[arie kabaalstra]

First of all, thanks for pointing out that EdingCNC performs better than Mach.. i never ran Mach on my machine, because i couldn't even figure out how to operate it..

if the pinout was compatible with Gecko's 540 it would not be compatible with other drives.. and if you buy some cable and some connectors, you can make your own cable in lets say 15 minutes time.. ( i had to solder a 25 lead cable to connectors for my Heidi keyboard!. half an hour maybe?.. furthermore, i use the CPU 5B, which doesn't have a 25 Pin connector.. all is done with box headers.. and my supplier ( DamenCNC) has connector prints that connect to Leadshine drivers, and can be hooked up tu the CPU board with flatcable..

I've looked at the idea of a second touchscreen... there's one problem.. a touchscreen lacks tactile feedback.. you don't feel the buttons, which means you have to look at the screen while touching buttons..

For changing modes, not a problem, for jogging a machine.. BIG problem.. because you're not looking at the screen, you are looking at what goes on in the machine..

You don't need a console with a lot of buttons.. a standard keyboard allows you to operate the machine, jogging is done with the arrow keys and PgUp and PgDn for the Z-axis.
I operated my lathe with a touchscreen and a keyboard.. works great. i might even put a touchscreen in the CNC mill
the Console i built with the Heidenhain panel is great if you program at the machine a lot.. that is what i am used to do.. i worked with a Heidenhain control most of my professional life, and my console mimmicks a lot of the functoins of the Heidenhain control.. that's why i built it.. if i write a program at the machine, i start with a toolcall. that's just one buttonpress.. the button "Tool Call" on the panel inserts "M6 T " into my editor, and i only have to key in the toolnumber and hit enter.. G01 is inserted by the grey "L" key, L is Heidenhain's for Linear interpolation..
i've put snippets of code for If/then and While routines, as well as Subroutines and Gosub Command under other buttons.. works like a charm.. but that is mainly because i'm used to program at the machine..

a Lot of hobby machinists aren't even capable of writing plain G-Code

[louieatienza]

First of all, thanks for pointing out that EdingCNC performs better than Mach.. i never ran Mach on my machine, because i couldn't even figure out how to operate it..

if the pinout was compatible with Gecko's 540 it would not be compatible with other drives.. and if you buy some cable and some connectors, you can make your own cable in lets say 15 minutes time.. ( i had to solder a 25 lead cable to connectors for my Heidi keyboard!. half an hour maybe?.. furthermore, i use the CPU 5B, which doesn't have a 25 Pin connector.. all is done with box headers.. and my supplier ( DamenCNC) has connector prints that connect to Leadshine drivers, and can be hooked up tu the CPU board with flatcable..

I've looked at the idea of a second touchscreen... there's one problem.. a touchscreen lacks tactile feedback.. you don't feel the buttons, which means you have to look at the screen while touching buttons..

For changing modes, not a problem, for jogging a machine.. BIG problem.. because you're not looking at the screen, you are looking at what goes on in the machine..

You don't need a console with a lot of buttons.. a standard keyboard allows you to operate the machine, jogging is done with the arrow keys and PgUp and PgDn for the Z-axis.
I operated my lathe with a touchscreen and a keyboard.. works great. i might even put a touchscreen in the CNC mill
the Console i built with the Heidenhain panel is great if you program at the machine a lot.. that is what i am used to do.. i worked with a Heidenhain control most of my professional life, and my console mimmicks a lot of the functoins of the Heidenhain control.. that's why i built it.. if i write a program at the machine, i start with a toolcall. that's just one buttonpress.. the button "Tool Call" on the panel inserts "M6 T " into my editor, and i only have to key in the toolnumber and hit enter.. G01 is inserted by the grey "L" key, L is Heidenhain's for Linear interpolation..
i've put snippets of code for If/then and While routines, as well as Subroutines and Gosub Command under other buttons.. works like a charm.. but that is mainly because i'm used to program at the machine..

a Lot of hobby machinists aren't even capable of writing plain G-Code

Sure I could make cables... but I'd rather be making parts! I only suggested this as a plug and play way ro upgrade from a Mach3 system. It's no big deal, the main thing being step and direction pins swapped. Or maybe DamenCNC or someone can make a crossover board or box.

I don't want to confuse things, Mach3 is very capable and has a huge installed base both hobby and commercial. Despite it's shortcomings. And once set up, it works. Also there's a lot of 3rd party support and products. But it is ling in the tooth. Haven't tried Mach4 yet but looks promising.

I started hand coding g code for my machine simply because I couldn't buy CAM software. But once I did I decided I'd rather make parts than programs. I don't make the most complicated parts, but enough that it exceeds my skill and patience to hand code.