Gate / Bridgeport Interract / Project

[Neale]

Bit radical, but....

Why not get a cheap MPG? Plugs straight into PC/Mach3, gives you ability to "wind" table, and you can set up buttons to do things like start/stop spindle while you are doing "manual" machining. My own (smaller) CNC mill has pop-out handles for manual operation but as soon as you disable servos you have lost DRO function, and you need to rehome before any CNC operations. I use the MPG a lot for manual positioning, even if I enter a line of gcode to do a controlled cut in place of twiddling the MPG knob at a steady speed. MPG can move table faster than I can wind the table handwheel as well!

[kingcreaky]

Bit radical, but....

Why not get a cheap MPG? Plugs straight into PC/Mach3, gives you ability to "wind" table, and you can set up buttons to do things like start/stop spindle while you are doing "manual" machining. My own (smaller) CNC mill has pop-out handles for manual operation but as soon as you disable servos you have lost DRO function, and you need to rehome before any CNC operations. I use the MPG a lot for manual positioning, even if I enter a line of gcode to do a controlled cut in place of twiddling the MPG knob at a steady speed. MPG can move table faster than I can wind the table handwheel as well!

Hi Neale, thanks for thre reply.
Sorry, i didnt say, The machine has a pendant with a jog wheel,

http://www.vistacnc.com/manual_downl..._P4-S_v4.0.pdf

and it IS useful, I take onboard the advantages you mention. they are the reason I bought it!. I find it too clumsy, maybe im using it wrong...
Lets say you have Carbide cutter in the collet, thats just cost you 70 notes, and your trying to manually set the home point by nudging the side of it up to a piece of steel plate, you have a rizzla in one hand your using as a feeler guage, and then trying to approach slowly enough with the pendant.. as you have no feedback in the jog wheel, lets just say ive had some accidents.
By emplying oldshool handles, its increased the functionality of the machine, even if its just for homing