Hi guys,

Do you know if there is any work done on HMI design for CNC machines? By design I am thinking of the use of Touch screens, MPG dials, Feedrate pots, size of monitor, landscape view v/s portrait.

With touchscreens, has there been documented the size of the controls for ergonomic reasons?

Can MPG dials and pots be all done on the screen, like the new Iphones, or are we better off sticking to the mechanical devices? Would the reason for keeping the mechanical ones be for safety, or are there standards that require this?

Do you also still design your control HMI with full Qwerty keyboards and mouse?

I'd like to hear your opinions. If you can refer me to papers/articles,books, that'd be great too. Or if you have good examples that you can point me.

Lastly, how much do you know of pendant stations. The questions I ask myself are very similar to for the main panel, i.e. ergonomics, safety and innovative factors will be the main ones.

Thanks a lot.