My Robotic Arm was supposed to be delivered Monday per USPS. It finally
came in today. I plugged the robot into the controller and the controller
into the 120 VAC, it worked for the motor test. Then I plugged the control
into my laptop, ran the software, it homed, passed speed calibration test,
and I proceeded to jog to positions and write a program. I'm delighted that
it worked without having to be repaired!

So right now it has an airsoft pistol, 1911 style, in the gripper, I
programmed it to point the gun and turn on an output, then it points the gun
down and sits in a rest position, ready to go again.

The original software is old DOS based, runs fine on my Windows XP machine.
I have documentation detailing the serial commands that it takes. I'm
thinking I can write a Windows based program, perhaps using a USB to serial
cable, and give this many more features than the original came with.
Perhaps even the ability to follow a G-Code tool path, mount a die grinder
and carve items out of wood or metal.

It seems this could present a wide variety of interesting challenges, I'm
hoping to learn how to do the 3D kinematics to position various points of
the end effector to world coordinates and angles. I think this would also
be applicable to 4+ axis on CNC machining.

RogerN

On 8/8/2013 5:15 PM, RogerN wrote:
My Robotic Arm was supposed to be delivered Monday per USPS. It finally
came in today. I plugged the robot into the controller and the controller
into the 120 VAC, it worked for the motor test. Then I plugged the control
into my laptop, ran the software, it homed, passed speed calibration test,
and I proceeded to jog to positions and write a program. I'm delighted that
it worked without having to be repaired!

So right now it has an airsoft pistol, 1911 style, in the gripper, I
programmed it to point the gun and turn on an output, then it points the gun
down and sits in a rest position, ready to go again.

The original software is old DOS based, runs fine on my Windows XP machine.
I have documentation detailing the serial commands that it takes. I'm
thinking I can write a Windows based program, perhaps using a USB to serial
cable, and give this many more features than the original came with.
Perhaps even the ability to follow a G-Code tool path, mount a die grinder
and carve items out of wood or metal.

It seems this could present a wide variety of interesting challenges, I'm
hoping to learn how to do the 3D kinematics to position various points of
the end effector to world coordinates and angles. I think this would also
be applicable to 4+ axis on CNC machining.

RogerN


Does it supply some kind of feedback via the serial cable or is a
one-way communication?


Paul

"Paul Drahn" wrote in message ...

On 8/8/2013 5:15 PM, RogerN wrote:
snip

It seems this could present a wide variety of interesting challenges, I'm
hoping to learn how to do the 3D kinematics to position various points of
the end effector to world coordinates and angles. I think this would
also
be applicable to 4+ axis on CNC machining.

RogerN


Does it supply some kind of feedback via the serial cable or is a one-way
communication?


Paul

It sends feedback like how many encoder counts the motors have to go, if
they are in position, near position, plus limit switch and input states. It
appears so far that you have to keep track of the actual position on the PC
program, I haven't found commands where the robot controller tells you the
absolute position.

I'm trying to get up and running with Visual Basic to see if I can get
communications going with it. The old DOS program feels awkward but it
works.

RogerN

On 8/8/2013 8:15 PM, RogerN wrote:
My Robotic Arm was supposed to be delivered Monday per USPS. It finally
came in today. I plugged the robot into the controller and the controller
into the 120 VAC, it worked for the motor test. Then I plugged the control
into my laptop, ran the software, it homed, passed speed calibration test,
and I proceeded to jog to positions and write a program. I'm delighted that
it worked without having to be repaired!

So right now it has an airsoft pistol, 1911 style, in the gripper, I
programmed it to point the gun and turn on an output, then it points the gun
down and sits in a rest position, ready to go again.

The original software is old DOS based, runs fine on my Windows XP machine.
I have documentation detailing the serial commands that it takes. I'm
thinking I can write a Windows based program, perhaps using a USB to serial
cable, and give this many more features than the original came with.
Perhaps even the ability to follow a G-Code tool path, mount a die grinder
and carve items out of wood or metal.

It seems this could present a wide variety of interesting challenges, I'm
hoping to learn how to do the 3D kinematics to position various points of
the end effector to world coordinates and angles. I think this would also
be applicable to 4+ axis on CNC machining.

RogerN



I, personally would love to see video of this. Sounds way cool.



--
http://tinyurl.com/My-Official-Response

Regards,
Joe Agro, Jr.
(800) 871-5022 x113
01.908.542.0244
Flagship Site: http://www.Drill-HQ.com
Automatic / Pneumatic Drills: http://www.AutoDrill.com
Multiple Spindle Drills: http://www.Multi-Drill.com
Production Tapping: http://www.Drill-HQ.com/?page_id=226
VIDEOS: http://www.youtube.com/user/AutoDrill
FACEBOOK: http://www.facebook.com/AutoDrill
TWITTER: http://twitter.com/AutoDrill

V8013-R

"Joe AutoDrill" wrote in message ...

