Open Source Machine Tools Blog

RE: Open Source Hardware - The beginning

joabarrera — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 00:48:07 GMT

I have not worked with Mach3, Linux is already there, the NSF payed for it's development and there is large user base of developers that maintain and extend the application. The same machine can be run with Mach3 if it's your choosing but some people simply like linux a lot more.

RE: Open Source Hardware - The beginning

no1toolmkr — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 12:15:35 GMT

I finally got to take a look at the facebook video. The guy is in deed using Mach 3 from artsoft.
You can build anything you want too but if there is going to be software writers like artsoft its going to be hard to justify a whole new linux based system. Take a cloned PC and a program like artsoft couple of motor controlers and there ya have it. a completely networkable system.
not to mention that Mach 3 can be configured to control anything mechanical with 6 or less axis's. This could easily include anything from a robot that talks to full blown 5 axis CNC machine with spindle and tooling control.
For some reason I think developing an open sourcable CNC machine is putting the cart before the horse. I believe that developing a line of tooling and tool holders is a more apropriate way to start.

RE: Does Open Source Need Innovation?

joabarrera — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 21:32:12 GMT

I would love that, sorry i've been busy lately

RE: Does Open Source Need Innovation?

no1toolmkr — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 15:04:05 GMT

I would like to offer you access to my shop.
I personally own the entire shop and all its contents. I can build practically anything here.
It would give us an opportunity to meet, talk about open sourcing, give you some of the manufacturing ability you may need to expand your project.
For me, I would just like better opportunities to pick your brain a little on my project.
ETR

RE: Can Manufacturing turn Greener?

peter — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 18:12:23 GMT

I agree wholeheartedly. This is one of those topics I always want to comment about, but feel I lack some meaningful education on, and then I just can't help it. It seems there's never enough time to get totally up to speed. I guess that's life in the village!

RE: Can Manufacturing turn Greener?

joabarrera — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 18:04:21 GMT

Peter,

One of the reasons I have a lot questions in the piece above is because I know there are lots of questions in on the manufacturing science itself. But what I very certain about is that others are filling in the reasons why we need to move in this direction in all aspects of our lives. I went to collage in the mid 90's to be a "solar engineer" only to find out that most of the literature was written in the 70's and the only interesting engineering challenge in the 90's was solar car racing. After graduation I went into online web marketing (a little programing skill when a long way back then). You could not make a living with green tech in 1999 but that has completely changed today, thanks to many others (including Al Gore) a new generation of people are growing up with a new call to action, 2 of siblings have already started their on green tech companies and that wasn't their original intention in life five years ago.

Now their is a more interesting twist to the use of oil and electricity. If you are running your a business and you have an option to use more or less of a given input, what would you do? To me it is simple economics, once science create the alternative, business will take it, so the pressure is on to provide those options. It's about the money and not necessary "saving trees" for those that see a green movement as something brought back from the hippie movement. If bother to spend the time refining the subject like we have with some many other areas I am confident that we can make substantial improvements.

Talking about educations well "it takes a village" and this the most effective form of village that see us having thus far

RE: Can Manufacturing turn Greener?

peter — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 15:55:57 GMT

Unfortunately, many of us who want to be Green(environmentally protective) really are Green(immature in age or judgment; untrained; inexperienced) when it comes to the impact of our actions. I think the idea of education has to play a huge role in helping us figure out not just how to re-engineer a process to be Green, but why we need to do so.
Fluids are a great start though. It seems like there are so many options that can be pursued to eliminate harmful fluids. I love my job at Slater Tools because we continuously are looking at our Rotary Broaching product, and how to expand the use of this hole cutting tool which uses little to no fluids. My wife Susie works in massage therapy, and the technological changes in fluids is happening there too. Advancements in essential oils have gone from aromatherapy, to supportive care to cancer patients, to who knows?? maybe a cutting fluid replacement some day.
But really, I could look at new ideas to put some Green in my pocket all day long, but it doesn't really help me address the concrete reasons why I need a new idea. I think the more we look at the long term and extended reasons why we do or do not believe something is harmful in manufacturing will really help us advance in the Green initiative. Maybe some oils and electricity are not bad, our bodies are electrical, and there must be something good about oil, I just want to find out more about ... why.

RE: What is the best way to create open source hardware?

no1toolmkr — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 09:40:40 GMT

The idea of a Forum such as this is to push thinking to its edge, Force every perspective to be thought of, analyze all the results as carefully as we allow our selves.
And in my comment was nothing more than an opinion.
The Idea Joabarrera and MFG and yourself sugest is that open source hardware go global.
I get it. I'm only sugesting that to to fulfill this rather high but achievable goal quickly is this. It needs a catalyst to make it more desired. A line of products including replacement parts for itself. "An inovative network of global knolledge about technology products".
Think What Latin did for medical knolledge. It provided a link to all cultures across the globe.
Medical Knolledge could be written in books and studied around the globe for everyones benifit.
Allthough before the time of the internet of course but the principle is the same.
There needs to be a document and or language that describes the parts to a universal standard of dimensions, materials and processes.
And as far as retrofit or from scratch. its irrevelent because its the technology to do either that needs to be available more than the argument.

RE: What is the best way to create open source hardware?

DarrenV — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 23:23:55 GMT

I have been searching for an open source CNC mill and so Mr. Barrera's design is the best I have found. The main reason it is not a retrofit or ebay conglomeration. Both of these things would make the design proprietary. I might not be able to find the same mill he did, or the same parts he found on ebay. By his method everyone would have the same mill with which to design components for. This is where the value of this approach lies, it in effect creates a standard that others can build upon.

This, by economic principle will work. His design will be cheaper than an equivalent commercial machine, therefore the user base will grow. A sizable number of people that build his open source mill will also design attachments. Furthermore I could see it fostering other open source aspects of the design. Maybe he starts off with a commercial spindle, another individual decides to lower the costs even further and designs another, open source spindle.

at any rate, he is doing something instead of talking about doing something, and I greatly appreciate it.

RE: What is the best way to create open source hardware?

no1toolmkr — Sat, 31 May 2008 13:50:22 GMT

In other words;
I strongly believe your going to need a Catalyst to get the reaction you want.
A new product thats not available any other way.