Machsupport Forum
Mach Discussion => General Mach Discussion => Topic started by: halkintool on January 26, 2009, 01:40:12 PM
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Anyone ever attempt this?
You can use the shuttlepro or shuttle express as an MPG via USB, i just wonder if you could use a USB mouse. Reason being, i was thinking of putting one on my control head for navigating, and figured the scolling wheel on a regular mouse could be an MPG?
Thoughts?
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Hi there,
You may find this thread interesting - ;)
http://www.cnczone.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=51494&page=1
Hope it helps-
Dave
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Thanks, thats EXACTLY what i was thinking.
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:)
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I think hes working through his parallel port. I would see it beneficial to maintain most of the mouse and just run it through the USB. For example, assume you are already running a mouse on the PC for your machine control. All you would need is a plugin to make the wheel on your mouse act as an MPG, and if you were so inclined, you could take that mouse apart and mount it in a custom enclosure. Would be a pretty strong feature for Mach IMO.
An old wheel mouse = free MPG. That would be awesome.
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How about an MPG for $.50 cents using a high end encoder which comes complete with case and a handwheel for turning it? 30VER came up wiith the idea only problem is you have to owne a screw driver! :)
Ask him about it. ;)
RICH
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You're gonna have to fill me in?
Are you suggesting a stab someone with a screwdriver and steal their MPG? ::)
Hey, how about using a com port? Can com ports be used for running an MPG?
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halkintool,
Sometimes a picture speaks a thousand words. You can also use a hammer for removal
just be carefull where you hit. ;) I may even fancy it up some one of these days.
RICH
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... so as I was saying.....
;D
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Sorry, halkintool, just in a silly mood.
That MPG is used via the PP port ( need to use up two pins), and the settings used are 50 for the count/unit and 400 for the velocity which gives a nice feel for using it and about .008" of movement per rotation of the wheel. So i can just tweak right into something down in very fine increments. Of course the faster you turn the faster the axis will move. In fact it works great for doing some turning on my punny lathe. The mouse is a good idea, but if high resolution is what your after, then for 1/2 a buck you just can't go wrong.
Oh, you need a screw driver to take the printer apart, and if the encoder is bad, you can beat the printer up with the hammer should you feel cheated. ;D
RICH
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Where are you finding old printers for 50 cents?
And one of the benefits of using a mouse would be, you wouldnt be spending anything, you'd literally use the mouse you already use on the PC controlling the machine, you might have an extension cord, but you'd literally just pick it up and use it as an MPG.
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Not discounting using the mouse wheel and just wanted to make you aware of a cheap alternative.
Somewhat off thread here.
You can find "old" printers at fleamarkets, trash, garage sales, etc. We bought 10 for 5 bucks from
a liquidation place as they had a pile of them they just wanted to get rid of. We got 8 encoders out
of the 10 so i quess cost was more like .63 cents.
RICH
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Yesterday i hooked up an old rotary encoder to my PC and tried it as an MPG and it worked fine, however, in my situation where im using a control head PC, its much easier to utilize the USB vs running wires all the way down to my electrical cabinet where i have my motion controller and breakout boards. It just seems like more work especially when i have a couple USB ports on the side of my control head.