Messages

81

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

« on: February 05, 2011, 01:17:57 PM »

New USB JoyPad plugin version 2.0

This is a major release with a lot of new functionality and improvements. The focus has been on simplicity – making it real easy to set up and use.

The list of news is long, but here are some highlights:

Jogging:

• Step jogging with joysticks.
• Continuous jog scaled by Jog Slow Rate.
• Easy switching between continuous and step jogging.

Buttons:

• Easy button assignment via JoyPadSetup Windows program.
• Standard templates (button layout) for common machines:
  Foam Cutter, 2 Axes Laser Cutter, 3 Axes Milling, 4 Axes Milling and 5 Axes Milling.
• Simple button hardware mapping for different game devices.
• Build in support for common Mach functions.
• Buttons works even when Mach is running GCode.
• Build in support for safety buttons (Safe and Alt buttons).

Macros:

• Macro code (Script) now in single file, M800, for easy code reuse and setup.
• Mach engine state, pressed button and safety buttons state available in M800.
• Macros can be run in any engine state.

General:

• New improved User manual version 2.0.
• Support for most Windows game devices.
• No dependencies on current screen or screen set.
• User defined templates (layouts) can easy be shared with other users.
• did I mention it is free...   

The complete list can be found in the User manual.

To install JoyPad version 2.0 plugin and setup program, download the RAR file JoyPad_Plugin_2.0.rar, containing the following files:

                      JoyPad User manual 2.0.pdf  JoyPad User manual version 2.0
                      JoyPad.m3p                          JoyPad plugin version 2.0
                      JoyPadSetup.exe                  JoyPad button definition and template program version 2.0

Please make sure that you first read the user manual.

Most of your questions regarding installation and usage will be answered here.
This version was developed along with Nader Atifeh in a joined project.
Nader has done a fantastic work on making templates, graphics, User manual and a lot more.

Please take your time to test it and share your experiences with others. I will also keep a record of the bugs, requirements, suggestions for improvements and enhancements for the future version. Minor bugs will be fixed, but don't expect a new version within a short period  .

This version could be used for most users and for a long period of time.

Any question about this plugin should be posted to this thread. I and Atifeh will try to answer all your questions in this forum, but encourage everyone to participate in answering questions.

It is after all a “Spare Time” project along with other projects, so don’t expect fast response…

Hope you will find this plugin useful, and, be safe.

82

Finished Plugins for Download / Re: USB JoyPad and game device plugin - new version!

« on: January 22, 2011, 08:47:38 PM »

John & John

Sorry no, the button assignments is not posted.
Doing so will not benefit current users of the plugin as the button templates uses some new features in the coming release.
There are some limitations in the current release which prevents implementing the new button layouts.

The missing piece before release is the User manual - currently it is in the last commenting stages...

- Joakim

83

Finished Plugins for Download / JoyPad plug-in Jog Slow Rate: Solution

« on: January 15, 2011, 09:14:25 AM »

Greg

With my cheap JoyPad I doubt that I am getting that level of control precision.

If the finer joystick control is missing on some of the more inexpensive devices its a problem. I have a game pad for testing, bought from eBay for less than $5. Besides different placement of buttons 1 - 4 it is mechanical stable and and have the same functionality as the more expensive Logitech Game Pad.

But Back to the solution; I found that Mach has an internal value for Jog Slow Rate representing the DRO readout. This value can be accessed on any screen set and will be part of the jog speed calculation in the upcoming release.
Jog speed will be as before but scaled down by the Jog Slow Rate as you suggested.

In testing I found it possible to jog as slow as 0.09 units/min; on my machine it is something like 1 micro step per second...
The internal lower speed limit in the plugin is now 1/100 000 of max speed for a given axe. This low limit could give drifting problems; time will show.

Thanks for pointing out the problem.

- Joakim

84

Finished Plugins for Download / Re: USB JoyPad and game device plugin - new version!

« on: January 14, 2011, 07:20:14 PM »

Greg

The plug-in is using the maximum speeds for each axe as it is setup in Mach for the machine.
On the Logitech JoyPad I get speeds below 0.1 % of maximum speed (below 1/1000).
This is slow; but for fast machines I see the problem... or when sneaking up ...  

