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Author Topic: Best Manual Movement Controls?  (Read 4427 times)

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Best Manual Movement Controls?
« on: August 05, 2009, 04:24:40 PM »
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?

Offline Hood

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Re: Best Manual Movement Controls?
« Reply #1 on: August 05, 2009, 05:05:11 PM »
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
Re: Best Manual Movement Controls?
« Reply #2 on: August 05, 2009, 05:40:36 PM »
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

Offline Hood

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Re: Best Manual Movement Controls?
« Reply #3 on: August 05, 2009, 05:53:22 PM »
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

Offline RICH

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Re: Best Manual Movement Controls?
« Reply #4 on: August 05, 2009, 08:46:51 PM »
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