From: wanliker@aol.com [mailto:wanliker@aol.com]
Sent: Thursday, April 19, 2001 11:11 AM
To: CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] The Purpose of this List from 
bill, List Mom

The purpose of this list is very simple:

Description:
 
"This list is for discussion of CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO.  This list is aimed at the 
construction and use of this equipment in a Home Shop Machinist environment.  
It is not moderated, but I would hope that the discussion will consist of 
Links, sources, progress reports, and things of this nature, on the above 
subjects.  It not aimed at the commercial professional systems, and there 
users.  This list is a direct result of the discussions on the above subject 
at NAMES, 1999."

It has helped a lot of list members in building there own systems for there 
shop, and that has been good.
It has allowed venders to mention there equipment, that is for sale, all 
business conducted off list, (this was voted on by list members and approved) 
no full page catalogs.
It has allowed individuals to offer there surplus parts to other members
It has allowed members to ask questions about equipment, software, etc., and 
that is good.
It has rambled off topic many times, but it comes back to where it is 
supposed to be discussing the subjects of the list name.
But mainly it has been a source of information and learning for most of us.  
And this was the purpose of the list from the beginning, before this list was 
started it was hard to find information.  We have engineers of various kinds 
helping us, we have experienced people helping us, and we have beginners 
asking the question that many of us need answered, that is good.

There are few rules:

NO FLAMING, any attacks on an individual will be dealt with a heavy hand, you 
can attack an idea if you like, but not the person, no exceptions.

LISTING ITEMS FOR SALE IS ALLOWED, however no catalogs, and keep it 
restricted to items that again are under the subjects covered by the list 
name.

NEW ONE:  
NO ATTEMPTING AT BREAKING COMMERCIAL SOFTWARE.  We simply don't need the 
problems that this can cause.

If you get email or a list posting on any of the above rules, STOP RIGHT NOW, 
if you care to argue about it contact me or TIM off list.

I am not trying to be a HEAVY at all on this list, but I, as well as many of 
you have seen good lists destroyed by catfights, and I believe this list is 
too valuable to allow that to happen.  
When I read the mail sent to me off list, both complimentary and complaining 
I see mostly concurrence with the above ideas.
In reading the postings since the inception of this list, I am truly amazed 
with the quality and quantity of postings that have truly helped me and many 
others on there quest to have a shop full of the latest on a low budget, and 
this has happened with many.  I would like to see more postings with success 
stories, with a short list of equipment used, cost, and how it works.
I doubt that most that are the Home Shop Machinists/Hobbyists are concerned 
with speed as much as the fact they can make parts.
Feel Free to disagree with my ideas, respect me, as I respect you.
After you have been here a while it is soon apparent how much talent we have 
and how freely it is shared.  Also it is apparent when there is only 
commercial discussions, how many people sign on, and then leave very soon.
Enough of my ramblings,
bill 
List Mom/owner

Original list purpose and practices message

From: wanliker@aol.com [mailto:wanliker@aol.com]
Sent: Wednesday, August 23, 2000 11:43 PM
To: CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@egroups.com
Subject: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] words from bill about our list. A BIT OF HISTORY

This list was started two years ago after visiting NAMES, and setting in on 
the seminar they had on CNC, under the direction of R. W. Friestad from 
Cardinal Engineering.  Due to my hearing I missed about half of what was 
said, and got the idea of setting up a list for our interests, and put out a 
paper for people to sign.  I got 12 signatures that day and set up the list 
after I got home.  We now have over 700 members.
My idea was for a list that would confine itself to the list title items.  
And we have pretty much done so, and the list has taken off beyond all 
expectations.  We have had a couple of controversies, but the list has been 
really serious in its demeanor. Unfortunately we have had to ban two people, 
one that joined the list expressly for the purpose of posting Spam that had 
nothing to do with the list, he was also dropped by his provider.  The other 
one, wanted to get in flame wars, and after asked to desist, he then flamed 
me.  Sorry guy you are gone, and you have missed a lot.
This list has been unlike some of the others that I belong to, as we are all 
after information and assistance, be it software, hardware, or just answers, 
and the list has always come thru to the best of my knowledge.
I started one controversy when I chastised a list member, that posted an 
advertisement to the list.  List members rapidly converted my attitude.  They 
asked me to change that attitude and let people list items that they had for 
sale or trade, and a question to the list brought overwhelming support and 
that has been acceptable since.  I still insist that business be conducted 
off the list, and think that is fair to all.
The one big NO-No is flaming somebody, the other is introducing politics.  I 
recently ignored the comments on guns, until politics was introduced into the 
discussion, then I had to step in and say that is enough.
Looking back to times before this list, it was quite unrewarding trying to 
find information on a do-it-yourself project in CNC, a few magazine articles, 
and if you were lucky some URL's.  Now with the list we have professional 
Programmers helping us, professional and amateur Machinists helping us, 
Electrical and Mechanical Engineers helping us, where else can we go for so 
much fantastic help in our quest for knowledge.  And all freely given to the 
list for all of us to use.
I ask all of you to understand how this list is different from so many of the 
others we have all joined and then dropped in frustration due to the egos 
involved.  
There are so many names that could be mentioned and thanked for there endless 
efforts to help, that this letter could go on and on, they know who they are, 
and so do most of the rest of us.  The new people to the list will surely 
learn who they are.  I am not going to mention any of the names for fear that 
with my memory that I would forget too many of them, but these guys all 
deserve a round of applause from the rest of us.  They are the enablers of 
our quest for a home built CNC.
I have not made any hard and fast rules for the most part, rather we address 
concerns when they come up, and everybody is welcome to e-mail me directly if 
you see a problem shaping up.  A set of hard and fast rules would inhibit the 
list in its growth, in my opinion.
All that said, Flames, Politics, Guns are out, listing items for sale is 
allowed, sales correspondence to take place off list.
There are other lists for that stuff, this list is for CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO, and 
hopefully it will live on a long time, and continue to help all of us.
thanks for listening to my ramblings,
bill