You really need to consider the MOUSELESS approach as most machine do not HAVE or some do NOT allow mouses on a machine tool.
Build a Basic Keyboard enabled screenset (Mach4 EZ)THEN everyone else can build what they want. There is a big market sector that can build customs for them(;-).
This is one of those occasions when I must agree with Terry. From an operational standpoint, these are the guys that know what works.
My question would be, if no mouse and no physical buttons, are key combinations adequate or should a touch screen be considered?
Also you mentioned tabs.
Assuming a touch screen, would it be better to have a 'menu' , say across the bottom, where you would call up entire recognizable screens or have repositionable pop-ups (i.e. like windows screens) again recognizable, but on screen as long as you need then, placed where you need them, (like not covering the other controls you are using).
-or-
A section of the screen that is perpetually the same and has the most important controls 'in the same place all the time' as you have said in the past, and a separate section (or even a separate screen for that matter) where 'controls of the moment' can be called up and dismissed as needed?