Just to add my two cents worth...
I think we are comparing two different systems here. RELS was designed to make it fairly easy for a hobbyist to construct, modify, and upgrade a system themselves with relatively little investment, other than time. ELS was designed as a commercial system that is available for sale. (I have no idea at what price, and am not looking to denigrate it in any way.)
RELS gives a hobbyist a lot of flexibility, in that he can easily alter the Arduino program to accomplish what he needs to accomplish, and to add desired features, such as the ability to cut MT tapers automatically, and to cut uncommon thread pitches. It currently used a 16 x 2 alphanumeric LCD display, a low-cost, easily available display for hobbyists. Due to the open source program, a larger display or larger keypad could be integrated, if a user so desired and had the programming and technical talents.
ELS, as I understand it, endeavors to be as complete as possible. I assume that the code is not open source. (Commercial code virtually never is.) ELS is intended to be a solution that needs only be integrated into the lathe, once purchased; the electronics and software are all taken care of. Hook up the power supply, drivers, and motors with the ELS and you're ready to go. It is not intended to be modified by its users. I think I have this right. I apologize in advance if I am wrong.
The original designers of both products have made decisions based on their different target markets. I think it's up to a user to decide if they are OK with any compromises in exchange for the benefits in the case of both products.
At the end of the day, it's up to the user. At any rate, that's my opinion.?Happy machining!
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Regards,
Charlie
New Jersey, USA
LAW OF ANNOYANCE: When working on a project, if you put away a tool that you¡¯re certain you¡¯re finished with, you will need it instantly.