On 8/8/2013 8:15 PM, RogerN wrote:
My Robotic Arm was supposed to be delivered Monday per USPS. It finally
came in today. I plugged the robot into the controller and the controller
into the 120 VAC, it worked for the motor test. Then I plugged the
control
into my laptop, ran the software, it homed, passed speed calibration test,
and I proceeded to jog to positions and write a program. I'm delighted
that
it worked without having to be repaired!

So right now it has an airsoft pistol, 1911 style, in the gripper, I
programmed it to point the gun and turn on an output, then it points the
gun
down and sits in a rest position, ready to go again.

The original software is old DOS based, runs fine on my Windows XP
machine.
I have documentation detailing the serial commands that it takes. I'm
thinking I can write a Windows based program, perhaps using a USB to
serial
cable, and give this many more features than the original came with.
Perhaps even the ability to follow a G-Code tool path, mount a die grinder
and carve items out of wood or metal.

It seems this could present a wide variety of interesting challenges, I'm
hoping to learn how to do the 3D kinematics to position various points of
the end effector to world coordinates and angles. I think this would also
be applicable to 4+ axis on CNC machining.

RogerN



I, personally would love to see video of this. Sounds way cool.



--
http://tinyurl.com/My-Official-Response

Regards,
Joe Agro, Jr.
(800) 871-5022 x113
01.908.542.0244


I have a phone video of mine just pointing the airsoft gun at me regular
style then at 19 degrees gangsta style. There are video's on youtube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sej9rZZo97Y

I got a Scorbot ER3 with controller, all working, for $200 "Buy it Now" plus
$30 shipping. It's not high performance but good for educational or home
hobby use. The old DOS software is capable of storing 100 positions. The
documentation explains the commands so that you can write your own control
program. I'm hoping to get something written in Visual Basic or Visual C(++
or #) to have a more modern controller.

RogerN

On 8/8/2013 8:15 PM, RogerN wrote:

Do I remember correctly that you mentioned "MAX-NC" at one time? I've
been looking for info on their original kit.

"Tom Gardner" wrote in message
...

On 8/8/2013 8:15 PM, RogerN wrote:

Do I remember correctly that you mentioned "MAX-NC" at one time? I've been
looking for info on their original kit.


What info are you looking for?

I haven't messed with MaxNC for years but it was my first buy of CNC control
software. They were supposed to send me the step and direction version but
I got the other version where the step motor logic is done in the PC and
transistor bases connect to parallel port outputs. It worked but I wanted
step and direction so I could use better drives, even some servo drives can
take step and direction inputs.

After buying bi-polar chopper stepper drives, I tried a few demo downloads
of different CNC software. I had a program that cut out a Planters Mr.
Peanut that I test ran the different software with. Most of the software
would make a mistake in acceleration and get things out of position,
destroying the part (test ran on a block of scrap Delrin). I ended up using
Micro Kinetics board and software, it seemed to run correctly.

Unless there is some other reason to want MaxNC, I recommend LinuxCNC. It
can work with the parallel port, like MaxNC and Mach3, can work with servos,
steppers, or combination. I haven't messed much with the Classic Ladder PLC
software that comes with it, but might be a good machine control solution,
it's supposed to work with ModBus, so surplus I/O cards may be usable.

RogerN

On Fri, 09 Aug 2013 19:22:34 -0400, Tom Gardner Mars@Tacks wrote:

On 8/8/2013 8:15 PM, RogerN wrote:

Do I remember correctly that you mentioned "MAX-NC" at one time? I've
been looking for info on their original kit.

TAWM,

You're not going to jump into CNC are you?

The Max-nc is a nice toy, just like Roger's robot.

Karl

On 8/10/2013 7:42 AM, RogerN wrote:
"Tom Gardner" wrote in message
...

On 8/8/2013 8:15 PM, RogerN wrote:

Do I remember correctly that you mentioned "MAX-NC" at one time? I've been
looking for info on their original kit.


What info are you looking for?

I haven't messed with MaxNC for years but it was my first buy of CNC control
software. They were supposed to send me the step and direction version but
I got the other version where the step motor logic is done in the PC and
transistor bases connect to parallel port outputs. It worked but I wanted
step and direction so I could use better drives, even some servo drives can
take step and direction inputs.

After buying bi-polar chopper stepper drives, I tried a few demo downloads
of different CNC software. I had a program that cut out a Planters Mr.
Peanut that I test ran the different software with. Most of the software
would make a mistake in acceleration and get things out of position,
destroying the part (test ran on a block of scrap Delrin). I ended up using
Micro Kinetics board and software, it seemed to run correctly.

Unless there is some other reason to want MaxNC, I recommend LinuxCNC. It
can work with the parallel port, like MaxNC and Mach3, can work with servos,
steppers, or combination. I haven't messed much with the Classic Ladder PLC
software that comes with it, but might be a good machine control solution,
it's supposed to work with ModBus, so surplus I/O cards may be usable.

RogerN



A cousin bought the original kit consisting of 3 small steppers, a
circuit board with a parallel port connector and a 24v transformer. He
left it here in a storage room years ago and I came across it recently.
I have no docs and the 3-1/2" floppy is corrupt. So, I want to play
with it or sell it. In either case I need the docs and software and I
can't find **** on the web about this model. I tried to run the kit
with Mach-3 but have no idea how to set up the software. I assume the
kit isn't worth much at all, is it?

