Machsupport Forum
Mach Discussion => General Mach Discussion => Topic started by: Zero Cool on July 08, 2010, 11:02:47 PM
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I am building a new motor controller box and I am looking for suggestions for what front panel controls, buttons, meters etc would be important to have for use with mach3
I have a nice rack mount aluminum box large enough to hold the internals and I know for sure I am putting a power switch and E-stop buttons on the front. I have been considering either a joystick for X & Y axis or a 6 button arraignment for X,Y & Z axis's.
Being new to mach3 and CNC in general what other buttons would be important to have on the front panel? is there anything that is simply a must have?
I plan to build a custom pendant later. But I don't mind duplicating functions.
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Well, a couple things you haven't mentioned that I use on my machine are coolant and vacuum. It's also a good idea to leave yourself a couple extra switches or buttons for future ideas.
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Heres some pics, one is the panel on my mill and the other is on the lathe.
Buttons on mill from top are
Spindle Disable Drawbar Control On
Flood Spindle toggle Optional Stop
Ref axis G0 Z10 Go to Zeros
Start Feedhold Stop
FRO SRO
X/Y/Z/A MPG Select (rotary switch ) MPG Velocity/MPGStep0.01mm/MPGStep0.1mm/MPGStep1mm(rotary switch)
Buttons on Lathe
Spindle Disable Spindle Load meter
Start Feedhold Reference axis
FRO + FRO RESET FRO -
MPG Z Select Turret Index MPG Velocity mode
MPG X Select MPG Step mode
Control On Hydraulics On Hydraulics Off Coolant motor On, Coolant motor Off
Hood
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Well, a couple things you haven't mentioned that I use on my machine are coolant and vacuum. It's also a good idea to leave yourself a couple extra switches or buttons for future ideas.
I never thought of putting a spindle control and Vacuum buttons on the front. good idea! My mill will be used for PCB milling and light rack panel engraving and small holes so I probably wont need a coolant but I was planning on putting some Solidstate relays inside for spindle control and vacuum control under software control but I could easily add 2 extras with front panel controls. great idea!
@Hood
wow nice mill control! love that keyboard! Thanks for the suggestions. I guess i need to learn a bit more to understand what half those buttons would be for. But thanks for the tips It gives me direction to research. One thing i see that I love on the bottom picture is a meter that says spindle load! Ohh i love that idea. My spindle motor is a dremel tool and I could easily add a current meter and a speed control on the front panel.
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Have to ask where you got those keyboards with trackballs built in? I like!!! :'(
Nice setup
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Have to ask where you got those keyboards with trackballs built in? I like!!! :'(
Nice setup
I bought a load of them from eBay and sold them here for the price I paid plus shipping.
They are IP65 which makes them ideal for machine use :) Dont use the trackball much as I use Touch screens but occasionally it is handy.
Hood
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Well, a couple things you haven't mentioned that I use on my machine are coolant and vacuum. It's also a good idea to leave yourself a couple extra switches or buttons for future ideas.
I never thought of putting a spindle control and Vacuum buttons on the front. good idea! My mill will be used for PCB milling and light rack panel engraving and small holes so I probably wont need a coolant but I was planning on putting some Solidstate relays inside for spindle control and vacuum control under software control but I could easily add 2 extras with front panel controls. great idea!
@Hood
wow nice mill control! love that keyboard! Thanks for the suggestions. I guess i need to learn a bit more to understand what half those buttons would be for. But thanks for the tips It gives me direction to research. One thing i see that I love on the bottom picture is a meter that says spindle load! Ohh i love that idea. My spindle motor is a dremel tool and I could easily add a current meter and a speed control on the front panel.
Is it really that simple, put a ammeter on the spindle motor? what if its 3 phase?
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"WHat if it is 3 phase?"
IIRC you just put a meter on one of the phases.
Unless there is a real problem they all draw about the same current.
Mike
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what is "feedhold" and "drawbar" ??
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what is "feedhold" and "drawbar" ??
FeedHold is is exactly the same as FeedHold on the Mach screenset. When running code if you wish to halt at any stage you press FeedHold. If you press Stop whilst an axis is in motion you will lose position.
DrawBar is for the hydraulic drawbar on my mill which releases the collet holder.
Hood
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Ok so feedhold is essentially Pause then. got it.
What does go to Z10 do?
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Hood.. Wow wow and Wow.. Excellent control panel.. I am also planning to make one for my Mill... I just want to know what screen set you are using?... Its very beautiful and sober..
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Some buttons and stuff i plan on putting on a pendant with basic controls on the motor controller box. which will be in a cabinet out of the way with the PC and just have basic controls for testing and what not with the pendant doing most of the full time work. so I will add a full array of controls for the pendant box.
But On/Off
XYZ axis controls
Spindle on/off
Vacuum On/Off
Coolant On/Off
Start
Stop
Pause
Home
stuff like that I will add to the motor box
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What does go to Z10 do?
That is just a button I find handy, I have it so that when I press it the Z rises to 10mm in work coords.
Hood.. Wow wow and Wow.. Excellent control panel.. I am also planning to make one for my Mill... I just want to know what screen set you are using?... Its very beautiful and sober..
The screen on the lathe (lower pic) is just an adaption of the first mill screen I made , the one in the top pic is my next incarnation of a screen and has LEDs built into a lot of the buttons. The screensets are very personal to the machines so wouldnt be much use to others, especially the new mill one as it has a lot of VB buttons.
I made the new screen to be mainly a one page screen so that the controls I use 99% of the time are on the one page. I have a page for my toolsetter, an unfinished Diagnostics page and a large toolpath page.
You can see a better pic of it here. http://www.machsupport.com/forum/index.php/topic,10331.50.html
I am quite happy to pass on the buttons folder so you can make your own up if you wish.
Some buttons and stuff i plan on putting on a pendant with basic controls on the motor controller box. which will be in a cabinet out of the way with the PC and just have basic controls for testing and what not with the pendant doing most of the full time work. so I will add a full array of controls for the pendant box.
But On/Off
XYZ axis controls
Spindle on/off
Vacuum On/Off
Coolant On/Off
Start
Stop
Pause
Home
stuff like that I will add to the motor box
Sounds like a nice list :)
Hood
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So is there any other button that is Mach3 related that really should be on the front panel??
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I like my optional stop button, then of course the FRO and SRO pots but you need analogue for that.
Hood
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I have a stop button planned. But im looking for anything that is imperative to have for basic Mach3 operation. anything you need quick access to. I am not familiar enough with the software or CNC machining to know.
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I was meaning optional stop rather than stop.
Its a hard one to call, just depends on how you use the machine, might be best to make up a panel so you can add if needed once you start using it and find you would really like a button for some function.
Hood