direct connection between CNC controller and computer?

[christo19]

Hi everyone,

I find myself constantly fumbling with USB storage keys, going back and forth between my computer and my CNC (Axiom proV5 AR6). This made me wonder about having a direct connection between my computer and the controller whereas the USB storage device was being shared by both devices (my computer and the controller).
Has anyone ever attempted such a thing?
I was thinking of getting a USB switcher device similar to this (https://www.amazon.ca/Selector-MLEEDA-Switcher-Computers-Keyboard/dp/B09KX92VT6?th=1), but wanted to check with you experience folks before pulling the trigger.

Thank you in advance.
Chris

[eagle55]

Hi Chris,
I’m sure there may be experience regarding a USB switcher and if your computer is near by that might work. However I am pretty sure that there has been discussion that its not possible to directly connect a computer to the controller. The controller is borderline “old technology” but it does what it is supposed to well. (At least in my opinion with the limited experience I have had so far, although I have heard complaints about it at various times). Personally that wouldn’t work for me. I design everything in my office and have it ready to carve when I take the stick to the shop. If I have some problem that needs adjusting its usually a big enough issue that I pretty much need to go back to the office/drawing board and correct it which usually means saving a whole new set of toolpaths. Thats just my personal method of operation.

Roger

[dadealeus]

Sept 13, 2023 15:30:30 GMT -5 christo19 said:

Hi everyone,

I find myself constantly fumbling with USB storage keys, going back and forth between my computer and my CNC (Axiom proV5 AR6). This made me wonder about having a direct connection between my computer and the controller whereas the USB storage device was being shared by both devices (my computer and the controller).
Has anyone ever attempted such a thing?
I was thinking of getting a USB switcher device similar to this (https://www.amazon.ca/Selector-MLEEDA-Switcher-Computers-Keyboard/dp/B09KX92VT6?th=1), but wanted to check with you experience folks before pulling the trigger.

Thank you in advance.
Chris

Getting a USB switcher would probably be fine if your computer is close enough to your machine, but they do not simultaneously share USB devices; it's either one or the other. So, it may reduce your USB key management, but you'll have to deal with an additional cable coming into your handheld controller and you'll still have to manually switch between your computer accessing the key and your CNC (albeit it's just a button press).

I'd say if you're OK with those changes, go for it.

Personally, I keep my computer in my air-conditioned office and my CNCs out in a warehouse space. It separates the dust and noise from my computer and is a much more pleasant experience for me as I can go watch YouTube videos, etc. while cuts are running without any issues.

[eagle55]

Added comment to what dadealeus said…. I do the same but an added thing and he probably does too, is that if I have several projects that I am working on I may work on the next part of that project or another project that will be next up. I know some say don’t leave your machine alone and that you need to be where you can “emergency stop” the machine, but I have been doing this 12 years on a Nextwave Shark without any major issues, at least that I could have prevented by being there. That being said I just recently changed over to the Axiom with the pendant controller and I am a bit more cautious right now while I am getting used to the setup. I will observe and make sure that the tool path starts out as designed and that I haven’t made any major mistakes in the toolpath, but If I am starting a 2 hour carve I work around in the shop or take a tv break or design the next project.

Roger

[dadealeus]

Sept 14, 2023 9:00:46 GMT -5 eagle55 said:

Added comment to what dadealeus said…. I do the same but an added thing and he probably does too, is that if I have several projects that I am working on I may work on the next part of that project or another project that will be next up. I know some say don’t leave your machine alone and that you need to be where you can “emergency stop” the machine, but I have been doing this 12 years on a Nextwave Shark without any major issues, at least that I could have prevented by being there. That being said I just recently changed over to the Axiom with the pendant controller and I am a bit more cautious right now while I am getting used to the setup. I will observe and make sure that the tool path starts out as designed and that I haven’t made any major mistakes in the toolpath, but If I am starting a 2 hour carve I work around in the shop or take a tv break or design the next project.

Roger

Fully agree here.

To be clear, the air-conditioned part of my shop is only a wall/door away from my machine. So, while it's vastly more quiet than being in the same room, I can still definitely hear the machine while it's operating.

I would certainly not advocate "setting and forgetting" like those old infomercials for that rotisserie oven as you'll always encounter unforeseen issues that can be damaging or dangerous. A very dangerous situation occurred with my larger machine (not Axiom) that started a fire via friction with the z-axis slipped and dropped the spindle into the workpiece (where it basically rubbed a friction fire on the wood, fueled by my dust collection air-flow). In this case, it didn't generate any different noise than it would it normal operation so I wasn't alerted to the issue. However, I make it a point to go check on the cut every few minutes and came out of the office to find a shop filled with smoke billowing through my dust-vac's filter bag and large orange flames lighting up the inside of my dust separator and moving into the dust collector, itself (which could have caused an explosion).

After hitting the emergency stop and turning off the dust vac, the flames immediately subsided and I was able to bring everything back under control, but given a few more minutes I have no doubt there would have been a significant fire.

While rare, issues like these certainly can and do happen. So, I guess my point is that I'm far enough away to be comfortable related to noise and air quality, but close enough to remain comfortable regarding safety issues, potential machine failures - as well as my own mistakes.

Of course, it's up to each of us to decide what we're comfortable with in terms of risk; that's just my personal experience.

============

EDIT: Attached video of incident that I recorded and sent to the machine's manufacturer.

Detail regarding the machine failure if anyone is interested:

The camera does not pick up the smoke well against the white walls, but I had my respirator on and had already aired out the shop quite a bite by the time I took the video.

The machine in question uses a centrifugal brake on the z-axis to prevent it from falling to the spoilboard when the machine is turned off. The one that shipped with my machine seemed faulty and was not releasing enough pressure to allow the spindle to lift and lower properly. I contacted the manufacturer regarding the suspected issue and they assured me it was functioning as intended.

Then this happened. From what I can tell, the friction brake provided enough resistance so that, at the speed I was running the machine (well below advertised tolerances), it could not lift the spindle fully and was skipping steps on the lift, resulting in a deeper dive each time it lowered into the piece until the collet nut began to rub against the MDF.