Re: Request for CNC lathe enclosure and control panel ideas

I've always found it to be less trouble to use off the shelf items
rather than custom made items.

You might consider using a wireless keyboard with a built-in
trackball. The one I use (KeySource International, Wambat Wizard,
Jr.) was intended for video teleconference systems and has a range of
over 30 feet and is forgiving from the standpoint of line of sight.
Get one that plugs into the keyboard and mouse port rather than USB
or you will have limited capability until Windows boots up and the
drivers load. I tried the IBM wireless keyboard and it just didn't
have the range or angle capability. I have not had the chance to
play with an RF wireless game controller I picked up (Logitec
Wingman), but it also looks promising (however, uses USB port, so
Windows system must be up for it to operate). There are also
wireless video gadgets, but wireless LAN connections might be more
useful (you could monitor a PC near the lathe from another one at a
distance or on a cart). Part of the solution depends on the
controller you are using. If it is PC based (like MACH1/2 for
example), these should all be workable. As far as a cart, you might
try H. Wilson or Spectrum Industries. Both make well built items and
at least in Wilson's case run sales.

If the Wombat keyboard interests you, I may have a couple of extras
around. I will be out of town until next Thursday, so if you're
interested let me know off list than.

Regards,
Jeff

--- In CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com, Kim Lux <lux@d...> wrote:
> Hi people.
>
> We've got a retrofitted 13x40 lathe. Geckos, ballscrews, coolant,
> servos, turbocnc etc.
>
> It works great except that:
>
> a) While operating it throws debris (mostly metal cuttings) up to 8
feet
> from the lathe. Yes, we are using chip breaking inserts.
>
> b) We need a better way to mount the CNC control panel, ie 17" LCD,
> feedwheels and keyboard.
>
> Firstly, we need some sort of total enclosure. I've seen the sliding
> door type, but don't like it because it limits the accessibility of
the
> lathe bed. We use gang and live tooling and need to change setups
from
> time to time, so we need totally unfettered access. I'm thinking
about
> something that opens like a car trunk, but I'd like to hear your
ideas
> on the subject.
>
> Next, we need to mount the LCD, keyboard and feedwheel panel. If we
> used a sliding enclosure, we could mount these items to the
enclosure
> because they would still be accessible when the enclosure was
open. If
> the enclosure opens like a car truck, the control panel would be 7
feet
> in the air and unaccessible.
>
> Furthermore, we use the lathe for one off prototype work and will
want
> to run it from the feedwheels (and MDI) while in jog mode. This
means
> the feedwheels need to be close to the saddle so the operator can
watch
> the tool cutting while operating them. While in this mode we also
need
> the LCD to be easily readable as it will be used like a DRO.
>
> It is like we need the control panel and LCD mounted in different
places
> at different times:
>
> a) while jog machining, the LCD should be over and behind the
spindle so
> that you could look up and see the position. (I know this would be
very
> bad for the LCD !) The feedwheels should be on the carriage. I
don't
> know where the keyboard should be, but we need it for MDI commands,
> resetting positions, jogging to position, etc. The enclosure will
be
> open when jog machining.
>
> b) while automatic machining, the LCD, feedwheels and keyboard
should be
> outside the enclosure, beside the window, maybe in front of the
> headstock.
>
> We don't need the control panel on the lathe to be set up for
writing G
> code as we use a different computer for that, one at a desk. We do
do
> some light editing at the lathe though.
>
> I've given thought to putting the LCD and keyboard on an adjustable
arm,
> but I'm worried about having a shaky mount and it being a pain to
move
> all the time.
>
> Any ideas ?
>
> Thanks.
>
> --
> Kim Lux <lux@d...>