re:Re: rE: RE:hand jive

Doug, and others,

So what we're really talking about is the need for our CNC mills to
implement a USEFUL sort of "handwheel". CNC lathes already work the
way Doug describes below.(you can tell it you're cutting a curve and
control ONE axis by a handwheel(encoder actually, this IS "machine by
wire")and the control WILL take care of the other axis/axes. Some
modern machining centers do the same thing.

The other "handwheel" of CNC is MDI. 45's are NO problem!

>FWIW, the only serious toolmakers CNC mill I've had my hands on did
>have handwheels. That was a $100K+ LeBlond Makino. Handwheels were
>all in front for easy operator access, electronically coupled to
>screws. The handwheels were a definite asset to toolmaking and
>prototyping work.

>It's not the same....some machines will only jog one axis at a time,
>so a 45 degree type cut, like into a pocket corner, is a painful
>operation. Some will only jog in specific increments at a rapid
>(G00) rate.

Almost all have a simple "go this far from here" menu with entries
possible for ALL axes. With feedrate. MaxNC, Flashcut, AhHa!, CncPRO,
Kcam, Millmaster, CNCcontroller(IndexerLPT), etc.

>With a handwheel you control both jog feedrate and amount (with one
>hand). I cast my vote for handwheels whenever practical to
>implement. Doug

I agree with this! But...

JonA has exposed the weakness of just "puttin" a wheel on the end of
the ballscrew, early in this thread. My posts, and thoughts, are ways
to still have the "usefullness" of manual machining, given the
limitations. To "push the envelope", so to speak.

So let's turn this(back) from a "handwheels should/ shouldn't" to
a "should, but how best to do it??!!"

Ballendo