Step jogging is a new feature in the coming release, honoring the step jog speeds setup in jogging screen (screen 50) - maybe you can use that in the final approach. Step jogging is activated by another safety key and using the same joysticks - they will then be in single step mode using the current step size in the jogging screen (1.000/0.100/0.010/0.001 or user defined).

Generally I avoid using screen only values as they are screen-set depend and not validated by Mach.
Only using Mach build in values will ensure the plug in works with any screen set.
I will put your request on my to do list - if there is an internal Mach value with the current Slow Jog Rate it can be used to reduce the jog speed along with the percentage setup in the JoyPad setup.

- Joakim

85

Finished Plugins for Download / Re: USB JoyPad and game device plugin - new version!

« on: January 14, 2011, 05:59:58 PM »

Greg

Thanks for the feedback  It helps me improve the plug in in feature releases.

The ability to assign script to buttons will stay put. You're right; it is very flexible and some tasks can only be done in script like probing or other more complex tasks.
In the upcoming release more simple tasks will be pre-programmed into the plug in.
Tasks like zero an axe, toggle flood, raise/lower spindle speed, cycle start, pause etc. will be very easy to assign to buttons in an easy to use GUI application.
This way users can still benefit from using the plug in and not knowing anything about script.

But of cause it will still be possible to program these tasks in script as well 

- Joakim

86

SmoothStepper USB / Re: USB JoyPad and game devices plugin now supports SmoothStepper

« on: January 14, 2011, 04:37:49 PM »

If the USB keypad shows up in Control Panel -> Game Controllers as a Controller it properly would work in some way. I have no experience with these keypad devices.

A better solution is still a game pad as you would be missing the joysticks on the keypad.
On eBay you can buy a USB game pad at a price below $5 including shipment 
This is one of the reasons why this device type was chosen for the JoyPad plug in.
I have tried one of these cheap game pads and they work.

87

SmoothStepper USB / Re: USB JoyPad and game devices plugin now supports SmoothStepper

« on: January 01, 2011, 07:56:59 PM »

Doc.

In the current release macros is only executed when the engine (Mach3) is in STOP state. This prevents the use of buttons when executing G-Code or Reset is active.
This is why you can't stop or pause after pressing Run.

In the next release this limitation will be removed and macros can be used in any engine state.

- Joakim

88

SmoothStepper USB / Re: USB JoyPad and game devices plugin now supports SmoothStepper

« on: December 30, 2010, 09:17:57 PM »

Thanks! 

That is the great thing with script - you can do nearly everything...
About forgetting... me too... 

Nice you use the safety buttons 5 and 6 to do the actual action. This was the intention behind the two safety buttons - nothing harmful will happen only pressing one button. This is why button 5 and/or button 6 must be pressed before jogging is enabled.

89

Finished Plugins for Download / Re: USB JoyPad and game device plugin - new version!

« on: December 30, 2010, 09:10:22 PM »

Thanks 

Question I would like to change the right hand joystick axis to swap the Z and A joystick positions. Is this possible??

In the JoyPad plugin configuration you can map all joystick axes to Mach3 axes - just set it up there (swap A and Z axe). If the axe is going the "wrong" way just invert it (check box).
You may have to restart Mach3 to reread the new setting before it takes effect.

Happy to have feedback from one using the plugin - tanks again.
At the moment I am working with Atifeh on a new version with a LOT of improvements, especially button assignment. Scripting is to difficult for most users. I hope to release soon as we are testing now...

- area51

90

Finished Plugins for Download / Re: USB JoyPad and game device plugin - new version!

« on: December 12, 2010, 06:32:33 PM »

Thanks 

A new version is underway with focus on button setup; making it a lot easier to configure and assign functionality to buttons.
With a lot of help from atifeh we have predefined a standard setup for button assignment and buttons will be active even in EStop.
It will still be possible to program all buttons with script but for most common functionality no scripting is necessary - only assignment in a new setup program.

The new version will be posted in a new thread in this forum... soon...

- area51