Messages

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Works in progress / Re: THE LATHE PROJECT - 2011

« on: March 19, 2011, 11:33:05 AM »

I cannot disagree with Graham a production machine should be simple and the setup locked away from the operator does nothing more than hit a start button, Watch, wait and repeat as necessary. You could train a Chimpanzee to do that.  Then, like he points out many are hobbyist operators who never make production runs of a part in quantities of more than one. I fall into his category of no formal training and serving as both the operator and the setter as well as Designer, Cad operator, End user, Maid and Janitor too.  This does not necessarily make me dangerous or my machine hazardous to operate.  For me having the most useful buttons on the screen isn't a matter of being to lazy to go look for them it's more of a time saver when building one off parts and using the CNC'd machine like a pseudo manual machine. Anyone up for making a real industrial production machine? Don't forget the "Reward Banana" button.

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Works in progress / Re: THE LATHE PROJECT - 2011

« on: March 18, 2011, 02:32:59 PM »

I find the lighter Blue must easier on the eyes. Thank you. Black on Blue improves the contrast. It maybe just the Font, but looks like some of the text is set to grey on blue resulting in reduced contrast?

I'm casual Hobbyist Lathe and Mill user on a small 3-N-1 machine I'm sure many of the users who are more commercial type users input would be more valid? or at least more complete towards developing a minimum must have main screen. At least maybe my comments will encourage others to add their own input? Hope so anyhow.

For jog controls at least for me I would like to see at a minimum Jog on/off toggle and a jog mode toggle between Continuous, Step and and Select the amount of step to use from the Jog step in mach's config.  I'll use .005, .001 and .0005 mostly to sneak up on a part to then set part (program) zeros.  I am sure many would want the MPG mode setting there also even though I don't use it. the the Sample screen JPG i posted a few messages back you can see what I have currently set

When I get my tool holder isolated electrically I plan on setting up a touch macro to sense when I touch the tool to the part then set part zero. SOMEDAY anyhow. Hopefully I'll be able to first touch off on the end of the stock then face it, then touch off on the X of the stock take a skim cut to insure stock roundness then set both my X and Z part zeros to prepare for the actual part run and execute. When and If I get this done, I hope to add a button along the bottom of the screen to call the macro which in function would be similar to the mill touch off macros

For coolant isn't it necessary only to have coolant on/off buttons? Where the config under spindle setup in mach it's self allows individual users to customize to output for either flood, mist or both? Myself I only use mist and not set up for flood coolant at all. Coolant on lathe is sometime I'll rarely use in the first place although there are times when it's required depending upon material.  In the wizards  and my CAD program to develop G-code I've found that I usually have the option to select (wizards) or control the type of coolant generate the proper M output via a setting in the CAD post processor.

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Works in progress / Re: THE LATHE PROJECT - 2011

« on: March 17, 2011, 04:27:48 AM »

Items i see missing is a Jog mode button and LED to indicate current mode. You probably rely on the tab key to bring up another screen like many screens in the past, however jog mode is something i prefer on the main screen and not have to toggle another screen up to get to it. Looks pretty good other wise, I to would like to see DRO for X,Z, A larger and colors set for better contrast. 

A lathe screen is something I'll monitor from 4-5 foot away while controlling operation from the keypad pendant I use to operate and control. Larger DRO's, being able to determine current state and settings from a distance is important for me. I do LIKE how you chosen NOT to use artificial glare on the dro's and buttons too.

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Works in progress / Re: THE LATHE PROJECT - 2011

« on: February 04, 2011, 07:49:58 PM »

As I said in an earlier post I'm using a modified popabear screen from Scott. I really liked his interface and clear high contrast display. I did change some things to make it fit me more personally for my liking and my machine. Note the graphics are still crude.
Eye candy as its been described is a certainly something that will not find it's way into my garage PC no matter how pretty it looks in the office. Being able to customize a little is also important in my opinion. I cannot imagine there being a one size fits all when it comes to a lathe screen

Attaching the front screen I'm using

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Works in progress / Re: THE LATHE PROJECT - 2011

« on: February 04, 2011, 01:11:31 PM »

Quite interested myself, Lathe has been the dirty stepchild of mach too long, would be nice to see it get a face lift on the screens. I've been using a lathe screen that is based on Scotts Practical Lathe screen that I've modified lightly to suit me. I do like the ideas you are discussing too, During development of a new screen I just hope you all shy away from graphically adding fake glare on DRO's and Buttons, while those effects are quite beautiful in the office, the added fake glare makes the real glare in the shop worse.

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General Mach Discussion / Re: Announcement: MachStdMill screen set - release target

« on: June 21, 2010, 06:50:42 PM »

Doesn't look too bad. Sure wish there was similar development work going on for lathe also. Glad to see you did not go overboard with faked glare and shadows on the DRO's and buttons. On the office PC the glare and shadows looks great, however on the shop PC the glare is already bad enough that a screen sure doesn't need to add any additional faked glare. There is almost too much induced glare and shadow on the buttons as it is. I'm sure many like my self are monitoring the screen from several feet away when milling on a job.
High contrast screens work much better in that type of environment even though they don't look as pretty when sitting directly in front of the screen.

Screen sets that use glare on the DRO's quickly end up in the PC trash bin here.

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Competitions / Re: ******Guess and win a G100 Grex******

« on: May 15, 2007, 10:51:48 AM »

Think my guess would have to be 2,567,890

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Mach Screens / Re: Do we need the artificial glare ?

« on: February 09, 2007, 10:11:07 AM »

Glare looks pretty when sitting at the computer development desk, but in the real world when youre watching your screen from 3-4 feet away, jogging up to a part.... Glare is WORTHLESS

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General Mach Discussion / Re: Here is a sneak preview of the new screen I am working on.

« on: February 18, 2006, 01:15:07 PM »

It is pretty, and it does show the capabilities of the screen editor quite well.

But I would ask what is the point of jog +/- buttons if there is no access to jog mode or jog increment and jog increment DRO? I didnt study the screen real closely and right now I dont recall seeing dro's for feed rate, spindle speed,and buttons to control  speeds and feed,  leds for coolant status either. Although they maybe there and i overlooked them. the Gcode window looks way to small also if one used font large enough to read from several feet away

I do beleive a screen design such as this would appeal to the newbie quite well and may even improve the acceptance of mach with more of the commercial crowd just because it looks less hobby like.  I foresee some OEM using such a screen design that is provided with a specific cnc machine upgrade kit that included all componets and the screen could be designed for those componets. in the real world of mach current users we all have different componets, have different needs on different machines. There isnt a one-fits all solution

I dont beleive there is a snowballs chance in hell to create a screen that fits everyones needs and applications with the multitude of  different pendants, controls, machines functions, wizards and what ever that exists out there now.  What is needed is a basic screen with available controls, dro, leds that is easy to customize. then if one wanted to fancy it up with skins and glitter they could at some point if they thought it was worth their time.

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General Mach Discussion / Re: Should we start a few new catagories ?

« on: January 26, 2006, 11:00:00 PM »

Catagories I would think handy are

 Mach Setup/configuration/problemsfor Mach Mill
 Mach Setup/configuration/problems, Mach Turning
 General ideas, Hints, tricks and usage, sharing knowledge
 New screens, Wizards, Posts