Is hardware dead? - Top Dead Center

Diesel Progress North American Edition, July, 2003 by Mike Osenga

Is hardware dead?

The quick answer is, no.

But it sure seems like it is.

The culprit, of course, is the ubiquitous microprocessor and all it has spawned.

As a result, while there is some brand identity, the real determiners are speed and performance. Just look under the hood.

"Whatya got in there?"

"I got me a 4.1 gig kick-butt processor, 512MB DDR33 of memory, an 80GB hard drive and a 40x12x40x16 CD-RW and DVD-ROM combo, baby."

"Wow. Who makes it?"

"Makes it? I dunno. Some guy at the computer store I guess."

And it has infected these markets as well.

"Yeah, our new model 21D is a real breakthrough. It has a graphical LCD interface that changes intuitively with the application and operating modes. It can match user selections with dynamic information on the 128 x 64 pixel graphical display and is compatible with CANopen, CAN (CAL), CAN DeviceNet or CANJ1939."

"What does it do?"

"Do? Well there is CAN Bus-DeviceNet for networking to other devices and an RS232 port for programming. The DVC utilizes FLASH memory And, this is the really cool part, it is a real time, multi-tasking operating system that times stamps digital I/O to 1 mSec and analog I/O to 5 mSec."

"What applications is it used for?"

"Applications?"

"Yeah. What machines is it applicable for?"

"Machines? You mean, like hardware?" Which is followed by a look that says "dude, you are like really old."

The increasing dominance of all things electronic, in a strange way, reflects the ultimate in machining. There was a time (really!) when manufacturers talked about the high degree of precision in their machining processes.

But now, precise machining is pretty much a given. You're either at a certain level or you're not invited to the prom. Throughput is still key but the rest is either in the window or out of the game.

The magic is now in software and algorithms, not spindle speed, positioning accuracy or thermal distortion ripple.

Now with the first days of electronic control of off-highway engines and equipment upon us, the entire heavy-duty world will soon be as conversant with RS232, 68-pin connectors and sequential function charts.

There's no other choice. To meet the emissions, performance and operational goals of the next 10 years it's all electric, all the time, all over the machine.

Machining still has to be faster, more precise and more flexible, it's just that nobody seems to care that much, or talk about it much, away from the shop floor.

That battle has been fought. That horse has left the barn. That dog ain't hunting. Pick your cliche, but in the immortal words of The Tractors, the official Diesel Progress house band, "It won't be long/we won't need musicians/just button pushers and good electricians."

Miek Osenga

Mosenga@dieselpub.com