Ignoramus23878 wrote:
On 2010-07-21, wrote:

id wrote in message
...
I would not even know what I was missing. Thanks to all

Way to go! Now can you do the math for 6 axis robotic arm kinematics? :-)

Once you get your electricals all done you might enjoy the software things
you can do. If you get into it deeply enough there could be advantages of
having the source code available.

I think so and I feel strongly about it. There is a huge advantage of
using a full fledged programming system, as opposed to using it like a
VCR.


I think it would be neat to make a CNC mill that you could operate manually,
maybe handwheels with encoders and toggle switches for feeds. CNC is great
for a new part but it's nice to have a manual mill for repair work, a CNC
mill could be programmed to operate like a manual mill for those instances
where you need to repair an occasional part.

I want to get this mill into a fully working shape. Once I do that, I
will work on getting the original controls to operate as
intended. John F did that with his old BP (almost exactly like mine)
and he even posted his HAL files online.

I think that using a mill with keyboard is not very classy, when it
runs in manual mode. It is like fishing with a skiing pole -- can be
done, but just not cool.

I think that I will get them to work, though possibly I will need one
more DIO board from Jon to handle all the buttons.

i


Put a couple of handwheel encoders on it and you could operate it just
like a manual. I run our Sugami CNC with the manual hand wheel all the
time for one off parts. All the tooling is already set up. MDI is also
an easy way to go too, especially if you have some macros for bolt
circles and the whole boatload of g codes. As someone said recently,
you got to think outside the box to get things done.

John