Quote Originally Posted by Washout View Post
What is missing currently is the Sinclair, Acorn, Vic etc from those times i.e. low cost of entry if not that capable, but at least enough to get into CNC and go onto to better things.

My personal take is that there is a home manufacturing wave starting/ocurring, much as there was with IT in the 80's and its all about riding that wave or sinking (lord knows there was much of both and still is in IT).

Exciting times I say and mistakes are acceptable provided you don't make them twice and not everyone wants the moon immediately, when low earth orbit is good enough to learn from ;-)

My 2 Cents/Pennies.
I would love too see this happen the way it did when i got my ZX80, but i suspect it will be some time yet as people are still basing the price of ready built basic machines, NOT on a fair profit based on the cost of parts and the time building it, but on how much they think you can make from it, they are basicly greedy, and then there are the "Martians know it all's who spurt scientific and mathamatic calculations, scarring away all but the bravest who dip their toes in the water" this was also the case before Mr Sinclaire...

I think there is room for a ZX80 type machine for Aluminium. basic enough to get you hooked!! and maybe good enough to earn you a little cash to cover the build costs, and maybe make some parts for your second machine, which if you get this far you will obviously build.

It wouldnt have to be ground breaking, in fact it should be the opposite, as basic as you can get and be able to use the parts when you quickly grow out of it, upon realising its limitations, if only just to give you an idea of what the martians are talking about.

Lets not forget the people who have helped me, let them design the basic machine (you know who you are) The straight talkers who stopped me wasting money, and gave me clear concise and uncomplicated opinions that i trusted, because they spoke common sence (although obviosly not common to me at the time) .

The people who give advice that tries to stop you wasting time, money, and resources, on machine specs you you neither need nor have the mental capacity to build or operate if you are asking how to build one..

Maybe there should just be a "Basic Design", NOT to Re-invent the wheel, but to give you an idea of what is required and the limitations of such a Project, without breaking the bank.

At least there will be a flow of usefull second hand parts we can all buy cheap!! if the builder decides its not for them..

Rick