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I would like to bring up a topic that I've been been bouncing around in my head for the past few months. I make a living as an industrial programmer, sequencing using PLCs, dealing with drives, networking, controlling heavy machinery. All the hardware we use are from established companies like Allen Bradly, Sick, Cognex, Delta, ABB, etc... big $$$, you pay for the software, pay for the hardware and pay for the support. It's not uncommon for a large control system to cost $50k+ (hardware only) By night I'm just your regular maker. Programming AVR series uC, ARM series, playing with various open source hardware Arduino, RPI, Teensy, 3D printers, designing PCBs, stepper motors... whatever I can get my hands on. Both worlds are the same... but completely different, and there is ZERO overlap. I'm interested in why other people think this is, I'm sure that makers don't get into the industrial stuff because the price point. I'm not going to pay 8k for a AB Logix rack... are you kidding me? but vice versa? is the lack of support really all that daunting? I find OS stuff to be way more powerful, understanding something from the bare metal is the most amazing feeling, and being able to modify it to your needs is even better. Digging into somethings source is without an argument the most flexible platform to build on, and knowing the board level schematic for a chuck of hardware opens up a world of opportunities... Then lies the ethical dilemma... If I was to profit off other people's work, does this make me a bad person? What if I push the changes back into the development (which frankly I have no problem doing) I would love to head other people's opinions... Edited by MachineHum

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Well... I have that interest too, about these areas. But, one of major problems I found, at least about cognex software/Hardware, is the lack of a place where to discuss experiences with other users... I'm running severe tests on DVT Legend 542C, and I have nobody to exchange knowledge... ... But I got your point.... It's a good ideia... 

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