Machsupport Forum
Mach Discussion => Mach SDK plugin questions and answers. => Topic started by: Leed3 on December 31, 2009, 12:51:49 AM
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Hi,
A new version (2.3.3) is available from the Artsoft plugins page and includes a number of changes.
1. The thumbsticks can now work as Cont Jog or as Inc Jog. Previously they would always be in
the Cont mode regardless of the state of the Jog in Mach. The thumbsticks can be placed in the
Inc Jog mode by one of 2 ways:
a. putting Mach in the Inc Mode by using the keyboard, mouse or using the "Jog Mode Inc/Cont"
option. Both thumbsticks go into Inc mode.
b. pressing the thumbstick inward. This will shift the 2 axes for that thumbstick only into and
out of Inc Jog.
2. The Option "Jog Mode Inc/Cont/MPG" has been changed. It now says "Jog Mode Inc/Cont" and it
toggles Mach between Inc and Cont Jog modes.
3. The 2nd box down on the left side of the config Window was named "Custom Macro 1". It should
have said "Custom Macro 2". This has been changed.
4. Support for B and C axes has been improved.
Hopefully you will find it useful
Lee
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OK, This may be a really dumb question on the controller. First I want to let everyone know that I never had, seen or used any video games in 20 years. So please give me a bit of a break.
Here is goes.
All the Xbox360 controllers I see on ebay are wireless. If there are no wired ones then how do you get it to connect to your computer? Maybe there are wired ones?
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Ok, dumb question answered, I just saw wired ones on ebay. Guess I should have looked harder.
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Hi,
Wired XBox360 Controllers connect to the USB port. Wireless XBox360 controllers for Windows come in 2 parts 1. the wireless controller and 2. a small rectangular shaped receiver/transmitter that plugs into the USB port.
If you are planning on getting a controller make sure of the following:
1. Get Microsoft brand,
2. when looking at Wireless, make sure it says XBox360 controller for Windows (the one for the XBox360 doesn't have the little transmitter/receiver, and
3. Make sure it is XBox360 not XBOX. The older controllers for the original XBox do not work with my plugin.
Hope that helps.
Lee
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Thanks for all the info on the controller.
Bret
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Lee,
First, thanks for the great Xbox plugin. It really helps.
I would prefer to operate the X and Y axes with the right thumb button instead of the left, but when doing this the X movement is SLOOOOOOOOW - Y is OK.
Is there a setting somewhere that will speed this up?
Regards,
John Champlain
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Hi John,
The plugin works fine with the axes swapped. Internally, all thumbstick movements pass through the same code. Your problem can only be one of three things. 1. controller needs recalibrating (Windows Control Panel) 2.controller is physically defective (will show up when recalibrating) 3. Mach3 settings for Motor Tuning are incorrect.
Give those things a check and let me know if you still have problems.
Lee
Lee,
First, thanks for the great Xbox plugin. It really helps.
I would prefer to operate the X and Y axes with the right thumb button instead of the left, but when doing this the X movement is SLOOOOOOOOW - Y is OK.
Is there a setting somewhere that will speed this up?
Regards,
John Champlain
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Many Thanks, Lee.
Working now. Didn't realize that I needed to also calibrate/set it up it in Windows.
Best Regards,
John Champlain
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Lee,
I have been trying to install your plugin. I downloaded your install PDF and followed. The .m3p file seemed to work (extract the .dll) and notify me when I open Mach3 on my test machine. On my produciton machine the .m3p was placed in the Mach3\Plugin folder, but did not extract the .dll and I get no notification when I open Mach3 and does not show up when I open Plugin Control. Help Please?
Regards,
Terry Frisbie
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Hi Terry,
It did not install correctly. Possible causes: 1. faulty download, 2. protected folders, 3. Vista or Win7 without Admin rights, etc.
The easiest fix:
The m3p file simply contains the DLL. During a proper installation, the DLL is placed in the \plugins folder and then the m3p file is erased. That is all there is to the m3p file. So do it manually.
Copy the XBox360Controller.DLL from the test pc to the production pc in the folder Mach3\Plugins. Then try it and let me know if you have any problems.