On 8/10/2013 7:45 AM, Karl Townsend wrote:
On Fri, 09 Aug 2013 19:22:34 -0400, Tom Gardner Mars@Tacks wrote:

On 8/8/2013 8:15 PM, RogerN wrote:

Do I remember correctly that you mentioned "MAX-NC" at one time? I've
been looking for info on their original kit.

TAWM,

You're not going to jump into CNC are you?

The Max-nc is a nice toy, just like Roger's robot.

Karl



See what I wrote to Roger above.

"Tom Gardner" wrote in message
...

On 8/10/2013 7:42 AM, RogerN wrote:
snip

A cousin bought the original kit consisting of 3 small steppers, a circuit
board with a parallel port connector and a 24v transformer. He left it
here in a storage room years ago and I came across it recently. I have no
docs and the 3-1/2" floppy is corrupt. So, I want to play with it or sell
it. In either case I need the docs and software and I can't find **** on
the web about this model. I tried to run the kit with Mach-3 but have no
idea how to set up the software. I assume the kit isn't worth much at all,
is it?

I found some manuals and pinouts he
http://www.maxnc.net/category_s/1840.htm

I'll look in my old software and see if I can find the software I have/had.

RogerN

http://www.maxnc.net/category_s/1838.htm

On 8/10/2013 4:58 PM, RogerN wrote:
"Tom Gardner" wrote in message
...

On 8/10/2013 7:42 AM, RogerN wrote:
snip

A cousin bought the original kit consisting of 3 small steppers, a circuit
board with a parallel port connector and a 24v transformer. He left it
here in a storage room years ago and I came across it recently. I have no
docs and the 3-1/2" floppy is corrupt. So, I want to play with it or sell
it. In either case I need the docs and software and I can't find **** on
the web about this model. I tried to run the kit with Mach-3 but have no
idea how to set up the software. I assume the kit isn't worth much at all,
is it?

I found some manuals and pinouts he
http://www.maxnc.net/category_s/1840.htm

I'll look in my old software and see if I can find the software I have/had.

RogerN



Thanks, I've seen all that. This model is much older, the original!

On 8/10/2013 5:07 PM, Karl Townsend wrote:
http://www.maxnc.net/category_s/1838.htm


My model is much older and was an experimenter kit. They gave plans to
turn a X/Y vice into a milling stage IIRC.

"Tom Gardner" wrote in message
...

On 8/10/2013 4:58 PM, RogerN wrote:
"Tom Gardner" wrote in message
...

On 8/10/2013 7:42 AM, RogerN wrote:
snip

A cousin bought the original kit consisting of 3 small steppers, a
circuit
board with a parallel port connector and a 24v transformer. He left it
here in a storage room years ago and I came across it recently. I have
no
docs and the 3-1/2" floppy is corrupt. So, I want to play with it or
sell
it. In either case I need the docs and software and I can't find ****
on
the web about this model. I tried to run the kit with Mach-3 but have
no
idea how to set up the software. I assume the kit isn't worth much at
all,
is it?

I found some manuals and pinouts he
http://www.maxnc.net/category_s/1840.htm

I'll look in my old software and see if I can find the software I
have/had.

RogerN



Thanks, I've seen all that. This model is much older, the original!

I would have guessed that they still used their original board. I should
have their manual around here and the disk if I can find it, or maybe check
on my old hard drives the files. I have an old PC in my shop, don't
remember if it's 386 or 486, but it has a 3-1/2 and 5-1/4" drive, and should
have the MaxNC software loaded, if it still powers up! My kit was software
and manual only, needed cross slide vices and motors to make a 3 axis mill!

RogerN

RogerN wrote:

My Robotic Arm was supposed to be delivered Monday per USPS. It finally
came in today. I plugged the robot into the controller and the controller
into the 120 VAC, it worked for the motor test. Then I plugged the control
into my laptop, ran the software, it homed, passed speed calibration test,
and I proceeded to jog to positions and write a program. I'm delighted that
it worked without having to be repaired!

So right now it has an airsoft pistol, 1911 style, in the gripper, I
programmed it to point the gun and turn on an output, then it points the gun
down and sits in a rest position, ready to go again.


How about adding an IR sensor, or video camera to let it track
movement? That would freak out an intruder. Especially if you replaced
the pistol with some real fire power.


--
Anyone wanting to run for any political office in the US should have to
have a DD214, and a honorable discharge.

On Sun, 11 Aug 2013 12:01:53 -0400, "Michael A. Terrell"
wrote:


RogerN wrote:

My Robotic Arm was supposed to be delivered Monday per USPS. It finally
came in today. I plugged the robot into the controller and the controller
into the 120 VAC, it worked for the motor test. Then I plugged the control
into my laptop, ran the software, it homed, passed speed calibration test,
and I proceeded to jog to positions and write a program. I'm delighted that
it worked without having to be repaired!

So right now it has an airsoft pistol, 1911 style, in the gripper, I
programmed it to point the gun and turn on an output, then it points the gun
down and sits in a rest position, ready to go again.


