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« on: January 08, 2011, 06:46:11 PM »
This thread will focus on a new lathe screen. Replies will be monitored and if out of context with the thread they may be deleted or relocated to
another topic. Nothing personal my friends, but initialy the task is hard enough without it blooming into multiple topics. So requests on running a lathe, or wizards,
or things just not associated with the actual development of a lathe screen should be asked elswhere. Just want to keep it focused.
Our goal will be to improve on all the currently available ( free ) screens and come up with , idealy, the best of the best.
Should you have a lathe screen which you developed and want to offer it feel free to post so it can be reviewed.
The lathe has taken a back seat for a long time. There are shortcomings to MACH3 Lathe. This post is not about fixing the shortcomings as
that is out of our control. It is possible however to make a more usable lathe screen that can be embraced.
Exactly how the wizards will be incorporated is yet to be determined. There is a thread where activity on upgrading the wizards
is in place. I am going to create a seperate thread on the threading wizards.
So if you would like to give your time, expertise, and use talents towards an improrved lathe screen....here is your chance.
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Back some time ago Hood reached out for input on a new lathe screen with the following questions ? and R replies:
?What would you want to see for the standard lathe screen?
R- My personal preference would be a screen similar to mill in layout and with most day to day functions on the main page and other pages for the not so common/occasional tasks and diagnostics etc
?How would you have the screen?
?What would you want on the pages?
?How many different pages?
?Similar to Mill layout or similar to the way the lathe screen is now or if neither what would you like?
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R- Seriously i do not like them to be too flashy.
R- There are many wasted items on the standard mill screen as it also doubles as router and plasma with all those unwanted functions as compared to a lathe screen.
? So I take it from your reply you like the way the standard turn screen is set up or is yours vastly different?
R- Mine is similar in that it uses large buttons for some functions it has a much more friendly layout.
R- Just had a look and was about to reply, to me that is more like the mill setup than the turn setup and is definitely my preference.
?Do a poll?
R -A poll, well not sure how you could make that up, just too many options I would think but feel free to do so if you think it would be the way to go. I thought ideas in a post would be better
R- would like to be able to jog cont. and step the x and z axis in selectable size steps and control the spindle and coolant.
Also a turret jog buton would be nice. And the gcode window and all its stuff. Edit, load, run, hold, stop, ect. Toolpath would be nice as well.
R- There are going to be lot of user preferences on the lathe screen since everyone works differently or has a different variation of the basic lathe.
R- I have been using Phil's screen and it is much more user friendly and has some nice additions / changes that were done. The current standard one sucks but once you use Phils screen and
don't have to jump all over the place you would understand what i mean. Visual switch mode status , enlarged screen fly out on thecycle / main screen, threading task / indication / and turn
wizards with a click, additional buttons for jogging and visual status, additioinal Axis DROs and coordinate status at a glance are just a few things that come to mind on Phil's screen.
? How would you have the screen
R- must be different at a glance that it is a lathe screen
R - no "flashy" screen colors, what is important stands out or indicates in a non irritating way
R- not like the current standard one, but tabbed screens like the mill
R - step change the screens ( other than the main operating screen) such that it's it visualy guides you into
detailed setup via flyouts ( example; a single tabbed Setup screen would visualy show the lathe along with
coordinates, homing controlled point, offsets / tool table, at a high level. A click on a particular subject area invokes a
fly out with the associated particulars for data input. The whole intent would be to make it somewhat user intuitive
such that the big picture is grasped and work your way down to the associated detail.
R- yep, include additional items from the mill screen
R- tries to address the future ( like optional touch screen ), maybe some macro buttons, other / additional axis use)
R-What would you want on the pages?
R - Phil's screen could be used as a good start for an operating screen to enhance and modify
R- depends on some yet to be determined defined logic
R- ability to use a rotary axis ( i think in the future, as cnc lathe users increase you will see things added to the lathe to increase it's versatility....)
?How many different pages?
R- Operating screen, touch screen,setup screen, tool screen, diagnostics, advanced screen
( minimize the number of screens, but how manny will be what can be shown on the screen)
?Similar to Mill layout or similar to the way the lathe screen is now or if neither what would you like?
R- simular to Phils main screen and incorporating all relavant stuff from the mill to enhance
R- A combination of both but different and better?
R- Personally I wouldnt use a screen that comes with Mach anyway because I am weird and just like the things relevant to me to be on the screen and nothing else.
Wish it was easy to come up with a way to have a blank canvas and a load of drag and drop buttons so everyone could easily suit themselves but dont think that
would be easy to do and even then there would still have to be at least a basic screen for new people to use until they decided how they did things.
R- One thing that deffinatley needs to be addressed is standard Hotkeys. They need to be consistant among all default screens. Mill, plasma, lathe, ect.
Under no circumstance should the same hotkey be assigned to 2 different functions.
R- got a touch screen and would like to see a button on the screen to bring up the jog menu instead of using the tab key.
R- Particularly a turret jog button. Also the most used buttons have to be on one screen, so you don't have to go back and forth between screens to find the Edit button for instance.
R- Would be nice to have the machine coords on the main screen as well.
R- a clear LED that shows if tool length comp is in effect and a button to go to the tools screen and back to the previous page.
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