James

I probably would not like that as opposed to real hand cranks because there
is no feel - no force feedback, but for step motor CNC machines that cog -
and there are a lot of them - it would be better than MPGs or the keyboard
or etc. - so maybe you have a winner.

Now - I will give you an idea - a crazy one - and I want credit for this
original Idea but feel free to use it or sell product based on it if you
simply add a note that it came from me.

As a pilot on an ILS approach to landing I can fly an aircraft at 120 mph
through a slot about 15 ft high and 50 ft wide with nothing to look at but a
pair of crossed needles telling me that I am high or low or wide to either
side. I can usually keep it within a few feet of centerline. I bet I could
turn milling machine and lathe handles to very fine tolerances with similar
guidance. If I had a screen display of a tool path and a cursor moving along
the path and deviating up or down depending on the error as measured by the
DRO, I could engage power feed and watch the moving cursor and see if I
needed to crank in or out on the cross axis. CNC results without all the
motors and amps and power supplies and etc. No need to modify your manual
mill or lathe either. Just plug a new box into your DRO cables. I wanted to
try it long ago but never found the time.

You could then do anything graphic that you can digitize without trying to
get to G code. Just keep the cross hair on the edge while the cursor moves
along. It is a video game that cuts metal


Lee