I have a minor SB request

[chiloquinruss]

This is a minor request (at least for me it is), Dear ShopBot I have a request for an additional feature to be made to the SB control software. I love my Bot and have a remote keyboard mounted near my Bot. I use the 'K' feature a ton to use my remote keyboard as a control puck. In the keypad software there is that great little feature with the little red button called 'Fixed'. My request would be that in a future edition of the software could we have a keyboard command that would toggle the 'Fixed' key on and off. Something simple like when the Keypad is activated an 'Alt F' would be the toggle for the 'Fixed' button. Just a request from a user. Thanks. Russ

http://hobby-tronics.lenzus.com/content/21775739/11972047.jpg

[srwtlc]

Russ, try the 'D' key. ;)

The underlined letters are the shortcut keys.

[michael_schwartz]

I never knew that....

[steve_g]

I'm often amazed how I can still learn something new about a software I've used for years!

Steve

[knight_toolworks]

what does the fixed key even do? I have wondered but never remember to look it up.

[steve_g]

Steve

It lets you move a predetermined or fixed distance with each push of the button. For example .005" each press to creep up on a distance you were targeting perhaps with a feeler gage.

Steve G

[adrianm]

The fixed distance toggle is the best feature of the keypad I think. I have mine set to 1mm and it makes it so much easier to get where you want.

It also has the advantage that you can change the keyboard ramp rate so normal moves with the keypad are so much snappier. Without the fixed distance it's hard to get precise move if you do that I find.

FYI the keypad commands are in the Keyboard Shorcuts PDF on the Help menu in SB3.
=====

In Keypad Mode … with yellow keypad displayed



Arrow Keys => Move Tool in XY directions



PageUp, PageDN =>Move Z up and down; with Alt for A-axis; with Shift for B-axis



/ (forward slash) => Diagonal Move towards upper right



\ (backward slash) => Diagonal Move towards lower right



Alt / (forward slash) => Diagonal Move towards lower left



Alt / (backward slash) => Diagonal Move towards upper left



[diagonal moves also with click between buttons]



Ctrl Arrow, Page, or / => Jog Speed Move (max speed 10”/sec)



E (toggle) => Activate remote (typically 3 mouse buttons)



X (toggle) => All Moves made at Jog Speed



D (toggle) => Make Fixed Distance moves (set in [VD] or panel)



G => Go To location set in keypad display

[Brady Watson]

See how the 'd' is underlined on the Fixed button? This is called a mnemonic in the programming world. It indicates that pressing the underlined key will invoke that command the same as clicking on it.

-B

[chiloquinruss]

For those that are wondering about ShopBot service and support how about my request, they already had it done I just didn't know it! :)

Thanks folks, I am a happy camper! I use the fixed button all the time and with my remote keyboard I always had to go over to the control computer to toggle it. Now I don't!

Thanks again for the lesson on the software, I truely appreciate it! And ShopBot please forget my request! :)

Russ

[jdervin]

My request would be to have the / and alt-/ commands work with the slash on the numeric keypad. At least on my computer, they only work with the key that is shared with the question mark.

[chiloquinruss]

John and the group, the really funny part of all this is I once owned a software company and I 'should' know about reading the 'manual' and I know about what the underline means on dialog displays. So what's so funny, well seems my crappy monitor that I use on my SB control computer is just that a crappy monitor and I can't see the underlines! On my design computer of course it is not hooked up to a SB so the 'keypad' dialog can't be displayed! :D And of course I also did NOT read the manual! :eek:

So here is the solution:
1. use a good monitor
2. read the manual
3. use a good monitor
4. See Number 2

Russ

[don62]

with the old dos program, when you pressed the arrow keys the bot moved continuously at the move speed. when you pressed cntrl and arrow the bot moved at the jog speed. how do you do that with the sb3 program? seems when i press the arrow keys the bot moves a set distance. really miss the old way
don

[Brady Watson]

Don,
If you are using the keyboard, and not the mouse, the functionality of keyboard mode should be identical to that of DOS. Same keys do the same thing, except SB3 gives you more options, like being able to move on an angle etc. If you are only getting fixed movement, make sure you are not in Fixed mode on the keypad. The Fixed button will be depressed if it is active.

-B

[curtiss]

[QUOTE=chiloquinruss;123462]For those that are wondering about ShopBot service and support how about my request, they already had it done I just didn't know it! :)

....What helps me a lot sometimes is to simply say....

Pardon me (SB) I made a mistake... and if you have never made one, you cannot possibly know how I feel...

[rustnrot]

Learned alot here...

Is there any way to set (as a preference?) to have as default when using the keypad to move at jog speed?