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I find it a little hard to believe that anyone would try to build a band-saw controller on a Windows box in the way suggested by the post and assumed by so many

I find it a little hard to believe that anyone would try to build a band-saw controller on a Windows box in the way suggested by the post and assumed by so many of the comments. It seems likely that the Windows PC is just a job manager and GUI for a simpler embedded controller that actually controls the band-saw. A standard PC doesn't have, as standard equipment, any I/O capabilities suitable for machine control, after all. When I did software for industrial controls, most of the controls that had PC interfaces were built that way; an embedded controller in the machine, running a real-time OS, actually actuated all the relays and optos and was responsible for all the safety interlocks. The PC would talk to that controller through a serial port and put a pretty face on the front of things. If the PC crashed, the operator wouldn't be able to run the machine, but the machine wouldn't go berserk. I understand why someone would say that running a browser on the Win 3.1 machine is a bad idea, but it may not really be that bad.

mbell 14y ago
This likely the case but I'll also add that we have no idea what "bandsaw" this is. I think everyone is picturing a massively complex machine with automated feed mechanisms, computer controlled adjustments, lasers measuring blade sharpness, etc. That may be the case or more likely (in my opinion), its a much simpler device. Like on/off and a maybe a couple sensors. As for the real time nature of this system, find it doubtful its that critical. Your not worried about micro-seconds when your talking about big 3-phase motors that take minutes to speed up or slow down.
- benmccann 14y ago
  It's the saw you'd most commonly use to cut irregular or curved shapes. http://metalworkingmachine.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/bandsaw.jpg http://metalworkingmachine.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/ba...
  - mbell 14y ago
    Is that the actual saw in question or just an example? If it is just an example there are many kinds of bandsaws at many different scales, anything from cutting irregular shapes to turning tree trunks into boards.

mbell 14y ago

This likely the case but I'll also add that we have no idea what "bandsaw" this is. I think everyone is picturing a massively complex machine with automated feed mechanisms, computer controlled adjustments, lasers measuring blade sharpness, etc. That may be the case or more likely (in my opinion), its a much simpler device. Like on/off and a maybe a couple sensors. As for the real time nature of this system, find it doubtful its that critical. Your not worried about micro-seconds when your talking about big 3-phase motors that take minutes to speed up or slow down.

benmccann 14y ago
It's the saw you'd most commonly use to cut irregular or curved shapes. http://metalworkingmachine.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/bandsaw.jpg http://metalworkingmachine.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/ba...
- mbell 14y ago
  Is that the actual saw in question or just an example? If it is just an example there are many kinds of bandsaws at many different scales, anything from cutting irregular shapes to turning tree trunks into boards.