How about adding an IR sensor, or video camera to let it track
movement? That would freak out an intruder. Especially if you replaced
the pistol with some real fire power.

Sounds good. How about one more addition?

Audio output, as it racks the shotgun "Go ahead. Make my day."

--
They must find it difficult,
those who have taken authority as truth,
rather than truth as authority.
-- Gerald Massey, Egyptologist

"Michael A. Terrell" wrote in message
m...

RogerN wrote:

snip
So right now it has an airsoft pistol, 1911 style, in the gripper, I
programmed it to point the gun and turn on an output, then it points the
gun
down and sits in a rest position, ready to go again.


How about adding an IR sensor, or video camera to let it track
movement? That would freak out an intruder. Especially if you replaced
the pistol with some real fire power.


--
Anyone wanting to run for any political office in the US should have to
have a DD214, and a honorable discharge.

The existing software doesn't seem able to do tracking, you can define
relative positions but they are relative to an absolute position, so they
become an absolute position as soon as they are defined, unless maybe if you
redefine the position they reference, maybe, I haven't tried that out yet.
I was hoping to use subroutines or relative motion, like palletizing, where
I can define an array and perform a pick or place subroutine at an array of
X,Y positions.

So I'm starting to attempt to learn Visual Basic and write my own. So far I
prefer QBasic or even GWBasic to VB. I never they could replace something
like "OpenCom" with 50 lines of code that doesn't run. But once I get the
com port working it should be able to do relative moves. I'm thinking the
vision system could be programmed for output for fast or slow movement for
fast aim and fine positioning. I'd like to get a replica gun that looks
real but won't get me, or the robot, arrested for aiming a gun at someone.

RogerN

"Larry Jaques" wrote in message
...

On Sun, 11 Aug 2013 12:01:53 -0400, "Michael A. Terrell"
wrote:

snip

How about adding an IR sensor, or video camera to let it track
movement? That would freak out an intruder. Especially if you replaced
the pistol with some real fire power.

Sounds good. How about one more addition?

Audio output, as it racks the shotgun "Go ahead. Make my day."

--
They must find it difficult,
those who have taken authority as truth,
rather than truth as authority.
-- Gerald Massey, Egyptologist

I was thinking of getting some wav files from ED209 on RoboCop. "You have
10 seconds to comply!"...

RogerN

On 8/11/2013 8:30 AM, RogerN wrote:
"Tom Gardner" wrote in message
...

On 8/10/2013 4:58 PM, RogerN wrote:
"Tom Gardner" wrote in message
...

On 8/10/2013 7:42 AM, RogerN wrote:
snip

A cousin bought the original kit consisting of 3 small steppers, a
circuit
board with a parallel port connector and a 24v transformer. He left it
here in a storage room years ago and I came across it recently. I have
no
docs and the 3-1/2" floppy is corrupt. So, I want to play with it or
sell
it. In either case I need the docs and software and I can't find ****
on
the web about this model. I tried to run the kit with Mach-3 but have
no
idea how to set up the software. I assume the kit isn't worth much at
all,
is it?

I found some manuals and pinouts he
http://www.maxnc.net/category_s/1840.htm

I'll look in my old software and see if I can find the software I
have/had.

RogerN



Thanks, I've seen all that. This model is much older, the original!

I would have guessed that they still used their original board. I should
have their manual around here and the disk if I can find it, or maybe check
on my old hard drives the files. I have an old PC in my shop, don't
remember if it's 386 or 486, but it has a 3-1/2 and 5-1/4" drive, and should
have the MaxNC software loaded, if it still powers up! My kit was software
and manual only, needed cross slide vices and motors to make a 3 axis mill!

RogerN



I found a 6bg HDD with DOS and the MAXNC software. I don't have any
hook-up info, might you have that? And, can I run it with Mach-3
software? I can't make heads or tails of the settings, the motors just
get warm and don't move. (one of the motors was wired up so I
duplicated it for the other two. I do have a cross-slide vise that was
in the box and it has some AL blocks started for motor mounts. It would
be fun to build it and play with it! Thanks for any help!

OH BOY, DOS! Damn, I did love DOS! Hell, I loved CP/M.

On 8/11/2013 12:01 PM, Michael A. Terrell wrote:

RogerN wrote:

My Robotic Arm was supposed to be delivered Monday per USPS. It finally
came in today. I plugged the robot into the controller and the controller
into the 120 VAC, it worked for the motor test. Then I plugged the control
into my laptop, ran the software, it homed, passed speed calibration test,
and I proceeded to jog to positions and write a program. I'm delighted that
it worked without having to be repaired!

So right now it has an airsoft pistol, 1911 style, in the gripper, I
programmed it to point the gun and turn on an output, then it points the gun
down and sits in a rest position, ready to go again.


How about adding an IR sensor, or video camera to let it track
movement? That would freak out an intruder. Especially if you replaced
the pistol with some real fire power.




I always wanted to set-up a remote paintball gun on the US/Mexico border
and charge per shot over the internet.

On 8/11/2013 1:44 PM, RogerN wrote:
"Michael A. Terrell" wrote in message
m...

