Thanks very much for answering my questions about Frogs and Taigs and other
details. I think I understand a lot better now.

(DoN. Nichols) writes:

Note that you do not *need* a computer at all. The frog
contains a keypad to allow you to enter commands to it. (A computer is
probably easier to save programs and re-load them -- especially if it
takes a lot of keystrokes to enter the program. I don't know whether
there is anything locking it into Windows, and I somehow doubt it.
Just a simple text transfer should be sufficient.

I just took a look at http://www.sourceforge.net and did a search for cnc
and found a number of projects in progress aimed at using Linux for CNC.
Apparently most of them haven't released any free software yet, but it
is only a matter of time. One that has released some stuff is at
http://sourceforge.net/projects/cnccodegen
and is described as follows: "CNC code generator is a software to generate
CNC codes (G & M codes) for maching operations like milling, drilling. At
present CNC code generator is limited for end milling. we working on other
machining operations like turning, drilling etc."

Two items that look especially interesting are the OpenCNC, which simulates
what happens when you run a program on a lathe and does some error checking,
and the Linux Multiple-Axis Control Project. Unfortunately, neither has
released any files yet, according to sourceforge.

Meanwhile, maybe it's time I learned to read and write G code. I vaguely
recall that there is something on this in Machinery's Handbook and it
doesn't cost me anything to look at it in the bookstore.

I seem to remember you mentioning the lack of a dog and a
faceplate (somewhere in the trimmed text, I suspect).

I searched for "dog" and "faceplate" separately in this thread at
http://www.dejanews.com and only found your article mentioning them.
But the information about them is still welcome.

P.S. I suspect that you would get more immediate positive feedback if
you bought the Taig with as many accessories as you can. Making
your own is best done for a later machine, if needed, when you
have the skills needed.

I agree. I'm not in any way in a position to make my own. For one thing,
I can't cast molten aluminum in a crowded apartment. I should be able to
find enough space to do some work on a lathe when I get one, though. I was
only mentioning Gingery's book because it enabled me to do a comparative
anatomy of lathes in various stages of completion.
--
Ignorantly,
Allan Adler
* Disclaimer: I am a guest and *not* a member of the MIT CSAIL. My actions and
* comments do not reflect in any way on MIT. Also, I am nowhere near Boston.