what it would be like to have a new machine with LinuxCNC controlling it at IMTS. That would be expensive and how would I be able to recover my expenses? It could easily cost USD50,000.00 to show a machine at IMTS. No doubt it would be fun but profitable? Probably not. For me that is not a problem as I like it the way it is now. You have a problem? Start on the solution. When you come to a hard spot ask for help. You will find help to solve your problem. How could it get any better?
Embedded would/could be nice. Dedicated kernel would/could be nice. This seems to be a step closer to proprietary and away from the 'free' nature of what we have now. Again I say, I like it the way it is now. There are many questions regarding these steps not the least is maintenance. The developer/releaser of the embedded dedicated kernel would have a maintenance obligation at some level. That could be very expensive. I would hate to have to pay/back pay the current/prior slate of developers. What a contribution has been wrought from them. They somehow justify in their lives and I appreciate it. thanks Stuart -- Addressee is the intended audience. If you are not the addressee then my consent is not given for you to read this email furthermore it is my wish you would close this without saving or reading, and cease and desist from saving or opening my private correspondence. Thank you for honoring my wish. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ _______________________________________________ Emc-developers mailing list Emc-developers@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-developers