RogerN wrote:

snip
So right now it has an airsoft pistol, 1911 style, in the gripper, I
programmed it to point the gun and turn on an output, then it points the
gun
down and sits in a rest position, ready to go again.


How about adding an IR sensor, or video camera to let it track
movement? That would freak out an intruder. Especially if you replaced
the pistol with some real fire power.


--
Anyone wanting to run for any political office in the US should have to
have a DD214, and a honorable discharge.

The existing software doesn't seem able to do tracking, you can define
relative positions but they are relative to an absolute position, so they
become an absolute position as soon as they are defined, unless maybe if you
redefine the position they reference, maybe, I haven't tried that out yet.
I was hoping to use subroutines or relative motion, like palletizing, where
I can define an array and perform a pick or place subroutine at an array of
X,Y positions.

So I'm starting to attempt to learn Visual Basic and write my own. So far I
prefer QBasic or even GWBasic to VB. I never they could replace something
like "OpenCom" with 50 lines of code that doesn't run. But once I get the
com port working it should be able to do relative moves. I'm thinking the
vision system could be programmed for output for fast or slow movement for
fast aim and fine positioning. I'd like to get a replica gun that looks
real but won't get me, or the robot, arrested for aiming a gun at someone.

RogerN




We use these in class. Or you can take an old gun. plug the bbl and
paint it blue. You won't find toy guns that look right anymore.

http://www.blueguns.com/default.asp?

"Tom Gardner" wrote in message
...

On 8/11/2013 1:44 PM, RogerN wrote:
snip

So I'm starting to attempt to learn Visual Basic and write my own. So
far I
prefer QBasic or even GWBasic to VB. I never they could replace
something
like "OpenCom" with 50 lines of code that doesn't run. But once I get
the
com port working it should be able to do relative moves. I'm thinking
the
vision system could be programmed for output for fast or slow movement
for
fast aim and fine positioning. I'd like to get a replica gun that looks
real but won't get me, or the robot, arrested for aiming a gun at
someone.

RogerN




We use these in class. Or you can take an old gun. plug the bbl and paint
it blue. You won't find toy guns that look right anymore.

http://www.blueguns.com/default.asp?

I had something like these in mind:
http://www.sportsmansguide.com/net/c....aspx?a=441009

RogerN

On 8/11/2013 3:11 PM, RogerN wrote:
"Tom Gardner" wrote in message
...

On 8/11/2013 1:44 PM, RogerN wrote:
snip

So I'm starting to attempt to learn Visual Basic and write my own. So
far I
prefer QBasic or even GWBasic to VB. I never they could replace
something
like "OpenCom" with 50 lines of code that doesn't run. But once I get
the
com port working it should be able to do relative moves. I'm thinking
the
vision system could be programmed for output for fast or slow movement
for
fast aim and fine positioning. I'd like to get a replica gun that looks
real but won't get me, or the robot, arrested for aiming a gun at
someone.

RogerN




We use these in class. Or you can take an old gun. plug the bbl and paint
it blue. You won't find toy guns that look right anymore.

http://www.blueguns.com/default.asp?

I had something like these in mind:
http://www.sportsmansguide.com/net/c....aspx?a=441009

RogerN



My bud Roger always wanted a real one. He finally bought one 30 some
years ago and was so disappointing. He says it's a POS.

On Mon, 12 Aug 2013 10:25:04 -0400, Tom Gardner Mars@Tacks wrote:

On 8/11/2013 3:11 PM, RogerN wrote:
"Tom Gardner" wrote in message
...

On 8/11/2013 1:44 PM, RogerN wrote:
snip

So I'm starting to attempt to learn Visual Basic and write my own. So
far I
prefer QBasic or even GWBasic to VB. I never they could replace
something
like "OpenCom" with 50 lines of code that doesn't run. But once I get
the
com port working it should be able to do relative moves. I'm thinking
the
vision system could be programmed for output for fast or slow movement
for
fast aim and fine positioning. I'd like to get a replica gun that looks
real but won't get me, or the robot, arrested for aiming a gun at
someone.

RogerN




We use these in class. Or you can take an old gun. plug the bbl and paint
it blue. You won't find toy guns that look right anymore.

http://www.blueguns.com/default.asp?

I had something like these in mind:
http://www.sportsmansguide.com/net/c....aspx?a=441009

RogerN



My bud Roger always wanted a real one. He finally bought one 30 some
years ago and was so disappointing. He says it's a POS.

Ive had several, including the aluminum framed ones made after the
war. Early war P38s are actually pretty cool, but late war and French
made aluminum ones..not so cool.

Gunner

--
""Almost all liberal behavioral tropes track the impotent rage of small
children. Thus, for example, there is also the popular tactic of
repeating some stupid, meaningless phrase a billion times" Arms for
hostages, arms for hostages, arms for hostages, it's just about sex, just
about sex, just about sex, dumb,dumb, money in politics,money in
politics, Enron, Enron, Enron. Nothing repeated with mind-numbing
frequency in all major news outlets will not be believed by some members
of the populace. It is the permanence of evil; you can't stop it." (Ann
Coulter)

My bud Roger always wanted a real one. He finally bought one 30 some
years ago and was so disappointing. He says it's a POS.

