Swarf in Keyboard and Mouse!! Ahhhh!

[WoodyCam]

Dear All, I'm getting really bothered by swarf in the keyboard and mouse with my CNC lathe setup (ORAC + MACH3).

Its shielded but the sharp, springy and keyboard-deadly stuff gets everywhere. I even had an unexpected event (i.e. crash ) when a bit of swarf lodged in the side of the jog key and held it down!!

I just wondered what the more established users do to solve this problem.

I'm thinking vertical keyboard with integrated roller ball - but I expect its uncomfortable to use?

Any pics, advice and suggested products greatly appreciated!

Thanks, Woody.

[HimyKabibble]

Buy a sealed, industrial keyboard.  They show up on E-Bay periodically.  Mine was $40, and is liquid-tight, so totally oblivious to chips, coollant, oil, etc.  For the mouse, get an optical mouse, so no little ball to clog up.  A trackball will still be subject to chips getting into it.  Or, you can use a joystick, trackpad, etc.

Regards,
Ray L.

[Sam]

I've been needing a swarf-proof keyboard myself. I was going to try a silicone one. Obviously, they wouldn't hold up to hot chips, but that wouldn't be a concern to me. It would be easy enough to make a solid platform for them.  For 10-15 bucks shipped, I may try one.
http://computers.shop.ebay.com/items/Flexible__W0QQ_sacatZ158842

[HimyKabibble]

I've been needing a swarf-proof keyboard myself. I was going to try a silicone one. Obviously, they wouldn't hold up to hot chips, but that wouldn't be a concern to me. It would be easy enough to make a solid platform for them.  For 10-15 bucks shipped, I may try one.
http://computers.shop.ebay.com/items/Flexible__W0QQ_sacatZ158842

Sam,

Those things work, but the feel is HORRENDOUS!  Maybe OK for pushing the occassional key to control the machine, but typing, even a little bit, on one is just awful.  You're much better off waiting for a decent industrial sealed keyboard to come up on E-Bay. They come around quite often, and are usually $40-60.

Regards,
Ray L.

[Hood]

I use the silicone style keyboard on my lathe and although the feel of them is not great I dont find it that bad. However I dont use the keyboard that much, I will do small edits to the code at the lathe but anything more and I will use the desktop computer.
 I have a Storm Keyboard and trackball to fit to the lathe at some point, both are IP65 and have a very nice feel. At the moment I use a touch pad on both the Bridgeport and the lathe and also they have touch screens, no way I would have a mouse but thats just a personal thing.
Hood

[simpson36]

I bought one of those silly silicon roll up keyboards and it works great for the purpose.

As HimyKabibble states, It's not something you want to do a lot of typing on    , but like Hood, I do 99% of my work on a separte (and powerful) desktop machine and just shoot the finished G-code to the machine tool, so I don't care how weird the keyboard feels, so long as it survives tha chips and oil.

So far so good.

[tubular2000]

i use this one, it is not cheap but has integrated mouse and is strong and washable

http://www.ruggedtech.com/symcod.html

if you don't need the integrated mouse i think the 9.00$ flexible keyboard will do the job fine

[gyurudogru]

Dear All,
i crushed my keyboard yesterday, most probably  while blowing out the swarf using compressed air

i got a new one for myself  and it has PS/2 connector.
The problem is while my cnc router running , the keyboard sends charecters to the PC randomly. It was forcing my PC to go standby or jog or open other windows applications.
And most supricing, i found my motor output pin configuration changed to  port 1 to port 2.
 I used my cnc keyboard pluged off while running motors  last night and it worked.
I ll get a USB keyboard soon, i hope its all about with PS/2 connectors.

Did you have any problem such that?

[Hood]

gyurudogru

Can you attach your xml please.
Hood

[Greolt]

Those things work, but the feel is HORRENDOUS! 
 Maybe OK for pushing the occassional key to control the machine, but typing, even a little bit, on one is just awful.

Been using a silicone keyboard for years.  Can't imagine using anything else.  $10 chicken feed.

Only control a machine with it, not writing a novel. 

Greg