Lee
Lee,
I have been trying to install your plugin. I downloaded your install PDF and followed. The .m3p file seemed to work (extract the .dll) and notify me when I open Mach3 on my test machine. On my produciton machine the .m3p was placed in the Mach3\Plugin folder, but did not extract the .dll and I get no notification when I open Mach3 and does not show up when I open Plugin Control. Help Please?
Regards,
Terry Frisbie
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Hi Lee,
I tried the manual method with no luck. Mach3 is still not seeing the plugin when I start it up(not listed under plugin control).
The OS is XP and Mach3 Version R3.041. Does XBox360Controller.DLL need to be registered by Windows? I checked the flolders and they are not protected and the user has admin privledges.
Any other suggestions?
Terry
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Hi Terry,
No, it does not have to be registered. I do not have any idea what is wrong with your pc. The file installs just fine on all pcs.
You may try moving out one of the plugins and and see if if dissapears from Config and put it back and see if it reappears. I think you are going to have to reinstall Mach on that pc.
Lee
Hi Lee,
I tried the manual method with no luck. Mach3 is still not seeing the plugin when I start it up(not listed under plugin control).
The OS is XP and Mach3 Version R3.041. Does XBox360Controller.DLL need to be registered by Windows? I checked the flolders and they are not protected and the user has admin privledges.
Any other suggestions?
Terry
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I'm having the same problem. Anyone found a solution yet?
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To FXC;
Terry never responded with the results of the suggestions that I gave him. You might PM him and see what his resolution was. When you download and run the plugin install, does XBox360Controller.DLL appear in the C:\Mach3\Plugins folder? If so, what are the attributes of the file? Also check the attributes of the XML file. Don't try renaming it unless you have turned on the "Show extensions" in Folder View options in XP. Otherwise, it could wind up being something like XBox360Controller.DLL.txt and you wouldn't see the .txt ending.
The most likely causes are: 1. bad download - file came across corrupt, 2. \Plugins folder or DLL has incorrect attribute settings, 3. XML file has a problem, 4. Mach3 has a problem and needs to be reinstalled, 5 Access rights problem - Run Mach3 as Administrator.
That is about all I can think of. Keep us posted on what you find.
Lee
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I posted my plugins missing issue in the general forum http://www.machsupport.com/forum/index.php/topic,14793.0.html (http://www.machsupport.com/forum/index.php/topic,14793.0.html)
The problem was that instead of "Plugin Control", you have to first go to Config > Config Plugins and you have to ENABLE whatever plugin you need. You can also open their settings from within that same window.
The XBOX360 plugin still doesn't show up in the main menu, however I am able to open the settings using the method above. Now the other problem is that it doesn't work. Nothing moves / reacts to the controller. Which is good, by the way, because I tested it in the control panel applet.
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NEVERMIND! It now works; I pushed its buttons after I finished writing the post above and it seems all good. I'll report back if something's not right and /or if I have suggestions!
Thank you!!!
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So far so good... and then I quickly ran out of buttons. I need more macros, more OEM's, more everything.
I suggest that you interpret the triggers as pushbuttons (say, above a certain threshold) and use them as "shift" keys, effectively doubling / tripling the number of available functions. The current role of these triggers as accelerators is alright I guess, albeit redundant - the sticks are already analog inputs and that's more than satisfactory.
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If there were 1000 buttons, it wouldn't be enough. I looked at using the triggers as pushbuttons and found that modifying the code to do that was more than I wanted to tackle. I do have an idea for adding a few more buttons to the plugin. But, it will take time to implement. I will certainly let everyone know if and when I can do it. Until then, you just have to be satisfied with the current configuration.
Glad you got it working.
Lee
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Dude, make this donationware! I think you did a great job for coming up with this and even the idea in the first place, but I think with a little motivation there's always room for improvement.
I see big potential in this plugin, simply because it's most likely the cheapest "pendant" you can get (even the wireless is only $40) and it would be a shame to leave it half-baked.
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Lee,
thanks for this great pluginn.
I've been thinking about something just like this for a while and wondering if it could be wireless also.
I don't have to search anymore, last week I discovered your pluginn and immediately ordered the wireless xbox360 controller from amazon.de.
It came in last wednesday, I connected it and installed your pluggin, no problemos with installation and the controller worked instantly, just like a charm.
Next thing was to decide which functions to assign to the available switches, underneath is my current setup, but I may want to change it in the future.
