The illusive Boxford 260vmc

[Ricardoco]

Ok the first draft of the control panel is ready, its not to scale, its more of a concept rather than a tue representation, and i expect i will have more controls to add and possibly some taken away.



Hey i know why dont you use this as a template and show me your ideas, I may even nick 1 of them lol
Rick

[irving2008]

Ok the first draft of the control panel is ready, its not to scale, its more of a concept rather than a tue representation, and i expect i will have more controls to add and possibly some taken away.



Hey i know why dont you use this as a template and show me your ideas, I may even nick 1 of them lol
Rick

Nice panel layout, but I think there are some things to consider...

Q1 Are these illuminated switches? If not, consider using illuminated ones inatead of LED repeaters, saves real estate and assembly effort and looks neater
Q2 How are these going to drive the mill when Mach3 is switched off?
Q3 As it stands I reckon you need 11 inputs to mach 3, you have 10 on 2 parallel ports...
Q4 Whats 'Feed' for?
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?)

[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.

[GeorgeD]

I've got this sneaky feeling Rick,that you like twiddling with knobs?

[Ricardoco]

I've got this sneaky feeling Rick,that you like twiddling with knobs?

Well maybe, but when windows is asleep I want to be able to use the machine you see.....:) (I prefer to say switches lol)

[GeorgeD]

That is a nice panel design and If where to use it I'd take it to a CNC shop and get it etched out in an 2mm aluminium panel..

Bearing in mind I'd have to do the andodising process to get it black first.

[Ricardoco]

That is a nice panel design and If where to use it I'd take it to a CNC shop and get it etched out in an 2mm aluminium panel...

Thank you, I may even do that, although Ill have to find a cnc shop first.

Bearing in mind I'd have to do the andodising process to get it black first.

I saw the link and i may even have a go at that.... as it will come in usefull for the m'cycle parts...

[Ricardoco]

Revised panel layout. (Thanks for pointing the errors out Irving)





Is this whats called, evolution...

No No its vorsprung dork technique

Rick