The machine is a really large router. As to whether it is or is not working as designed is a matter of some debate. The customer is constantly asking it do a little more than he was the day before and he is reporting back that it is not always working as he would like. My company's owner (and my direct boss) had no affiliation with the company when the machine was originally designed so he is coming in from the back-end. Unfortunately the previous owners flew by the seat of the pants on many of their designs and there are few if any documents saying what the hard design criteria really were. I designed the controls and, in my opinion, the controls are more than capable. The mechanical component and design choices are where any real deficiencies exist. Of course, its my baby (controls wise) so I might not be the most unbiased person out there. The boss is a mechanical PE and his view is EXTREMELY biased in the opposite direction of mine. He also has vertually no controls design experience.
Oh, I agree that I will end up having to do what he directs, but I have no intent of doing so blindly or quietly if it is against my better judgement. That's why I am looking for publications on the issue. If I can show him that ardent professionals in the field agree that steppers are wrong for applications similar to ours, I am confident he will listen and back down. He definitely does not want to head down the wrong road. He just wants more credible information than he believes I can supply on my own.
Steve  |