Ive had several, including the aluminum framed ones made after the
war. Early war P38s are actually pretty cool, but late war and French
made aluminum ones..not so cool.

Gunner

Yep, just the model name isn't enough. My dad has a Korea surplus 1911
( got stuck in his duffle bag, somehow) Nice souvenere, but truly a
POS to shoot. I never considered buying one for myself until Don
Foreman brought his Kimber 1911 out. Now THAT'S a weapon.

Karl

On Mon, 12 Aug 2013 17:53:12 -0500, Karl Townsend
wrote:


My bud Roger always wanted a real one. He finally bought one 30 some
years ago and was so disappointing. He says it's a POS.

Ive had several, including the aluminum framed ones made after the
war. Early war P38s are actually pretty cool, but late war and French
made aluminum ones..not so cool.

Gunner

Yep, just the model name isn't enough. My dad has a Korea surplus 1911
( got stuck in his duffle bag, somehow) Nice souvenere, but truly a
POS to shoot. I never considered buying one for myself until Don
Foreman brought his Kimber 1911 out. Now THAT'S a weapon.

Karl


There are good 45s and lousy 45s. Most of the MilSurp ones were on
the lousy side. They can be fixed up fairly easily, and often for
less than $100 total, but...out of the bag..er..box...they werent very
good. Reliable and dependable yes..but accurate..not so much

Gunner, who carries (2) 45s most of the time (of different sizes)


--
""Almost all liberal behavioral tropes track the impotent rage of small
children. Thus, for example, there is also the popular tactic of
repeating some stupid, meaningless phrase a billion times" Arms for
hostages, arms for hostages, arms for hostages, it's just about sex, just
about sex, just about sex, dumb,dumb, money in politics,money in
politics, Enron, Enron, Enron. Nothing repeated with mind-numbing
frequency in all major news outlets will not be believed by some members
of the populace. It is the permanence of evil; you can't stop it." (Ann
Coulter)

I was wrong about the control software and relative moves. It has relative
moves relative to a fixed position, but also has moves relative to current
position. I wrote a little program that moves one direction for input 1,
the other direction for input 2. This could be modified for
left/right/up/down based on a camera for tracking. I've also seen some
programming help files on using the X-Box Kinnect camera sensor. Oh the
politically incorrect possibilities!

RogerN

"RogerN" fired this volley in
m:

It has relative
moves relative to a fixed position,

"Relative" moves relative to a fixed position are called absolute moves.

'Relative' moves are only those which are referenced to the current
position.

Lloyd

"Lloyd E. Sponenburgh" wrote in message
. 3.70...

"RogerN" fired this volley in
om:

It has relative
moves relative to a fixed position,

"Relative" moves relative to a fixed position are called absolute moves.

'Relative' moves are only those which are referenced to the current
position.

Lloyd

Yes but the positions can be defined relative to a fixed position or the
current position. Like in Autocad I can make a line from point 1,1 to point
2,1 or from point 1,1 to point @1,0 and both produce the same line but the
2nd position in the 2nd example is defined relative to the first point.

If something is 30 miles West of Chicago, is that only a relative position
if I'm currently in Chicago? Or would it be only relative as "30 miles West
of here"? I see what you mean but relative to a fixed point versus relative
to current position seems to be two different kinds of relative, is there a
term for this?

RogerN

On Mon, 12 Aug 2013 19:10:35 -0500, "RogerN"
wrote:


I was wrong about the control software and relative moves. It has relative
moves relative to a fixed position, but also has moves relative to current
position. I wrote a little program that moves one direction for input 1,
the other direction for input 2. This could be modified for
left/right/up/down based on a camera for tracking. I've also seen some
programming help files on using the X-Box Kinnect camera sensor. Oh the
politically incorrect possibilities!

RogerN


So does it use a form of G code?


--
""Almost all liberal behavioral tropes track the impotent rage of small
children. Thus, for example, there is also the popular tactic of
repeating some stupid, meaningless phrase a billion times" Arms for
hostages, arms for hostages, arms for hostages, it's just about sex, just
about sex, just about sex, dumb,dumb, money in politics,money in
politics, Enron, Enron, Enron. Nothing repeated with mind-numbing
frequency in all major news outlets will not be believed by some members
of the populace. It is the permanence of evil; you can't stop it." (Ann
Coulter)

"RogerN" fired this volley in
m:

Yes but the positions can be defined relative to a fixed position or
the current position. Like in Autocad I can make a line from point
1,1 to point 2,1 or from point 1,1 to point @1,0 and both produce the
same line but the 2nd position in the 2nd example is defined relative
to the first point

You don't get it. This ain't rocket science; it's the whole basis of
CNC.

If a position is referenced to a fixed position, it's an "absolute
position". Period.

If it's referenced to an arbitrary position that may (will) change, it's
"relative". Period.

The 'fixed' position may be an 'origin' established for one job only, but
it does not change during the entirety of that job.

