Wireless Keyboard Poll

[Brady Watson]

Although I am not a big fan of wireless devices on a robotic tool, I have seen a few setups in my travels that have been reliable enough for production. I just can't remember what brand they were.

Is anyone running a wireless keyboard? If so:

What brand & model are you running?

How far from the computer do you normally operate the keyboard?

How's battery life? Internal or external (like AA or AAAs) batteries?

Have you had any weird glitches? How responsive it is?

Thanks in advance!

-B

[steve_g]

My experience with wireless keyboards is that after you have completely forgotten that they require a battery... they get weak and unpredictable!

Steve

[jerry_stanek]

I have a roll up style key board like this one it is waterproof and dust proof.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001GC9C9Q/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_sr_1?pf_rd_p=486539851&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=B00092Q210&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=1JRA44Q7QQJM0GHHJ7V9

[mitch_prest]

I was using the logitech MX5000.. this one is actually a bluetooth device and as such I could go a few houses down the street and still connect.. I tried the mouse at about 50 feet and it still worked fine... the batteries lasted about a year for me.. I used it at the machine but used the regular keyboard when sitting at the computer...this one also has a screen on it and tells you battery life and a whole bunch of other useless information..

mitch

[bleeth]

My older Logitech needs batteries for the keyboard but has no warning signal when they go but the mouse is rechargeable with it's own cradle to drop it in for charging and I do get a signal when it is getting weak. But I have learned the signals on both it and newer versions without recharging cradles tell you to replace the batteries so long before they need it that one would think that Logitech and Everyready had a deal going.The real issue for me is using it, or any other that I am aware of means you have one more bit of software running in the background. Who needs it. After 6-7 years of a hardwired basic keyboard and mouse at the control computer I don't really see a reason to change. If I did need to zero x,y at a different spot then table 0,0, which is rare for me, I would use a wired jig if it were a regular occurance or, as I do now, set up the holding jigs at specific distances so I can move x and y to the correct co-ordinates and not have to worry about leaving the controls to nudge it minimally. By the time my eyes catch something going wrong with the bot it is usually too late for the part or the bit unless it is right off the bat.
If I need to stand with my hands poised at the space bar then either my machine isn't tuned right or I screwed up the programming. Basically, unless it is a short program I start it and walk away. Wireless controls wouldn't change that.
I have had guys who insisted they needed to monitor in case something happened. Either I convinced them to start the program and go do something else or found someone different to run it.
Bear in mind that we are mostly producing cabinet parts and a single sheet of ply or whatever just doesn't cost near as much as man-hours. This, of course, doesn't answer Brady's poll (sorry bro) which is directed at those who do use wireless.

[ironsides]

I am using a Logitech MX5500. I've had it in use about 2 years. Because I am in a wheelchair, I was always getting tangled up with the cords on the mouse and keyboard.

I've never had a bit of trouble. The mouse has a charger and the keyboard battery seems to last forever, however this discussion reminds me that I ought to check it and maybe change it.

The keyboard has a good range, I can roll out to end of my driveway and still talk to the computer. I have a roll around computer/monitor cart, from Walmart, that I place the mouse and keyboard on, but I place the keyboard on my lap to move around the garage/shop with. This make it handy to get right next to the Spindle to make the X,Y,Z sets.

Here are some images of my setup:

George

also see this Youtube link
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yRKkETzILRs

[zeykr]

I really like my logitech rumblepad for remote operation with it's joysticks and programmable buttons. Have regular hardwired keyboard and mouse on the pc.

[adrianm]

Same here.

Actually I can't remember the last time I used the keyboard at all. I do everything with the rumblepad and the mouse.

The wireless connection of the rumblepad is faultless.

I'm thinking of going for a touch screen and losing the keyboard and mouse altogether

[Brady Watson]

Thanks for the responses! Looks like the Logitech is the one to get.

George - thanks for the pics & video reference!

-B

[ironsides]

Brady,
One thing I should mention about the Logitech keyboard, it has numerous special function keys which can be disabled to avoid conflicts with the SB control software.

