Gentlemen, My EMC2 world - FWIW In this world there are no limits. With NCL as a cam system and EMC2 as a control there are no limits in the programming/motion control world. EMC2 has added/removed items/ideas from my life. One of the major removals has been my desire to go to IMTS. Until this year I had only missed one since 1990. I did not go this year. I have no interest. I was walking through one of the pavilions in 2008 and realized 'with EMC2 I can do anything these displays have'. Result - IMTS ruined. No problem - I don't miss it. I have 5 machines with EMC2 running them. Two 3 axis mills and one 5 axis mill are running parts (commercial?). One 4 axis mill awaits more mechanical repair. One robot awaits more repair, development and configuration. Wonder of wonder - much of this is by me. This is not a problem either. :) I am a later arrival to this game. I do not know many of the people involved in EMC prior to a few years ago. Why do I not know them? Well, life happens, circumstances change. One of the developers I know has been not very involved recently. When I asked regarding his status I was told his comment is 'EMC2 pretty much does what I want it to do'. His contribution to EMC2 is tremendous. I met one of the 'EMC/EMC2 old timers'. He has not been involved because of life/family/business developments. Life has an ebb and flow process. EMC/EMC2 has a life. People have lives. It would be very nice if the best person in each area would devote their time to do the projects I want done. Somehow I must accept the fact this may not happen all the time. Que Sera Sera - I will live with it. As I have opportunity I will get to know people involved now. I expect some new people to become involved and some current people to become less involved or disappear completely. There exists an EMC based CNC product in the commercial world. Some perceive a competition. I have not been able to fully understand how a free/open idea can be in competition with a commercial for sale product. The commercial product is closed source, The commercial product must restrict development based upon revenue. The commercial product must restrict development based upon customer desires/demands/feedback. The commercial product is restricted based upon the limitations of developer time, interest and capability. If someone wants to commercialize another EMC thread and call it whatever - I have no heartache at all. With all the restrictions added to any commercial project it seems a waste of time. I have/am considered/considering funding (commissioning) development of features I desire. These features would be included in the current gpl EMC2 software. So far I have been able to (with a lot of help) realize features I need without paying someone to do it. Here - operator feedback and personal use causes ideas to percolate to the top of the feature request pile. These are considered and implemented to 'polish' the control. I do not see much improvement to be done to the base software. Most of the ideas I have are now rather esoteric and apply to my special circumstances. As I solve these I post the results and software for everyone to peruse and use. EMC2 is beginning to be known in Wichita. The Cinci is starting to be considered a very nice machine. It is accurate. The motion is smooth. The spindle is quiet. With the other machines working people here are liking EMC2. A new/used machine tool dealer called a couple weeks ago to see if I was planning to start a retrofit business. I have been considering it. I talked to an machine tool import dealer. He agreed to sell me machines without controls. This could develop into a real control someday!!! :) thanks Stuart
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