A relative move can happen from wherever the 'cursor' (tool, pointer,
probe, whatever) is at the time the relative move is commanded.

I hate to say this, but if you don't understand that, you also don't
understand how your Autocad works, only how to "work" it.

sigh

Lloyd

On Mon, 12 Aug 2013 20:47:38 -0500, "Lloyd E. Sponenburgh"
lloydspinsidemindspring.com wrote:

"RogerN" fired this volley in
om:

Yes but the positions can be defined relative to a fixed position or
the current position. Like in Autocad I can make a line from point
1,1 to point 2,1 or from point 1,1 to point @1,0 and both produce the
same line but the 2nd position in the 2nd example is defined relative
to the first point

You don't get it. This ain't rocket science; it's the whole basis of
CNC.

If a position is referenced to a fixed position, it's an "absolute
position". Period.

If it's referenced to an arbitrary position that may (will) change, it's
"relative". Period.

The 'fixed' position may be an 'origin' established for one job only, but
it does not change during the entirety of that job.

A relative move can happen from wherever the 'cursor' (tool, pointer,
probe, whatever) is at the time the relative move is commanded.

I hate to say this, but if you don't understand that, you also don't
understand how your Autocad works, only how to "work" it.

sigh

Lloyd

Gentlemen....those two different moves are normally called "absolute"
and "incremental"

This link..is from the OmniTurn programming manual

http://www.omni-turn.com/pdf/Sec2%20Programming.PDF

It was designed for lathes..but the basics remain the same no matter
what machine it runs on.

Gunner

--
""Almost all liberal behavioral tropes track the impotent rage of small
children. Thus, for example, there is also the popular tactic of
repeating some stupid, meaningless phrase a billion times" Arms for
hostages, arms for hostages, arms for hostages, it's just about sex, just
about sex, just about sex, dumb,dumb, money in politics,money in
politics, Enron, Enron, Enron. Nothing repeated with mind-numbing
frequency in all major news outlets will not be believed by some members
of the populace. It is the permanence of evil; you can't stop it." (Ann
Coulter)

Larry Jaques wrote:

On Sun, 11 Aug 2013 12:01:53 -0400, "Michael A. Terrell"
wrote:


RogerN wrote:

My Robotic Arm was supposed to be delivered Monday per USPS. It finally
came in today. I plugged the robot into the controller and the controller
into the 120 VAC, it worked for the motor test. Then I plugged the control
into my laptop, ran the software, it homed, passed speed calibration test,
and I proceeded to jog to positions and write a program. I'm delighted that
it worked without having to be repaired!

So right now it has an airsoft pistol, 1911 style, in the gripper, I
programmed it to point the gun and turn on an output, then it points the gun
down and sits in a rest position, ready to go again.


How about adding an IR sensor, or video camera to let it track
movement? That would freak out an intruder. Especially if you replaced
the pistol with some real fire power.

Sounds good. How about one more addition?

Audio output, as it racks the shotgun "Go ahead. Make my day."


How about a the sound of a Phaser, and some lightning bolts, too?


--
Anyone wanting to run for any political office in the US should have to
have a DD214, and a honorable discharge.

RogerN wrote:

"Michael A. Terrell" wrote in message
m...

RogerN wrote:

snip
So right now it has an airsoft pistol, 1911 style, in the gripper,
I programmed it to point the gun and turn on an output, then it
points the gun down and sits in a rest position, ready to go
again.


How about adding an IR sensor, or video camera to let it track
movement? That would freak out an intruder. Especially if you
replaced the pistol with some real fire power.

The existing software doesn't seem able to do tracking, you can define
relative positions but they are relative to an absolute position, so they
become an absolute position as soon as they are defined, unless maybe if you
redefine the position they reference, maybe, I haven't tried that out yet.
I was hoping to use subroutines or relative motion, like palletizing, where
I can define an array and perform a pick or place subroutine at an array of
X,Y positions.

So I'm starting to attempt to learn Visual Basic and write my own. So far I
prefer QBasic or even GWBasic to VB. I never they could replace something
like "OpenCom" with 50 lines of code that doesn't run. But once I get the
com port working it should be able to do relative moves. I'm thinking the
vision system could be programmed for output for fast or slow movement for
fast aim and fine positioning. I'd like to get a replica gun that looks
real but won't get me, or the robot, arrested for aiming a gun at someone.


We designed and built an IR based robotic tracker at Microdyne for
the ESA to let them follow their launch vehicles with an IR camera. We
let it sit on our loading dock for a week to test the custom software by
letting it lock onto tucks over a quarter mile away, and down our road.
Then it would home and wait for the next vehicle. It never missed a
single vehicle, and they were well centered in the video monitor. The
IR position sensor & color IR camera were made by our Cincinnati
Electronics division. I haven't kept track, but I wonder how many times
they have used it for an actual launch?


Have you ever tried 'Free Basic'?


--
Anyone wanting to run for any political office in the US should have to
have a DD214, and a honorable discharge.

Tom Gardner wrote:

I always wanted to set-up a remote paintball gun on the US/Mexico border
and charge per shot over the internet.


