Messages

41

Finished Plugins for Download / Re: USB JoyPad and game device plugin - New Version 2.0

« on: March 28, 2013, 10:10:28 PM »

Have you done the calibration in the Control Panel -> Game Controllers?

I have had drifting problems if I forget to calibrate the joysticks.

42

Finished Plugins for Download / Re: USB JoyPad and game device plugin - New Version 2.0

« on: March 26, 2013, 06:37:59 PM »

This may help understanding setup/config files and jog speed:

The JoyPad plugin is kind of a two part plugin - Part one is handling and controlling of jogging and part two is handling of button assignments/actions.
Part one, jogging, is set up in plugin configuration (in Mach Config) and part two is set up via the JoyPadSetup program.

The configuration files are only used for part two, assigning buttons. Joysticks will work without the setup files.
The plugin setup is saved along with the normal Mach configuration and not in the *.Setup files.

Maximum jog speed is determined as a percentage of the maximum motor speed in Mach motor tuning and the current jog speed percentage (Mach jog panel).

Current jog speed (axis) = Joystick position (axis) * Max motor speed (axis) * Max speed in JoyPad configuration (axis) * Mach Jog panel

Jog speed will never exceed the specified max speed in motor tuning for the given axis.
Acceleration is taken from Mach motor tuning for the current jogging axis.

The JoyPad plugin has only been tested with Smooth Stepper (SS) and Parallel Port (PP) - other USB/Extension boards may or may not work.

43

Finished Plugins for Download / Re: USB JoyPad and game device plugin - New Version 2.0

« on: March 25, 2013, 09:41:19 PM »

Attached is a .ZIP file with the two configuration for Logitech JoyPad and Standard 3 axis mill.
Copy the files to Mach Plugins directory on your Mach3 installation.

To edit the files on another pc with a Windows installation:

• 1) Make a directory C:\Mach3\Plugins on your C: drive
• 2) Copy the two configuration files from the .ZIP file to that directory
• 3) Run JoyPadSetup.exe program to change configuration
• 4) When done, the configuration files can be copied to your Mach3 installation

- Joakim

44

Finished Plugins for Download / Re: USB JoyPad and game device plugin - New Version 2.0

« on: March 25, 2013, 09:22:03 PM »

(Addressing the problem saving configuration files)

Try running the JoyPadSetup program as administrator, this could help in some configurations...

Thank you for reporting the problems. I get the same error on my workstation running Windows 7 x64 and no Mach installation, but not on the old Windows XP SP3 with Mach3 installed in C:\Mach3 (wokshop).
I will look into the problem and post an update when the solution is found.

Until then it is possible to:

• 1) Run the JoyPadSetup program on another machine (where it works)
• 2) Generate the two files JoyPad.Button.Setup (Button assignment) and JoyPad.Device.Setup (Button physical setup)
• 3) Copy the generated files to the Mach3 Plugins directory (eq. C:\Mach3\Plugins)
• 4) Start Mach3 with JoyPad plugin installed

I know this is not optimal solution... 

- Joakim

45

Finished Plugins for Download / Re: USB JoyPad and game device plugin - New Version 2.0

« on: January 03, 2013, 08:26:54 PM »

Could it be because I am on a windows 7 64bit OS ?

Windows 7 64 bit is properly the reason for the access problems. Security is much tighter in Windows 7.
I think there is an option for running programs in compatibility mode - you could try "XP Windows".
Hope it helps.

- Joakim

46

Finished Plugins for Download / Re: USB JoyPad and game device plugin - New Version 2.0

« on: January 02, 2013, 08:21:28 PM »

.... error saving button assignments to file, check if Joypad.Button.Settup is open or write protected.

What am I doing wrong ?

This normally means that write permission to write the button map file or destination folder is missing.
Try running Mach3 as administrator and saving the configuration.

- Joakim

47

Finished Plugins for Download / Re: USB JoyPad and game device plugin - New Version 2.0

« on: December 19, 2012, 09:49:49 PM »

... There is definitely something is wrong with my joypad. For one, when pressing the "SL" button alone the y axis start moving very slowly by itself, second- it absolutely does not respond to joystick movement at all. ...

This often happens if the joysticks is not calibrated in the the Control Panel (wrong zero makes it drift). Maybe the missing movement also has to do with calibration...

Remember that the JoyPad plugin must be the only plugin installed in Mach3 using the JoyPad/joysticks - if more than one plugin/program is competing for control it can give unexpected results...

48

Finished Plugins for Download / Re: USB JoyPad and game device plugin - New Version 2.0

« on: December 17, 2012, 10:48:57 PM »

Hi Polska.

I am not sure which features to remove to make the plugin simpler.

The plugin has two base functions: 1) Controlling axis via joysticks 2) Programming buttons with predefined actions or macros.
Function 2 can be turned off by setting all button functions to All buttons disabled in the JoyPadSetup program.

Function 1 is controlling axis movements of up to 6 axis in either continuous or step mode. Setup is done in Mach3 via setup menus.
There is only a minimum setup: Axe map (Device axe -> Mach axe), Max speed, Invert axe and Single axe movement lock.

Continuous jog is selected when pressing one or both of the Safe buttons (button SL and SR) - the same goes for step jog with one or both of the Alt buttons (button AL and AR ).

I think the plugin is as simple as it practically can be.
Removal of options to invert, scale, map and select between continuous and step will remove needed functionality in my opinion, but I could be wrong...

The plugin will work, even if the .NET framework and JoyPadSetup.exe is missing or not installed as long as JoyPad.m3p is installed. Buttons will then default to Logitech JoyPad 3-axis mill setup. JoyPadSetup program will only work when .NET Framework is installed.

Minimal setup with joysticks only:
1) Install JoyPad.m3p plugin (double click file).
2) Copy attached JoyPad.Button.Setup to Mach3 PlugIn directory from attached ZIP file Disable_All_Buttons.zip.
3) In Mach3, configure JoyPad plugin in plugin menu.

All buttons except SL, SR, AL and AR is disabled and there is no need for JoyPadSetup.exe program or .NET Framework to be installed.
Maybe this is the setup you are looking for?

- Joakim

49

Finished Plugins for Download / Re: USB JoyPad and game device plugin - New Version 2.0

« on: December 16, 2012, 10:27:10 PM »

Hi Polska.

If I understand the problem correct, the joysticks will allow movement even when the Alt and Shift safety is unpressed?
(Normal operation is continuous movement if Shift is pressed and step movement if Alt is pressed when joysticks are activated).
If yes, what is the button states in control panel for button 5, 6, 7 and 8 (they should all be off when unpressed)?

If there is a bug in the plugin I would like to fix it...

- Joakim

50

Finished Plugins for Download / Re: USB JoyPad and game device plugin - New Version 2.0

« on: October 11, 2012, 08:42:26 PM »

It could be that Windows takes longer time recognizing the wireless gamepad than the wired one.
What happens if you wait some minutes before starting Mach3 after Windows start up?

- Joakim