Re: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] What is wanted in a controller,

Hi Alan,

I guess the things I miss most are having knobs for slewing the
axes, overriding feedrate and if I had a spindle with controlable
speed then I would want a knob for overriding that. It would be
nice if the override knobs had a detent at the position where
the feed/speed was at the programed rate. It would real nice if
the slew knob automaticly returned back to 0 when released.

I'm really fond of the type of knob that's used on the high end
video tape decks. They're a two function knob where in on mode I
think they're just a rotary encoder and spining the knob just causes
the tape to move forward or backwards. If you press and release on
the knob it switches into a mode which has a detent at the mid point,
becomes spring loaded to return to the midpoint and when you twist
the knob in direction the tape starts slewing at a speed relative
to how far you've twisted the knob. Also in this mode if you twist
the knob further that say 1/4 turn, it seems like the slew rate gets
multiplied by a value of 2 or 3. Pressing and releasing the knob
switches it back to jog mode. The only problem with these knobs is
the cost. $200 or $300 apiece I've been told. Oh, well.

I haven't thought too much about what kind of buttons or switches
I would need. A rotary switch to select which axis was connected
to the jog and/or slew knob(s) would be needed. I think it would
be handy to have jog buttons which would move an axis (or the selected
axis) by a selectable increment.

Buttons for turning the spindle and other various functions on
and odd may be handy.

It's real handy to be able to pause a program in mid cut, jog
the axes around and then resume the program. This comes in handy
for picking up a surface or adjusting the depth of cut.

I'm sure there's a whole bunch of other stuff I'm missing. But thanks
for listening.

Drew


Alan Marconett KM6VV wrote:

>
> Hi Drew,
>
> Yes, that'd be a good place to start! A good pendant design, or a
> "control panel", could get us going in the correct direction. I'd be
> curious to hear what you'd like to see. I made one real simple, a panel
> shaft encoder, and two PB's. the push buttons allow one to "rotate"
> through the axis choices, and the jog sizes. Fits in a little aluminum
> die cast case, and plugs into the joystick connector. The interface
> uses the four "switch" pin lines. No R/C time constant joystick. I DO
> have a good analog joystick that I'd interfaced via a pair of A/D
> channels (for the robot I posted some time ago), might give that a try.
> the A/D I did for something else; it's 4 channel (and a stepper!). The
> A/D is a serial part, read by bit banger (slow) code through the
> parallel port. Guess one could also add a bit banger D/A port as well!
>
> I think Jon has some A/D or D/A on his interface?
>
> Alan KM6VV
>
> Drew Rogge wrote:
> >
> > Hi Alan,
> >
> > I think Sean was referring to the Milacron as an example
> > of the UI (both computer and mechanical) on a more professional
> > level controller. Personally I find it difficult to have to
> > use the mouse and keyboard to supply all the input to the
> > machine/controller. One of these days I'll take my shot at
> > figuring out what I'd like to see on a pendant.
> >
> > Drew
> >

--
Drew Rogge
drew@...