George

[Brady Watson]

George,
Thanks - I'm leaning towards a more 'vanilla' version without all the fancy 'internets' keys on it. I think it is the MX520 or 710? I stopped by BestBuy today just to look at what they had. The 5500 is nice, but I think that it is a little bulkier than I'd like. I liked the size & feel of the Microsoft Arc...but it didn't get great reviews. I think the 520 or 710 advertises 3yrs battery life on BOTH kb & mouse. I'd be happy with a reliable 1 yr on both.

-B

[srwtlc]

I wonder how one of these would work? Kind of a neat little thing.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16823126039

In the past I did try a wired mini keyboard, but found that SB3 didn't like the "Fn" key to access secondary keys, so beware of the possibility of that on any mini's.

[wberminio]

Brady

I've been using a cheap wireless keyboard for 4+ years,
I've dropped it/it got thrown -after getting caught by a live bit and has the cut marks to prove it-and keeps on ticking!
I'll post the brand tomorrow if your interested.

BTW I added an USB extension to the receiver end? My range is about 50'
I can control my Bot form my office while watching on a monitor.

[Brady Watson]

I probably won't go more than 20 feet...but I'd like it to have a good signal because the building is metal...and with several CNCs running at the same time, there's a chance the signal could get stepped on.

I tried the RumblePad years ago...it wasn't reliable or responsive enough for me. That's when wireless keyboards were in their infancy & prior experience implementing an MES system on a large shop floor dissuaded me from using anything wireless.

-B

[harryball]

I've wondered about these...
http://www.amazon.com/Wireless-Keyboard-Built--TouchPad-Pointer/dp/B003UE52ME/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1322660071&sr=8-2

In combination with a regular keyboard.

/RB

[wberminio]

This is one I've been using

BTC model 9019URF3
Has builtin mouse and joystick
Haven't had any issues in 4+ years
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=btc+model+9019urf3&rh=i%3Aaps%2Ck%3Abtc+model+9019urf3&ajr=0

[waterwheelman]

I use a wireless X-Box 360 controller. I programmed it using the Pinnacle software that is available for download at a very reasonable price on their web site. It has worked very reliably for about a year.

[Brady Watson]

The problem with the game controllers is that there are only so many buttons you can assign commands to...I use a lot of different commands and routines other than the ones in K mode depending on the job.

I'd rather use a 2 stroke command on a wireless keyboard than have to remember some up + up + right + left + A shoryuken combo move to run the VA command or something :D

-B

PS - Someone set us up the bomb... ;)

[bob_s]

I have also used a rumblepad for about 2 1/2 years. They are tough and in my experience reliable but only about 12 easy buttons

[mitch_prest]

the only downside to the wireless keyboard is when you lose the receiver... as I have done.. then no mouse and no keyboard.. with the newer logitech they have a unified receiver that will work for all your stuff...

luckily .. logitech is sending me a new plug

[jerry_stanek]

I use a logitech rumble pad to move the bot.

[jdervin]

I was using a Logitech S510. One issue I had was the manual made it clear that it shouldn't be used around metal. My computer is housed in an all-metal cabinet and the 'Bot... well, that goes without saying. To get any kind of usable signal at the table, I had to mount the receiver underneath the cutting table, and then only had connection up to a few inches away from the table. This probably led to occasional instances where I would release an arrow in keyboard mode and have the tool keep moving with no way but the e-stop to bring it to a halt. I had to make a rule for me and my students that we wouldn't ever use the wireless in jog mode.

Further, my computer's been a real nightmare and I had our IT department wipe it clean (twice) to deal with what seemed like a USB conflicting driver issue. I've been conservatively adding only essential USB drivers, one at a time, and haven't reloaded the wireless keyboard/mouse yet. While I can't officially blame the wireless, my speed tests before wiping the drive were in the 50's and 60's (with and without external hubs and other fix attempts documented in elsewhere threads). Now I'm regularly seeing 97%! (picture included in case there are any doubters). Again, I can't officially blame the wireless keyboard/mouse, but I sure do have a "red flag" posted next to it.

I must admit, though, that wireless sure was nice when it was working.

[nailzscott]

I had been using a Wired Logitech rumble-pad but I decided to go with the wireless version. For some reason Logitech is selling it cheaper than amazon or any other vendor I've found. It is less than $39 with free shipping. I just ordered one and thought I'd pass it along in just in case someone is interested.

Here is the link

http://www.logitech.com/en-us/gaming/controllers/devices/wireless-gamepad-f710