Where were you planning to get paintballs the size of softballs, and
full of biohazardous paint? ;-)


--
Anyone wanting to run for any political office in the US should have to
have a DD214, and a honorable discharge.

Karl Townsend wrote:

My bud Roger always wanted a real one. He finally bought one 30 some
years ago and was so disappointing. He says it's a POS.

Ive had several, including the aluminum framed ones made after the
war. Early war P38s are actually pretty cool, but late war and French
made aluminum ones..not so cool.

Gunner

Yep, just the model name isn't enough. My dad has a Korea surplus 1911
( got stuck in his duffle bag, somehow) Nice souvenere, but truly a
POS to shoot. I never considered buying one for myself until Don
Foreman brought his Kimber 1911 out. Now THAT'S a weapon.


How is Don doing these days? I still miss his wit & humor on the
group.

--
Anyone wanting to run for any political office in the US should have to
have a DD214, and a honorable discharge.

On Mon, 12 Aug 2013 23:07:30 -0400, "Michael A. Terrell"
wrote:


Tom Gardner wrote:

I always wanted to set-up a remote paintball gun on the US/Mexico border
and charge per shot over the internet.


Where were you planning to get paintballs the size of softballs, and
full of biohazardous paint? ;-)


Paint? Sarin has a low persistance and is nice and sticky....VBG


--
""Almost all liberal behavioral tropes track the impotent rage of small
children. Thus, for example, there is also the popular tactic of
repeating some stupid, meaningless phrase a billion times" Arms for
hostages, arms for hostages, arms for hostages, it's just about sex, just
about sex, just about sex, dumb,dumb, money in politics,money in
politics, Enron, Enron, Enron. Nothing repeated with mind-numbing
frequency in all major news outlets will not be believed by some members
of the populace. It is the permanence of evil; you can't stop it." (Ann
Coulter)

On Mon, 12 Aug 2013 22:56:53 -0400, "Michael A. Terrell"
wrote:


Larry Jaques wrote:

On Sun, 11 Aug 2013 12:01:53 -0400, "Michael A. Terrell"
wrote:


RogerN wrote:

My Robotic Arm was supposed to be delivered Monday per USPS. It finally
came in today. I plugged the robot into the controller and the controller
into the 120 VAC, it worked for the motor test. Then I plugged the control
into my laptop, ran the software, it homed, passed speed calibration test,
and I proceeded to jog to positions and write a program. I'm delighted that
it worked without having to be repaired!

So right now it has an airsoft pistol, 1911 style, in the gripper, I
programmed it to point the gun and turn on an output, then it points the gun
down and sits in a rest position, ready to go again.


How about adding an IR sensor, or video camera to let it track
movement? That would freak out an intruder. Especially if you replaced
the pistol with some real fire power.

Sounds good. How about one more addition?

Audio output, as it racks the shotgun "Go ahead. Make my day."


How about a the sound of a Phaser, and some lightning bolts, too?

Love to. May I borrow your Phaser, or some of Zeus' lightning bolts,
please? Thanks in advance.

--LJ, still saving up for a vaporizing laser for his rooftop to
protect the property from dogs, Jesus Freaks, and other perps.

--
They must find it difficult,
those who have taken authority as truth,
rather than truth as authority.
-- Gerald Massey, Egyptologist

Larry Jaques wrote:

On Mon, 12 Aug 2013 22:56:53 -0400, "Michael A. Terrell"
wrote:


Larry Jaques wrote:

On Sun, 11 Aug 2013 12:01:53 -0400, "Michael A. Terrell"
wrote:


RogerN wrote:

My Robotic Arm was supposed to be delivered Monday per USPS. It finally
came in today. I plugged the robot into the controller and the controller
into the 120 VAC, it worked for the motor test. Then I plugged the control
into my laptop, ran the software, it homed, passed speed calibration test,
and I proceeded to jog to positions and write a program. I'm delighted that
it worked without having to be repaired!

So right now it has an airsoft pistol, 1911 style, in the gripper, I
programmed it to point the gun and turn on an output, then it points the gun
down and sits in a rest position, ready to go again.


How about adding an IR sensor, or video camera to let it track
movement? That would freak out an intruder. Especially if you replaced
the pistol with some real fire power.

Sounds good. How about one more addition?

Audio output, as it racks the shotgun "Go ahead. Make my day."


How about a the sound of a Phaser, and some lightning bolts, too?

Love to. May I borrow your Phaser, or some of Zeus' lightning bolts,
please? Thanks in advance.


Sorry, the United Federation of Planets confiscated mine for not
meeting my quota of fried welfare cheats last month. Those fat slugs
were hard enough to stun, and you can't get a concealed carry for a
phaser rifle anymore.

Make yer own damned lightning with a 30' x 12' Tesla coil, and a
couple pole pigs. Pure platinum spark gap is not included in the
standard kit. Do not use a metalized weather balloon inflated with
hydrogen for the top terminal. Ask for your parents permission before
connecting it to the 7200 volt line. Seller of kit is in no way
responsible for your higher electric bills. ;-)


--
Anyone wanting to run for any political office in the US should have to
have a DD214, and a honorable discharge.