Re: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] re:Pendant

Hi Ballendo,

> Are these jog speeds, cutting speeds?

They could be either, I don't know what you mean and if there is a
difference. It is the speed that the axis will move as long as you keep your
finger on the button.

> Is this an add-on to existing S/W ? or an independant unit? Or both?

Yes, it is designed to add to any driver card that will take a step and
direction signal. The out-put of the direction pulse is selectable via a DIP
switch on each of the four axis.

> Is it a "no computer necessary" multiple axis power feed?

Yes it can be used as such but you would need to change the switches to a
latching type. I have designed it the way I have so that it necessary to
keep the button pressed because of safety. I have made it as Law-Suit proof
as possible but I cannot stop the end user doing what they want with it. For
the same reason it is only capable of moving one axis at a time.

The idea came about from someone, off this list, sending me a circuit
diagram of a double 555 timer power feed/ jog pendant and realising that
what was proposed would not work. It had no direction pulse. I had also
parted with a large chunk of cash for some PIC programming software for
another project, more of this in the weeks to come. All future ideas will be
presented to this list when they are near completion.

> What do you mean by 'pick 3 of 12' speeds?

The pendant, as it stands at the moment, has a choice of four speeds. Single
step and three others, slow, medium and fast. The speed range can be user
selected on start-up, or during running, from a choice of three speed
ranges. The single step would be the same on all ranges but the slow, med
and high speed settings, although set during my programming, will be
selectable. It is these speeds that I am asking for advice on. I do not have
a working CNC machine of any flavour at the moment.

> Does it do the conversion from steps/in (SPI) to IPM?

This pendant was designed to keep it as simple as possible and to be the
bottom of the range. More are planned. The next one will be user
programmable for IPM or MMPM and will allow the use of as many axis as the
operator can cope with or has fingers.

Terry