However, at the moment this is all I wanted / or needed, for EUR 37,- this makes an excellent pendant.
This controll is very responsive / agile, thus, as far as I'm concerned, this a perfect solution.
I set up feedrate in mach3 at 5%, just love the way I can go to full 100% by operating the triggers.
Furthermore, I have shaped a piece of 1mm SS welding rod to make a foundation so the controller stays upwards, in the flat position it is not so handy to pick it up with one hand, see the attached pictures bellow.
I'm so far not short in the amount of buttons, if you set it up right there are just enough of them, this will do very well for me, but maybe it would be possible to have two of these controllers attached?
(pluginn1 and pluginn2 run simultaneously?)
Then the people who need more buttons would also be helped.
Certainly nothing 'half-baked' on this pluginn IMHO.
Also I noticed that even when the controller times out and is switched back on, it stays responsive in mach3, you could correct this in your manual, where it says you need to restart mach3.
Best greetings and thanks again,
Jerry
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After successfully using the XBOX360 controller with Mach3, I found out about the ChatPad attachment (pictured below) and immediately purchased one for < $15. Having a mini keyboard for manual G-Code entry and other functionality is priceless. But then I find out that drivers DO NOT EXIST for Windows :o thus limiting the ChatPad to the game console only.
I searched the 'net and there are several forums where people are trying to get together and have a driver written but nothing happened so far. I was wondering if someone on this forums is willing to look into the issue because this controller is probably the best / cheapest "pendant" solution for Mach3 and it would be a shame not to take advantage of this little keyboard. By the way, the keys even have backlighting! ;D
(http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h94/stanekfelix/simmessengerkit002.jpg)
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To sq2cnc;
Thanks for the kind words. I like your stand. Very nice. You may want to post a drawing showing the bends, length and type of wire, etc. I think other people would like one. My reference to restarting Mach was: if the controller quit working (broken) or became disconnected. In either case, you should exit Mach and fix the problem.
To FXC;
I have thought about the Chatpad. I like the idea. It would be a lot of work to write a driver and then write an interface in the plugin. I could write an interface within the plugin so that the Chatpad would work only in Mach. I do not have a Chatpad at this time so I'll look at this at some later time.
Lee
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PM your address and I'll give you mine in exchange for trying your best. No need for a fancy full-fledged driver and all the headache that comes with it. But you do need a little reverse engineering while hooked up to the XBOX. I don't have an XBOX.
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Thanks for the offer. PM sent.
Lee
PM your address and I'll give you mine in exchange for trying your best. No need for a fancy full-fledged driver and all the headache that comes with it. But you do need a little reverse engineering while hooked up to the XBOX. I don't have an XBOX.
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Lee,
thanks for the reply, I thought that anyone would be able to replicate what I've done to create the stand, sitting behind my desk with a plier and a piece of welding rod and masking tape, ready in just about 5 minutes.
Anyway, here is a drawing and another picture.
Best regards,
Jerry
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Drawing looks good. Thanks for posting it.
Lee
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Thanks Jerry, great idea. Appreciate your sharing.
Regards,
John Champlain
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I am a new user and have a question about using the xbox controller. I have the controller connected to mach3 and working well with my gecko g540. My issue is that I cannot get the controller to move the axis at full speed. On my Z axis, jogging on the keyboard I can get the slide to move at 100ipm but when using the xbox controller I can only get it to move at 30. I know the shoulder buttons are supposed to be able increase jog speed but I cant get them to work?
I am wondering if I have some settings incorrect ie perhaps the cont jog mode or what not but I cannot seem to understand. Does anyone have any suggestions as to things I could check?
Thanks much
Brian
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Not the shoulder buttons but the rather the triggers need to be depressed for maximum jog speed. Alternatively, you can just set the "slow jog speed" to 100% from within the Mach3's jogging tab.
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Indeed I meant the triggers. For some reason I get no response when I use the triggers. Initially when I installed the xbox plugin the up down axis of my right stick did not work. It took a restart of MACH3 to get the up down right stick to work in mach.
I am wondering if I should just reinstall the plugin and perhaps the issue I am having with the triggers is similar to the original left stick up down issue?
