Building a new CNC Plasma table so it seems a good idea to fix other little niggles at the same time. One of these is the keyboard / mouse.

The keyboard is mostly not used, just a few keys - shift, up, down, left, right, pg up, pg down, maybe a little g-code etc  the mouse gets full of crap and needs space to work.

I thought of a touch-screen monitor but then i lose the jog arrow and other keys which are far better than the tab fly-out screen in Mach.

I then thought of a keyboard track-pad but these are pretty expensive.

Next up was a keyboard track-ball - this is possibly what i'll get but is there a better method?

I can't fit a pendant as the serial port is used by my THC, so i need an easy method to jog the torch around.

Joypad?

That looks like it would fit the bill, i'll get one to try.

Is it possible to load/run g-code from a memory stick or does it have to come from the disk drive?

Currently i copy the code file from a stick (i do my cam indoors on a Mac) to the disk drive but being able to run from a stick would remove that step and be plug-and-run.

The joypad looks great, i have the software/plugin installed and have a unit on order.

Is there a way to load code with it or does that have to have a mouse??

I can see how i would call the "Load G-Code" function but what then???

I'm pretty sure you can configure a joypad instead of a mouse, although possibly not use one as a pendant and a mouse at the same time.

What kind of mouse are you using?
I've had a cheap laser one in the workshop for years, and it's yet to die, although I don't have the problem of plasma dust to deal with.
Could you not fit a little recessed shelf somewhere, then hang a bit cloth or something over the front to keep the worst of the dust out? You don't have to see the mouse to use it.

And I've always copied files of the memory stick when running them, as it avoids any potential issues with it being removed/knocked out at a critical point, or from the USB system causing any problems like going into low power mode.


BTW, your build is looking good. I've been keeping an eye on it, but I'm refusing to post anything over on mycncuk after Lee admitted snooping on PMs.

Thanks mc,

i use end-of-line junk from work so the pc's are very old, the mice are mostly ball type and keyboards well worn, but all free

I can fit a mouse in easily, just trying to be that little bit more 'slick' 

Yes i saw an article on using the joypad to control a pc but as you say, probably not mach at the same time.


What was the issue with mycncuk?? Its a very slow forum, very little response, i tend to use it as an echo to my posts on plasmaspider - hardly get any response on mycncuk.

I'm sure you could afford the £4 for a cheap laser mouse of ebay, if you can't find an old one.

In all honesty, it's one of these things that a mouse works perfectly well, unless you really want to spend the money on a more 'slick' method. I'm currently trying to decide what I want on my mill operators panel, as I'm aiming to make it more industrial. I could throw a keyboard and mouse on top of the control cabinet as it would work, but I'm considering building a proper industrial keyboard/trackball built into the panel, however that adds a couple hundred pounds straight away unless I happen to luck out on ebay.

I'll drop you a PM. I had noticed you were hotlinking your photos from plasmaspider, but I look at enough forums without anymore to waste time on!

Yeah, its not the money, i'll probably get a trackball as they don't need desk space to roll around on and are pretty tough.

Just trying to be smart

I run a mouseless system here. I use a Waterproof keyboard that has a jogstick for a mouse AND it has 24 Fkeys.  I paid $25 each for the keyboard.  

I set up HOTKEYS for the majority of the needed functions AS MACH3 is NOT  Tab key freindly, Actually it cannot tab as that was assigned to teh Jog flyout( bad choice)

You can also use a touchpad style keyboard that is like a laptop.  OR add a seperate touchpad(usb)

The problem with trackballs is due to vibration they tend to CREEP all over the screen. 

Yes you can load files directly from a USB stick I do it every day and NO it will not cause you problems.  

I also use a barcode scanner to scan in program names.  

(;-) TP

(;-) TP

Nice ideas, thanks