Re: ball screw conversion

I would like to have MPGs for manual control and a button for power
feed.
It seems that you can't have both in Mach 3 without changing the jog
mode.
If you're using a machine ( Lathe ) manually you should be able
to have power feed as well as handwheel control. I don't understand why
they are mutually exclusive in Mach 3.
Glen.
--- In CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com, Will Holding <76lancia@...>
wrote:

>
> That is one nice way to do it if you have the ability, I/O, and

inclination to build it, I agree.

>
> I get by wth a pendant with a proportional joystick that coves the

directional moves and the speed, depending on how far you push it over,

>
> OR
>
> My wireless keyboard that has a trackball at the right thumb position

and mouse buttons at the left thumb position. Mostly I use this because
I'm free to move around the machine while holding the KB like a tablet
and enter my MDI, etc on the fly.Yeah, I guess you could go portable
with 4 MPG's as well, my machine does not have that many inputs even
with the 2 ports. Which means I would have to learn the whole Modio
thing and that's a bit too much for me at present.

>
> BTW, I don't mean to spam this list but I have a really nice aluminum

enclosure that I'm not going to use, it's a Rittal 6000 series and I
think it lists at something like eleven hundred bucks? I got it a lot
cheaper, it's brand new but missing one small cosmetic trim that I
wasn't going to use anyway., and I'd take $200 plus shipping on it if
anybody is interested. It has an upper area for a computer monitor/flat
panel mounting and a lower panel that's prepunched for buttons, both are
1/8" removable aluminum.Then it has a swing door with a latch, and I
have the original cable grommet, misc hgardware, plugs ,paperwork, etc.
Email will dot holding at customarchitectural dot com if you are
ointerested or know somebody who might be, feel free to pass it on.

>
> -Will
>
>
>
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Leslie Newell
> To: CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com
> Sent: Thursday, December 03, 2009 2:13 PM
> Subject: Re: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] Re: ball screw conversion
>
>
>
> Hi Will,
>
> I have multiple electronic handwheels (high resolution MPGs), one

per

> axis and I find I use them an awful lot. I never jog using the

keyboard.

> With electronic handwheels you don't have any 'feel' for the cut but
> you can compensate by listening to the cut instead. Using MPGs in

this

> way gives you the best of both worlds. The control software always

knows

> exactly where the machine is so you can mix MPG moves and MDI moves

and

> you have conveniend DROs showing your position. I do this on my
> Colchester lathe running EMC and my mill running Mach. On the lathe

I

> also have a switch that sets the scaling of the wheels so you can
> rapidly move the saddle from one end of the bed to the other or

easily

> take tiny precision cuts at the flick of a switch.
>
> The handwheels are ordinary machine handwheels mounted on a shaft

that

> is supported by a couple of skate bearings. The shaft has a friction
> brake to give it a bit of resistance. On the back of the assembly I

have

> a cheap 500 line encoder.
>
> Les
>
> Will Holding wrote:
> > I think he meant homeshopcnc.com
> >
> > You can also mount the handwheels to your pulleys. Unless you

provide a way to remove the belts or make one of the pulleys freewheel,
you will get cogging from the steppers when using your handwheel, go
fast enough and the stepper will suddenly try to brake your handwheel
motion. Rather annoying IMO.

> >
> > You will find you don't need the handwheels at all. People told me

this and I didn't listen.Using a pendant jog stick or even the keyboard
is much better than hand turning the wheels, it's like having a perfect
power feed in all directions.

> >
> > You really will never use the handwheels- even for picking up a

center.

> >
> > My .02
> > -Will
> >
> >
>
>
>
>
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