2015-11-11, 06:27
(2015-11-10, 01:51)W3DRM Wrote: Just think what it would mean for the developers to provide the Gerber files to the general public? It would/could result is total bedlam with everyone scrambling to build their own systems. Even with the Gerber files, who is going to be able to do any quality control on them to ensure they were made correctly. I've seen the results of poorly built circuit boards that caused more problems than they solved. The other side of that equation is the impact it could have on the servers and the developers who are currently preparing for the new BLUE system. They don't need to be further distracted with having to accommodate the unknown quality of any new systems coming on-line and the inherent issues that would follow in an attempt to do so.
True. But. At one time, at least according to the email I received when I inquired the first time about a kit, bare PC boards were offered for individual sale for those who could source their own parts (and I should have pulled the trigger right then and there, but had too many other irons in the fire at the time). No quality control was done on purchased parts then. How would releasing the Gerber files now be any different? Also, even if a full kit was bought, one could still muck it up in the soldering and produce volumes of unreliable data. If they had been offering full ready to go plug and play devices I would agree with you about quality control. But that's not what was offered. If The Powers That Be do not want to offer the PC board details because they just don't want to, that's fine, its their project, and they can do with it as they wish. But there is no technical reason for not releasing them.
David