Patent ID: 8545233

Claim:
A machine tool control simulator for a machine tool control having a plurality of first user-actuatable devices and a first display screen, the simulator comprising: a console simulating a user interface configured for programming of the machine tool control, which controls a motion of a machine tool, the user interface corresponding to a conversation programming interface or a numerical control (“NC”) programming interface, the console including: a top face; a plurality of second user-actuatable devices for inputting data to the user interface, each corresponding to a respective one of the first user-actuatable devices, the second user-actuatable devices extending above the top face and having a layout substantially similar to a layout of the first user-actuatable devices; and a communication medium coupled to the second user-actuatable devices and configured to communicate at least a first user input provided via the second user-actuatable devices; a laptop computer including a keyboard and an attached second display screen, wherein the laptop computer is coupled to the communication medium; a transparent touch screen coupled to the laptop computer for receiving a second user input, said transparent touch screen is overlaid on said second display screen, said transparent touch screen includes parallel to and bottom thin layers with known electrical resistive properties, wherein point of contact or input location on the transparent touch screen is determined by measuring a value of a voltage drop from a point in one layer to a point on the other layer after applying a known voltage to one of the layers while grounding the other layer via a resistor, and wherein the transparent touch screen sends a signal to the console or the laptop to indicate the value of the voltage drop, and the console or the laptop determines the input location from the voltage drop; and the laptop computer being coupled to the communication medium to thereby receive the at least first user input, the laptop computer being configured to display images on the second display screen in response to the at least first user input, the images simulating the first display screen of the user interface of the machine tool control in response to the at least first user input.