Jim, WHEW - Well, JIM, I did read to the end :) thanks for the explanation now we have a better target thanks Stuart
On Sat, Apr 18, 2009 at 1:20 PM, Jim Fleig - CNC Services <[email protected]> wrote: > Hi Stuart, > > Here's the short answer: > > a programmer that can make changes (like a different GUI) for a retrofit, an > individual that can either supply a computer or guide the selection and > assembly of a computer and techinical support of the software and computer > after the retrofit. > > Here's the long answer: > > I can do anything (not just bragging, its true - see www.cncservices.ws) > with machine tools (rebuild, retrofit, align, calibrate (laser and level for > 6 axes of movement linear, pitch, yaw and roll around the X,Y and Z axes, > spatial positioning measurement and compensation, 4th and 5th axis > measurement and compensation), G code programming, troubleshooting > (electrical, electronic, hydraulic, mechanical, pneumatic, etc.), > communication (DNC, wired and wireless), scrapping, etc., etc.) except > electronic board repair and software troubleshooting. When troubleshooting > a machine if I can prove that the machine is functioning correctly and I can > demonstrate that the software is not issuing commands correctly to the > machine then the problem is in the software or the hardware that runs the > software. With adequate technical support I can address these problems > also. Many of these problems I can address myself if a parameter needs to > be changed (all of the controls that I have worked on so far are parameter > based, Fanuc, Yasnac(Yaskawa), Mitsubishi, Centroid, etc.). On more than > one control I have replaced a hard drive, partitioned the hard drive, > reloaded software, configured the software for the mill and got the mill up > and running again with technical support. In one of these situations I had > to get the machine connected to the customers network so that parameters > could be downloaded from the control to the customers office computer. With > instructions I set up a network connection (I am a computer user, not a > computer technician). I am willing to tackle that which I do not know (and > do not have the time to learn, I just can't duplicate others knowledge and > experience in many areas) if there is adequate technical support to address > the problem. I am not comfortable supplying a control system to a customer > that does not have adequate technical support because the customer's machine > could be down because I am unable to address a certain issue and unable to > get the answer for the issue from technical support. My customers trust > that whatever I do for them will enable them to make parts and if the making > of parts is interrupted that I will be able to get them back up and running > promptly. > > In my ideal world paid technical support would: > > assist in the retrofit process by > > - being a programmer that is comfortable with me not becoming a programmer > - being a programmer that is comfortable with me being the onsite hands > while they are the brain guiding the hands (technical support) > - being a Linux enthusiast that will interact with the Windows world (all of > my customers front offices are Windows based) without bashing Windows or > Bill Gates in front of the customer (the machine control almost always have > to be networked with the customers office computers for the transfer of > programs) > - having the programming ability to create a different GUI for EMC that > would be more industry standard (I have designed this GUI, it just needs to > be programmed) > - having the programming ability and the people skills to talk me or a > customer through entering software commands and reporting results so that > issue of the moment can be identified and resolved > - an alternative to the previous step would be a direct connection via the > internet to the machine tool control so that the programmer could remotely > evaluate the computer > note: I am willing to travel to be onsite whenever onsite activity needs to > occur, the programmer would not be required to travel > - having the programming ability to make changes as needed so that EMC will > function externally in a more industry standard manner (Ray H. generously > took time from his very busy schedule to educate me about the momentary > contact nature of the inputs to EMC because of the perspective when EMC was > first created that there may be more than one control station on a single > machine, apparently some of this could be accomplished through the ladder) > > - advising me which hardware components to purchase (motherboard, memory, > hard drive (or hard drive equivalent), power supply, etc.) to put together a > computer and provide instruction on how to do so > - advising how to load software onto the computer > - advising how to configure the software to the machine (I would provide > detailed list of machine functions) > - writing the ladder logic from my detailed list of machine functions or > provide instruction how to write the ladder logic (I have written ladder > logic for other systems) > OR > - providing a