Control panel hardware buttons

I prefer a keyboard closer to level, so you can rest your wrists on it when typing. Not like we will type a novel on a CNC, but you do need the key board a fair bit, especially during the config phase.

I also like buttons grouped into functional blocks.
Coolant/Off/Mist.
CW/OFF/CCW near spindle override
Stop/line feed/pause near feedoverride
Jog rate/ manual mode near jog override setting.

That is at least the logic and thought which went into my latest control.

 

Did you settle on this as your control panels mounting position?
 

No offense but that looks horribly uncomfortable to use, the flatter keyboard angle makes it worse being that it's so high up.

I've used LinuxCNC on machines for years and the one thing I've never done is initial configuration at the machine itself. I write all the files ahead of time, then I either remote desktop into the machine or at the very least pull up a chair and plug in a keyboard and mouse and sit at a table near the machine. Whatever seems required but absolutely not standing at the control panel for hours especially not with a membrane keyboard. The control panel is meant for convenience while using the machine. Minor config changes and editing gcode files should not be a chore, any more than that and you're asking too much of the control panel. If you think in terms of what comes on a commercial VMC, a full keyboard (metal chicklet keys) at a 20 degree angle with a trackball is a huge convenience. Purpose built things always have concessions for convenience. I'm focused on operating convenience which means it can't be in the way and it needs to fit in reasonable places. A $150 industrial keyboard sucks to type on compared to a $20 consumer keyboard but they both have their places.

As for the function keys, you're right but your example is a control panel you built specifically for a Shaublin lathe. Meaning you already know exactly what it has and you may add in the future. If you look at my CAD setup, all of the buttons/selectors hard mounted to the panel are universal. The 2 matrix arrays on the removeable panel are a good solution for a "universal" design IMO because there's probably more buttons than necessary and they can all be labeled under removeable caps. I specifically used those buttons because they have clear outer caps and LEDs. Since that panel is removeable, it can easily be replaced with something customized or even a custom membrane like mechanix suggested. I might wind up having 3 or 4 of these things laying around and I'd like it to take minimal effort to just grab one and get it going on whatever else I decide to put it on.

 

You are right. I plug in a wireless Logitech keyboard with mouse pad during set up .
The height is not ideal, with the Schaublin blocked up off the floor to get the pallet truck under it easily, when I need to move it around for now. The a few sessions with the screen that height should cure my hunch back

Will your feed override be close to the pause button?

I also settled on the two piece transparent keycaps.  Pretty handy solution.

I wonder how much take up you will have with a generic control module. My experience with hobbiest is they all sing Sinatra.
(I'll do it my way )
 

RotarySMP wrote:

You are right. I plug in a wireless Logitech keyboard with mouse pad during set up .
The height is not ideal, with the Schaublin blocked up off the floor to get the pallet truck under it easily, when I need to move it around for now. The a few sessions with the screen that height should cure my hunch back

Will your feed override be close to the pause button?

I also settled on the two piece transparent keycaps.  Pretty handy solution.

I wonder how much take up you will have with a generic control module. My experience with hobbiest is they all sing Sinatra.
(I'll do it my way )

 

Feed override is the encoder to the left of the Estop. Cycle start/stop are the 2 buttons under it. I'm hoping the start can also be used as pause in hal so I only need those 2 buttons but I haven't explored that yet.

As for "take up", I'm not terribly concerned but that's part of the reason I'm using Arduino based IO rather than something like a Mesa 7i73. I know somebody that does retrofits with Mach. I usually come up with stuff like this because I just wanted to buy it myself and nobody makes it. Was hoping to find something on AliExpress or something. Maybe I'm getting old but at a certain point you just don't want to DIY/one off everything and have it look like you DIY'd it.....which is why I intend to get it plasma cut and bent professionally or by someone else, I'll weld it and everything else. Like anything else, it's all in the design so while a DIY panel would generally have a ton of wires, this will have a couple of custom circuit boards and ribbon cables. Depending on what the enclosure costs me I wouldn't mind having a few of them just sitting around waiting for the next project, powdercoated and ready to go.

I posted about this in the user exchange if anyone with a CNC plasma/laser and bender wants a gig.

RotarySMP wrote:

You are right. I plug in a wireless Logitech keyboard with mouse pad during set up .
The height is not ideal, with the Schaublin blocked up off the floor to get the pallet truck under it easily, when I need to move it around for now.
 

when I need to sit in front of mine, i just grab an office chair and a mobile trolley as a desk and move the wireless keyboard to my makeshift table.

Thoughts?