keyboard jog thoughts was Re: Fanuc 6T controller picture posted

Fred,

Nice post. Good points.

Part of the arrow key problem is solved if the control implements
a "sensible" means of adjusting the distance moved per keypress.
Stepster uses the F7 key to choose from 1.000,.100,.010,.001; then
back to 1.000. This means you CAN press 10 times for 10 inches, or 1
inch... (This is very similar to the use of a commercial control)

Others do not implement the jog "size" function as well, IMO.

Hope this hleps.

Ballendo

--- In CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@y..., "imserv1" <imserv@v...> wrote:
> --- In CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@y..., Chris L <datac@l...> wrote:
> > > imserv1 wrote:
> > >
> > > This is one place I think the PC keyboard controls are actually
> BETTER
> > > than the CNC machines
>
> Chris you have mis quoted this, as Jon stated that not me.
>
> But bear in mind that this lathe only moves in 2 axes, and it
rapids
> at 400 inches per minute. That's 6 inches per second. That's 2
> second to go from one extreme of the X axis to the other. Bang
Bang.
> It is quick.
>
> I'm serious about the heart attack part with the setups. When this
> machine is running, the turret is a blur in between cuts.
>
> One of the biggest contrasts to me between the commercial class
> controllers and the hobby machines is the lack of a tactile
feedback
> for machine jogging.
>
>
> The pulse generating hand wheels are superb for precise positioning
> of spindle or turret, whereas the use of arrow keys is one of the
> most disappointing parts of the hobby controllers. The pulse
wheels
> are nice because one revolution is meaningful 1.0 .100 .01 per rev
> etc. Count the revs, ten and you have moved 10 inches. This means
> that you can focus your attention to the moving parts of the
machine
> and simultaneously position using the control knob. From a user
> interface stand point this is a shortcoming of PC based controls.
It
> is also less safe because you must focus on the PC screen, focus on
> the moving machine, back and forth, rather than just watch the
> movement while your hand has precise control over it.
>
> I'm trying to contrast the difference in feel between running
> machines with the different class of controllers.
>
> On a CNC router you don't spend much time positioning tools and
> locating datum points. On a mill you do. With the Shopbot here,
> Home the machine in X & Y (proximity switches), set the Z by
ramming
> a cutter into an aluminum plate and run a program. If the part
> shifts around 1/4 inch inside a 4 x 8 sheet of plywood, it does not
> matter too much.
>
> On the other hand if you are making a complex pneumatic valve body
> from a chunk of stainless steel, you need to move around and use an
> edge finder or an indicator, move to a safe position change tools,
> set tool heights, etc. The process is much more operator intense.
>
> The frustration level to me, is quite low for sheet routing with
> little or no attention to pulse generator.
>
> On a mill, making complex one off parts with multiple tools, it
> becomes a major issue. If you setup and run many parts, the
therapy
> of watching the machine automatically make the parts almost offsets
> the frustration of the setup. With only one or 2 parts, the
> frustration of a poor setup interface becomes a big negative factor.
>
>
>
> Best Regards,
>
> Fred Smith
> IMService