Homebrew PCBs

> Even if all it is say a 16 (hell 32) bit IO port on the end of a USB
> cable, that could handle most of whats being done now and be more 'up
> to date', say a 18f4550, it has PWM, IO, memory to remember where it
> was last etc, store options and calibrations, and the rest of the
> hardware, IE motor drive and motors, stays the same
> 
> That would be a nice simple minimal component system, would require no
> expensive driver ICs etc, just H bridges for the motors etc
> 
> Sorry if I seem to be slamming all the CNC style hardware out there,
> but it just seems so 'old' compared to say, a $40 printer, its like
> comparing an old Chinese sky rocket to a nasa launch system.
> 
> 
> I will get the buckets of water ready now.......
> 
> 
> Lez

Cold water ? for the cold wake up ?

#1) PIC's are not free.  the flip side of what you say is that for
zero dollars, I can rip apart a printer cable, pull the ends out to my
drivers and run a machine from DOS.  free.

#2) PIC's are not free. you have to have a programmer, or you have to
buy one pre-programmed.  Either way, it costs money.

#3) home-hobby guys will not spend $ on something that may or may not
work as well as the thing they are using.

A stepper can only run so fast and still be in it's power curve. Free
software can spin it that speed, or a little faster.
#4) you cannot get people to spend on something that does not offer
any performance benefits.

Why it would be a good thing ?

If you offered a complete package.  Software in the PC, then the
interface to the motor drivers.

But...this would have to work better than the free interface, or it
could not cost any premium over the existing hardware.

As I see it, the problem is selling a way of doing something that is
not useful without also buying software, and it offer no operational
benifits.

Dave