if there was a simple interface where the operator selected from a menu / dropdown box what threads need to be on each side, load a plug into the machine and hit go... it might be pretty feasable. i think the problem would be convincing stores to buy the machine as opposed to ordering loads of fittings to make things work.
reminds me of when i recently replaced brake lines on a family member's minivan. I could either buy lots of lines and adaptors, or some steel line, 4 fittings and a flaring tool. I passed the decision to the family member, and they ended up spending more on fittings and adapters than i would have on the flaring tool. It sure would have been nice to have the option of specifying the threads i needed and have the fittings offed right there on the spot instead of having to use the adapters and everything. On Thu, Dec 31, 2009 at 12:47 PM, Kirk Wallace <kwall...@wallacecompany.com> wrote: > I was at the local hardware store buying brass fittings, of course I had > to buy three fittings each to get a connector with the two ends that I > needed. I got to shooting the breeze with the counter person and the > conversation wandered a bit but an idea came to mind. > > I wonder if it would be commercially viable to have an small EMC2 CNC > machine setup which would use hex and round stock to make standard > fittings from a customer request, very much like a key machine. It may > be possible to fit the machine in the same space that would be taken up > by a decently stocked shelf. No matter what fitting was needed, as long > as the machine had brass rod, the fitting would be in stock. The chips > could be recycled and send back as new hex or rounds. I think the major > issue would be to set up the software so that a typical sales person > could handle the customer request and monitor the machine. With EMC2's > tapered threading a steel pipe machine could be set up too. Again the > software would need to properly prompt a sales person to load the > machine and check the pipe for proper pipe placement and size. If you > wanted to get fancy and had the space, the pipe machine could have an > auto loader with 20 meter lengths of pipe which could be threaded and > cut to a customer's cut list. > > Anyone have thoughts on using an application specific EMC2 in a retail > setting? > > -- > Kirk Wallace > http://www.wallacecompany.com/machine_shop/ > http://www.wallacecompany.com/E45/index.html > California, USA > > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ > This SF.Net email is sponsored by the Verizon Developer Community > Take advantage of Verizon's best-in-class app development support > A streamlined, 14 day to market process makes app distribution fast and easy > Join now and get one step closer to millions of Verizon customers > http://p.sf.net/sfu/verizon-dev2dev > _______________________________________________ > Emc-users mailing list > Emc-users@lists.sourceforge.net > https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users > ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ This SF.Net email is sponsored by the Verizon Developer Community Take advantage of Verizon's best-in-class app development support A streamlined, 14 day to market process makes app distribution fast and easy Join now and get one step closer to millions of Verizon customers http://p.sf.net/sfu/verizon-dev2dev _______________________________________________ Emc-users mailing list Emc-users@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users
