Machsupport Forum
Mach Discussion => Mach4 General Discussion => Topic started by: beat on December 03, 2016, 01:29:48 PM
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Good evening
I've a question
Have somebody a handwheel togheter with mach 4 connectet?
Is this possible and which hand wheel is it?
I have a smooth stepper with 3 parallel ports.
all handwheels i found was just for mach 3.
Thank you for our help.
Kind regards
Bear
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Hi Bear
I use a Vista CNC - iMach PS1A-S Pendant which works wonderfully with Mach 4. I have nothing to do with the company except as a happy customer.
http://www.vistacnc.com/
Steve
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You can interface any MPG that can connect to a controller. For example you can connect a four wire 5V MPG to Mach4 using the ESS, or you can interface it to Mach4 with a Pokeys device. You must configure Mach4 but the hand wheels do work just fine. If you buy a Vista MPG it comes with a plugin just put the plugin in the right directory and enable the plugin and it is all setup. Clearly that method is the fastest and you do not need to write LUA code to make anything work as that is all embedded in their plugin.
Russ
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Ok, thank you for the information, this vista wheel seems not bad. First i will read on this page to choose the best wheel.
For what can i use d display on the wheel, are you recommend a display?
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I use the shuttlepro. Support is built into M4. Very flexible!
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Hi beat,
I've just come inside from having wired up my machine to ESS, M4 and just loaded the M4 firmware and plugin
for my CncVista P1A pendant. I've had it for a few years on M3 and PP but can be upgraded to M4, painlessly no less!
Never used Velocity mode much with M3, just couldn't get the right 'feel'. Much, much better with M4 and it makes a real
groovy sort of sound when jogging, luv it!
Craig
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I have mach 4...running my plasma table on it but i would love a handwheel......i have an ESS smooth stepper....any recomendations for a bad ass handwheel compatible with mach 4 and my ESS? What handweels are good? Thank you for your help guys 😁👍
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Hi,
I still use a VistaCNC P1A pendant with Mach4 and it works well.
Craig
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Is that the latest?
Do you think the ebay wireless one will work? It says its for mach 3
This one ....
https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.com%2Fulk%2Fitm%2F283492904719
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Ut have any attempts to use it for mach 4 been made ?
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No they do not work
The vista cnc units work ok
A hard wired one into the Bob will work as well just more work but cheaper
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Another option that works well with Mach4 is a ShuttlePro v2.
https://www.contourdesign.com/product/shuttle/
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I use a generic multiwire type ($50 from eBay) and I love it. If you have the digital I/O available then it is very responsive with no drivers to worrk about. I use an Ethernet smoothstepper and dedicated most of the 3rd port to the pendant with a generic IDC-26 breakout board
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Wow that sounds great but im not sure how you use the 3rd port dedicated to the pendant with the idc 16 breakout board haha
I have a c11 bob and an ess
Do you have links to products or pictures or your set up?
Tha m you guys for the support ❤
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No, it will not work. Use VistaCNC (as many have suggested) if you want a nice MPG for Mach4.
Steve
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gusx32x,
The hardwired pendant I purchased is identical to this unit (https://www.ebay.com/p/Universal-CNC-4-Axis-Pendant-MPG-Handwheel-Emergency-Stop-Switch-Controller-US/2223141204?iid=162243912680).
The pigtail was passed into my enclosure through a cable gland and wired into a IDC 26 breakout board like this (https://www.ebay.com/itm/IDC26-26-Pin-Connector-Signals-Breakout-Board-Screw-terminals-Din/302882801596?hash=item468538c7bc:g:myMAAOSwmaVbm1QY). The breakout board connected to the ESS with a 6" ribbon cable.
I chose this breakout board since I couldn't find a simple 3rd port breakout board for the ESS. The only catch is that the terminal numbers that are screen printed on the board don't match the ESS numbers. Not a big deal to me, I just stuck a label over them.
Warp 9 TD has a great configuration tutorial here (https://warp9td.com/index.php/faq/faq-pendants-and-mpgs#MultiWirePendantInMachFour)
Finally, you can see the installation in my build log here (https://www.hobby-machinist.com/threads/g0704-cnc-ac-servo-rebuild-picture-heavy.76222/page-2) starting on post #34.
I found it easy to setup and works very well. I'm sure other pendants will work as well, although I have no experience with them. Coming from industry I have a strong aversion to anything that causes machine motion over wireless, so I opted to use the hardwired variety and have no complaints.
EDIT: The other reason I wanted a hardwired MPG was to be able to use the ESTOP button in my safety string.
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You can interface any MPG that can connect to a controller. For example you can connect a four wire 5V MPG to Mach4 using the ESS, or you can interface it to Mach4 with a Pokeys device. You must configure Mach4 but the hand wheels do work just fine. If you buy a Vista MPG it comes with a plugin just put the plugin in the right directory and enable the plugin and it is all setup. Clearly that method is the fastest and you do not need to write LUA code to make anything work as that is all embedded in their plugin.
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I have purchased the Shuttlepro and it works well with Mach4. I'm a bit nervous about the flimsy size, though.
One question - has anyone figured out how to use the TOUCH controls with a shuttlepro? I can do pretty much everything I need except initiate a locate center and z height touch command.