Machsupport Forum
Mach Discussion => General Mach Discussion => Topic started by: PeterB on August 05, 2009, 04:24:40 PM
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I am new to CNC machining and have just fitted stepper motors to my Myford VM-B manual Mill and got it to work with Mach3. I take my hat off to the guys who designed and published that software.
I wish to make an interface for manual movement/jogging in 3 axes.
The options I have considered are:
1. Three sets of Plus and Minus buttons for each axis arranged in a pattern similar to keyboard cursor keys. (Similar to the Mach3 screen jog buttons)
2. Three single axis joy sticks that would output pulses to Mach3 at a rate proportional to stick deflection
3. One 2-axis joy stick for X-Y and a single axis joystick for Z that would output pulses at a rate proportional to stick deflection.
4. Three single axis spin wheels mounted vertically that could output pulses at a rate proportional to speed of wheel rotation.
5. In conjunction with options 2, 3 and 4 would plus and minus buttons either side of each stick or wheel be useful for final precise single stepping to a position?
6. Would it be better to mount the Z axis control away from the others on the side of the column near to the existing Z manual handle?
Please could anyone advise from practical experience the pros and cons of these types of controls and any other types of control that might be superior?
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I am not a fan of jog buttons but rather prefer a MPG (spin wheel as you call it) I use the MPG for mainly positioning and touching off but occasionally use it for a quick facing operation. I have three physical buttons which swap the MPG between axis and a further two buttons which swap between normal velocity mode and multi step mode.
Hood
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Thanks Hood,
In multi step mode can you single step easily when final positioning such as for edge finding?
Does your wheel spin freely or does it have a tactile click at each step?
PeterB
Edinburgh
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Hi Peter
Yes one click when in multi step will move one step increment, I have mine permanently set to 0.01mm. As you will have gathered from that answer my MPG does indeed have click at each position.
Hood
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Peter,
I use MPG's but additionaly use a XBOX 360 ( wireless ). There is an edge finding / probing plug in
CopyCat. The CopyCat manual shows how to make the edge finder i use.
RICH