computer preloaded with the software and preconfigured per my > detailed list of machine functions > > - providing techinical support as the computer is being attached to the mill > (technical support for other systems appreciates my contact and questions > because I am very detailed, very focused, I do not call technical support > with general questions, I call with a very narrow focus and many details > related to the issue) > > assist after the retrofit is complete by > > - responding to technical support questions to advise the question has been > received (should not be more than 24 hours, ideally would be 2 hours or > less) > - responding to the technical support question with a solution or an > estimate of the time it will take to determine the solution (24 to 48 hours) > - advising if it would be helpful to update the software running the machine > or remain at the current version level, if the machine computer is connected > to the internet then possibly doing a software update remotely > - having the programming ability to resolve bugs, add features, etc. as the > customer's use of the machine causes some things to be noticed or wanted > > assist in the overall process by > > - defining expectations for the delivery of requested tasks, cost for those > tasks to be completed and terms for payment > > Note: If a problem was solved by the collaboration of several individuals > from the EMC forum and none of the individuals involved wanted direct > payment I would be willing to make a payment to an EMC fund, the Ubuntu fund > or wherever the individuals might direct the payment. I am not comfortable > receiving contributions (programming, computer build advice, etc.) that > enable me to receive compensation from my customers and then keeping all the > compensation. That would bug my business conscience. Suppliers that enable > me to receive compensation from my customers deserve to receive a portion of > the compensation. I would not necessarily care where the compensation > payment went (EMC, annual EMC event, Ubuntu, Wikipedia, etc.). I would just > want to make the payment. Like Doug, I would want to give back because I > had received. > > These are the major points. If I am forgetting anything, it is minor. > > My thanks to Ray H., Matt S., Steve S., others who have taken time to > explain various things about EMC and Linux and whoever was the individual > that was so patient assisting me to get my first computer running with > Ubuntu and EMC that discovered the problem preventing the correct execution > of commands was my lack of knowledge that Unix based systems are case > sensitive. All you programmers enjoy your amusement. :-) Does it make > sense now that I need technical support? :-) > > My thanks to Paul C. who has patiently answered questions that went > unanswered on the forum about Linux and EMC in terminology that a > non-programmer can understand. > > I own a knee mill that could be retrofit with EMC. The mill is identical to > the mill that Chris H. retrofit. It is a Hurco KM3P. Chris H. can run EMC > with the current GUI. If I retrofit my mill for my use I can run with the > current GUI. I would like to retrofit this mill and sell it. The current > GUI's are not suitable for this. It also could be done with Ajax (Centroid > in pieces, http://www.ajaxcnc.com/). The Centroid system is very reliable > and technical support is available. For me, this system is the bench mark > for comparison with an EMC system. In the same shop where my mill is > located the owner's have a knee mill that they have offered me $5000.00 to > retrofit. They have been very patiently waiting while I have been trying to > find an individual(s) to do the items discussed above so that both of these > mills could be retrofit with EMC. > > Well, Stuart, if you bothered to read all of this I think that you can > appreciate as a business owner why I haven't stepped out with EMC. You do > not do all the functions of your business. Your business relies on the > knowledge, skill and experience of many people. Some of those people are > key to the operation of your business. If they did not show for work, your > business would limp very badly or not function at all. In order for my > efforts with EMC to be successful, I must have an individual involved with > my business who will address the software and computer hardware side of the > system. > > Thanks for asking the question. > > Have a good day, > > Jim Fleig > CNC Services > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Stuart Stevenson" <[email protected]> > To: "Enhanced Machine Controller (EMC)" <[email protected]> > Sent: Friday, April 17, 2009 11:02 PM > Subject: Re: [Emc-users] What's coming in manufacturing > > >> why could you 'not go commercial'? >> >> On Fri, Apr 17, 2009 at 7:26 PM, Jim Fleig - CNC Services >> <[email protected]> wrote: >>> Prior to Doug offering to donate to EMC's development, I have made the >>> same >>> offer. Kirk correctly comments that this was not received >>> enthusiastically. >>> Why not? (Gentle "Why not?") Cars are manufactured for commercial sale >>> and >>> the number