Brian
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30 ipm vs 100 ipm is way too slow but you can still try to do a calibration of the XBOX controller. Go to Windows START > Control Panel > Game Controllers
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Ah thank you. The calibration seems to have helped dramatically. I can now get my z up to the full 100 ipm. The triggers continue to do nothing however?
B
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I'm glad it worked out for you. If the triggers don't do anything, then your "slow jog speed" is probably at 100% and there's nothing to "boost". Essentially, those triggers are the equivalent of the SHIFT key used while jogging with the keyboard.
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Where would I find the jog settings you speak of in mach? I am having a tough time locating them
Thanks much
Brian
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Press TAB and a jog window appears to the right.
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Ah excellent, that works if I change the slow jog speed. Thank you very much.
As one last question that is kind of an aside, how do I reverse direction in mach3? By this I mean that at the moment mach3 is having z+ be moving down into the workpiece and I would like to switch it so z+ is up and out so that I have a normal right handed coordinate system.
Thanks
B
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In the main menu, Config > Homing/Limits > tick the check box for Z in the "Reversed" (first) column
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Thanks again for developing 360. I use a matz-cad brand from radio shack. Last week I tested a new joystick plugin from the mach site. it has one killer feature. The author learned , like i did , that a 360 controller laying around is a dangerous thing. several times i have triggered motion by mistake. Its VERY easy for this to happen. the new plug-in asks the user to hold down one of the triggers before motion can occur.
Now the truth is this feature is VERY important and I will not run a joystick without it. Yet i like your plugin better. How can this feature be added to your plugin. ? Seems very simple. ?
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Locking the XBox360 controller is easy. Select one of the buttons and open the pulldown on the config screen and pick the "Lock/Unlock" option that you wish. For example, pick "Lock/Unlock controller". Then the button will toggel between lock and unlock.
Lee
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thanks. at the risk of being a pain in the neck, and with great respect, i suggest that your solution is poor. Your solution results in a live controller being left laying about waiting to be used .even just picking it up can result in a bump of the controls. sure you could perform the unlock/lock every time you pick it up or put it down, but mortals just do not do that . the alternate suggestion i mentioned is foolproof. i soon becomes natural and cannot be forgotten. as illustration this is why all new saws by law require a dual action trigger (as one example).
Sorry to debate you on this, I will not mention it again.
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Your solution results in a live controller being left laying about waiting to be used .even just picking it up can result in a bump of the controls.
Wouldn't a toggle button be the same thing, or even much worse as it's never locked, so whenever you picked it up, it's always live until you hit your toggle trigger?
I much prefer the idea of being able to lock it as Leed3 has it, and that way if it falls, or it's bumped, it's always locked and safe until the user wants to use it.
Dave
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I think I'm with Radiant heat here.
I find I can operate the two analogue triggers and still operate the major buttons/sticks (all except back and start). I've never caused unwanted motion as I'm very careful about where I put the controller but there will come that day I'm sure.
Two analogue triggers for me.
Jeff.
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Ah, yes, I see, I believe I mis understood.
So the only way to operate the controller with the new plug in, is to have a button pressed first correct? In other words, the controller is always inoperable until the safety button is pushed first?
Thanks,
Dave
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That's the way I invisaged it. You would need both triggers pulled in before the controller was unlocked. Once you release a trigger, motion stops and the controller locks. Also, it would be good if the controller could be made to function so that if one trigger was released but there was still an operation button or stick pressed, the opertaion or motion is cancelled if the trigger is pressed again, i.e. the operation button or stick has to be released and both triggers pressed before motion can continue.
Hope this is what RadiantHeat meant, sorry if not :)
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Thanks for the input. I have also posted a note on the Yahoo site and will look at all suggestions. No guarantees but I'll see what I can do.
Lee
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I am not getting the controller type to find the xbox, shows none, where do I find the VenderIds and ProductIds, I have to assume this being a recent product "wireless with charger play USB cable" that it is not supported as of yet. Mach3 starts fine, the green light is on the xbox and I can change the config screen but in the lower right corner (controller type) it shows None and is grayed out.
version 2.3.5.0 Thanks for any help to get me going.
1.20.146.0 xbox accessories version
Also any chance this will support the keyboard/Chatpad in the future?
