The illusive Boxford 260vmc

[Ricardoco]

Q1 Are these illuminated switches? If not, consider using illuminated ones inatead of LED repeaters, saves real estate and assembly effort and looks neater

Mainly because ive got the LED's and the nice chrome holders on the shelf, and ive also got the switches, (shown in previos post) and to be honest ive seen and used many broken illuminated switches but never the solid top ones.

Q2 How are these going to drive the mill when Mach3 is switched off?

At first most of the switches will just address MACH, but when thats up and running, I will use this (already purchased.)

Q3 As it stands I reckon you need 11 inputs to mach 3, you have 10 on 2 parallel ports...

Not all the buttons will be connected to MACH, IE none of the spindle motor speed controls and most of the others are power switches anyhow.

Q4 Whats 'Feed' for?...

If i am to have successful manual control i will need to have a feed rate control

Q5 If the small round circles are LEDs how will they be driven for the mains circuits e.g. computer and monitor power (and do you really need those anyway?)

I have these on the shelf too :)


I am as always open to suggestions from people who have experience using a mill both manualy and by CNC so if you see anything you think i have missed or messed up then pipe up because I will just as likely forget..


Having looked at the panel the only wsitches that will address MACH are 2*X, 2*Y, 2*Z, 2*A & E-Stop. that makes 9 I think lol

Thanks

Rick

[irving2008]

Mainly because ive got the LED's and the nice chrome holders on the shelf, and ive also got the switches, (shown in previos post) and to be honest ive seen and used many broken illuminated switches but never the solid top ones.

OK

At first most of the switches will just address MACH, but when thats up and running, I will use this (already purchased.)

What board is that (& chip) ?

Not all the buttons will be connected to MACH, IE none of the spindle motor speed controls and most of the others are power switches anyhow.

If i am to have successful manual control i will need to have a feed rate control

Ummm, OK, but hows that going to work - which axis does it apply to?

Having looked at the panel the only wsitches that will address MACH are 2*X, 2*Y, 2*Z, 2*A & E-Stop. that makes 9 I think lol

Home and/or limit switches...?

[Ricardoco]

What board is that (& chip) ?

fleabay item number 250576566482

Ummm, OK, but hows that going to work - which axis does it apply to?
Home and/or limit switches

This is why I think this forum is tops...there is always too many trees...you cant see all the wood, its so helpfull to have someone who can look and see the obvios.

Ok to incorperate the extra inputs you have highlighted i will have to rework the axis control, maybe an axis selector button and a plus minus button..

Thanks Irving.

[Ricardoco]

Oh yes I know, I thought I was going nuts then irving...

Here is the secret weapon..the contour shuttle. driver exists for mach :)



On the shelf ready to be took to pieces :naughty::twisted:

Rick

[irving2008]

What board is that (& chip) ?

fleabay item number 250576566482

Interesting... but its not clear if the kit is just the PCB or all the necessary parts less PIC.... calls itself a kit, but for £6.99 I'd imagine its just the PCB... personally I use a plugboard for prototyping and for that price I'd use a bit of stripboard, since there's no real simplification of wiring. I have a PCB design I am working on that provides headers for standard display and multiplexed keypad/switch bank, with or without telltale LEDs, 8 relay drivers (and standard i/o routines to drive it all) as i seem to keep reinventing that wheel...

[Ricardoco]

Interesting... but its not clear if the kit is just the PCB or all the necessary parts less PIC.... calls itself a kit, but for £6.99 I'd imagine its just the PCB... personally I use a plugboard for prototyping and for that price I'd use a bit of stripboard, since there's no real simplification of wiring. I have a PCB design I am working on that provides headers for standard display and multiplexed keypad/switch bank, with or without telltale LEDs, 8 relay drivers (and standard i/o routines to drive it all) as i seem to keep reinventing that wheel...

Its a kit of parts minus the 40pin chip, so they said in the e-mail. so not too bad..

Hey that wheel needs re-inventing, but just not by me, you are much more qualified to do that....

and Hey Ive got the dollar if you've got the kit!!!


Rick

[Ricardoco]

Interesting... but its not clear if the kit is just the PCB or all the necessary parts less PIC.... calls itself a kit, but for £6.99 I'd imagine its just the PCB... personally I use a plugboard for prototyping and for that price I'd use a bit of stripboard, since there's no real simplification of wiring. I have a PCB design I am working on that provides headers for standard display and multiplexed keypad/switch bank, with or without telltale LEDs, 8 relay drivers (and standard i/o routines to drive it all) as i seem to keep reinventing that wheel...

Irving, if you wanted just the blank pcb it is here under fleabay Item number:250625826321 (Good price)

Rick