Hi Everyone:
I have just recently got all the wiring done and odds and ends in place for my mill with Mach3 and Gecko 201's. Still some work to do what with getting another output and playing a little with the motor tuning.
I was using a dos system before and got comfortable with the key strokes. I could jog, start a program, feed hold, restart, toggle the spindle on/off, toggle coolant, disable the drives, etc, etc,.... all from the keyboard. Actually, everything was done from the keyboard.  I had a mini keyboard mounted on the face of the z housing and it was quite convenient. Perhaps I could get some responses to what people are using for an operator interface and where is it mounted? Like, is anyone using a mini trackball keyboard? keyboard w. touch panel? Joystick? What seems to be the most popular and user convenient?
Thanks
LEW

Hi Lew,
    I use a flexible mini keyboard, mouse and a gamepad for my pendant. I all works very well but are not coolant proof. I will eventually get an MPG, touch pad to take the place of the mouse and maybe even a touch screen one day. I have seen a little bit of everything used.

I hope this helps.

Brett

Brett:
Thanks for the reply.
LEW

Heres a pic of my mill and also the lathe I am in the process of retro fitting. Both have touch screens, MPGs, and various buttons, might give you some ideas.
Hood

Thanks for the reply Hood.
LEW