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I finally found a way to find the vendor and product id
Nice program USBView.exe
So It is supported just not sure why it wont work, also found that Microsoft has not or will not write a driver for the chatpad on windows platform
Device Descriptor:
bcdUSB: 0x0200
bDeviceClass: 0xFF
bDeviceSubClass: 0xFF
bDeviceProtocol: 0xFF
bMaxPacketSize0: 0x08 ( 8 )
idVendor: 0x045E (Microsoft Corporation)
idProduct: 0x028F
bcdDevice: 0x0204
iManufacturer: 0x00
iProduct: 0x00
iSerialNumber: 0x00
bNumConfigurations: 0x01
ConnectionStatus: DeviceConnected
Current Config Value: 0x01
Device Bus Speed: Full
Device Address: 0x01
Open Pipes: 0
Configuration Descriptor:
wTotalLength: 0x0012
bNumInterfaces: 0x01
bConfigurationValue: 0x01
iConfiguration: 0x00
bmAttributes: 0xA0 (Bus Powered Remote Wakeup)
MaxPower: 0x32 (100 Ma)
Interface Descriptor:
bInterfaceNumber: 0x00
bAlternateSetting: 0x00
bNumEndpoints: 0x00
bInterfaceClass: 0xFF
bInterfaceSubClass: 0x5D
bInterfaceProtocol: 0xFF
iInterface: 0x00
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I am away from home now visiting family. As soon as I return (next week), I will send you a version for your controller. The 028F ProductId is not supported. I will have to add it. I have looked at the chatpad. I have not had any success, yet, trying to get it to work.
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PM sent problem resolved.
Lee
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Has anyone have the xbox controller working with W7? I get messages saying "Plugin Dll defective. Reload" and "defective plugin found....ignoring" After Mach opened, plugin control only shows video window. I have the most current plugin off the web site.
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Hi,
It works fine in Windows 7. I suspect that you have not downloaded and installed the SDK. See documentation and link next to plugin on the MACH plugin page.
Lee
Has anyone have the xbox controller working with W7? I get messages saying "Plugin Dll defective. Reload" and "defective plugin found....ignoring" After Mach opened, plugin control only shows video window. I have the most current plugin off the web site.
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I finally got it working thanks to all the advice and instruction. It was well worth the trouble, so awesome to use.
Thank you Lee.
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Thought you might like to know that a chat pad driver is now available but it is in it's alpha testing.
http://code.google.com/p/chatpad-super-driver/wiki/GettingStarted
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Thanks for the info on the Chatpad driver. I will check into it.
Lee
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I had this issue as well. The controller was working fine under windows, but the plugin would not load when mach3 started and wasn't in the list. I resolved the issue by running the xbox setup which is found on the same page as the plugin download on mach3 web site... here is the link
http://download.microsoft.com/download/0/0/f/00f2a67b-e10b-43b1-8cca-3deb12218f75/Xbox360_32Eng.exe
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I have posted a new version of the controller for testing on the Yahoo site under Lees Files. It includes the following changes.
A safety switch function has been added via a check box on the config screen. If you select Use Triggers as Safety Switch, then you will have to hold down one of the triggers to make any of the buttons or controls work. In this case the triggers no longer control Jog Override.
If you assign a button to Lock/Unlock Controller, then when you press the button to Unlock it, you will get a short rumble so that you know the Controller is again active.
Moved support for various VendorIds and ProductIDs from internal hard coded to boxes on the Config Screen that you fill in. The internal list was getting too long.
Please test it and let me know how it goes. If everything is okay then I will have it posted to the Mach Plugins page. To use it, you download the zip, then unzip the DLL and copy it into the C:\Mach\Plugins folder after saving the existing DLL to another folder. You then start Mach, go to the config screen and change the red X to a green check mark, then restart Mach. Then put in your VendorId and ProductID if your controller is not recognized. You then restart Mach and you should be fine.
Thanks
Lee
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Hi Lee,
I notice sometime that reset does not work from the controller. If I hit a limit switch I need to click reset on the screen. If I click reset on the controller I can toggle... I use it as an emerg stop. But if the machine creates a reset state I need to remove it via the mach 3 screen.
Is this expected behaviour?
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Hi,
Yes, it is the expected behavior. The Reset function on the controller is 1 way. When pushed it issues an EStop. Push it again and it issues another EStop. The code to reset the EStop is internal to Mach.