of car hobbyists and tinkerers is huge! What is missing in my >>> perspective? It would seem to me that thankful commercial ventures like >>> Doug, others and myself making contributions would enable EMC to organize >>> and fund events, pay for web server time (I have to pay for my website to >>> be >>> on the internet), perhaps forward a percentage of the donations received >>> by >>> EMC to the Linux development, etc. Wouldn't the hobbyist and the >>> tinkerer >>> benefit from the advancements that may be driven by commercial need and >>> commercial contribution to enable the need being met? >>> >>> Any comments Ray H., Steve S.? >>> >>> Jim >>> >>> PS (Comments above are my thoughts. I'm not mad at anybody and I am not >>> seeking to "stir the pot". Just sharing my 2 cents and am interested in >>> others perspective on this issue. I actually have turned down retrofit >>> work >>> due to the lack of ability to go commercial with this software. That was >>> disappointing.) >>> >>> >>> ----- Original Message ----- >>> From: "Kirk Wallace" <[email protected]> >>> To: "Enhanced Machine Controller (EMC)" <[email protected]> >>> Sent: Monday, April 13, 2009 2:11 PM >>> Subject: Re: [Emc-users] What's coming in manufacturing >>> >>> >>>> On Mon, 2009-04-13 at 13:14 -0400, Doug Pollard wrote: >>>>> I am am almost 75 years old and some kind of excited about this new >>>>> industrial revolution that is creeping up on us all. >>>> ... snip >>>>> Wouldn't it be something if free software changed the economy of >>>>> the >>>>> whole world?? I find this really exciting stuff and it seems it may go >>>>> as far as you can imagine. >>>>> >>>>> Doug >>>> >>>> I agree that the potential is there, but at this point it is hard to see >>>> where this potential will go. >>>> >>>> The subject of donations to EMC2 has come up before, and it was not >>>> received enthusiastically. I think that most of the developers feel that >>>> this is a pastime, and bringing money into the mix would diminish the >>>> fun. I am very curious about what could be done with EMC2 (and some sort >>>> of CAM) if a more commercial approach where pursued. This may be an >>>> indication that open source software and free software are are can be >>>> very different ideas. >>>> >>>> -- >>>> Kirk Wallace >>>> http://www.wallacecompany.com/machine_shop/ >>>> http://www.wallacecompany.com/E45/index.html >>>> California, USA >>>> >>>> >>>> ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ >>>> This SF.net email is sponsored by: >>>> High Quality Requirements in a Collaborative Environment. >>>> Download a free trial of Rational Requirements Composer Now! >>>> http://p.sf.net/sfu/www-ibm-com >>>> _______________________________________________ >>>> Emc-users mailing list >>>> [email protected] >>>> https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users >>> >>> >>> ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ >>> Stay on top of everything new and different, both inside and >>> around Java (TM) technology - register by April 22, and save >>> $200 on the JavaOne (SM) conference, June 2-5, 2009, San Francisco. >>> 300 plus technical and hands-on sessions. Register today. >>> Use priority code J9JMT32. http://p.sf.net/sfu/p >>> _______________________________________________ >>> Emc-users mailing list >>> [email protected] >>> https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users >>> >>> >> >> >> >> -- >> you can lead a person to knowledge >> but you cannot make him think >> >> ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ >> Stay on top of everything new and different, both inside and >> around Java (TM) technology - register by April 22, and save >> $200 on the JavaOne (SM) conference, June 2-5, 2009, San Francisco. >> 300 plus technical and hands-on sessions. Register today. >> Use priority code J9JMT32. http://p.sf.net/sfu/p >> _______________________________________________ >> Emc-users mailing list >> [email protected] >> https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users > > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ > Stay on top of everything new and different, both inside and > around Java (TM) technology - register by April 22, and save > $200 on the JavaOne (SM) conference, June 2-5, 2009, San Francisco. > 300 plus technical and hands-on sessions. Register today. > Use priority code J9JMT32. http://p.sf.net/sfu/p > _______________________________________________ > Emc-users mailing list > [email protected] > https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users > > -- you can lead a person to knowledge but you cannot make him think ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Stay on top of everything new and different, both inside and around Java (TM) technology - register by April 22, and save $200 on the JavaOne (SM) conference, June 2-5, 2009, San Francisco. 300 plus technical and hands-on sessions. Register today. Use priority code J9JMT32. http://p.sf.net/sfu/p _______________________________________________ Emc-users mailing list [email protected] https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users
