Messages

21

Show"N"Tell ( What you have made with your CNC machine.) / An operating panel for MACH3

« on: February 08, 2014, 03:30:06 AM »

Just wanted to show what I've been doing for last couple of months.
I was getting increasingly irritated to use the mouse + keyboard all the time, and wanted to do something else.
However I'm using a Parrallel-port setup, and my inputs and output are limited, so I had to look elsewhere.
Found the "PoKeys" from "PoLabs" didn't really know what it was, but it has a lot of IO pins, and MACH3 plugin.
So I took a chance and got one.

And then it took off  , I just wanted a simple jog panel, with my "Basic" functions at hand.  

Pls. Look at this album for pics and a demo vid. Step by step progress. (Details written for each pic)
https://picasaweb.google.com/114354420787953529502/CNCOperatingPanel

Now I need to make the box around it, and mount it some where on the machine.
And getting the rest of the foils on the buttons.

Let me know what you think ?
Best Regards, Bo Andersen.

22

General Mach Discussion / Re: JOG = off. Causes JOG to continue ? (PoKeys hardware)

« on: January 29, 2014, 04:15:57 PM »

Dear John.
Thank you for your reply.

I tried what you described, besides the buttons lag significantly more that using the OEM-code.
The result remains the same :-/

Lock this thread, as I will move the discussion to "PoKeys" section.

Best Regards, Bo Andersen.

23

PoKeys / JOG = off. Causes JOG to continue ?

« on: January 29, 2014, 04:12:58 PM »

Moved the discussion from "General forum" to here.

I set  an 8x8 input matrix, and assign some for JOG XYZ, (One key for X+ another for X- etc)
Following is observed:
- Continues JOG is selected
- Pres_and_hold a button: Causes axis to JOG, Release = Stop.

If I then toggle the JOG to OFF, the I cannot JOG on the regular PC-Keyboard, but
When I Press and release a key via my PoKeys input matrix, the Axis starts and Continues to JOG, untill "Stop" or "E-stop" is activated ?!
(This is valid for all axis in both directions)

If I select MPG-mode (Instead of continues) and THEN toggle JOG = Off then it's all good, nothing moves, just as I expected the JOG = Off function to work ?

(Further I have some issues with the formatting of DRO in the LCD, but I'm not sure if bug-reports are in this forum ?)
Best Regards, Bo Andersen.

24

General Mach Discussion / JOG = off. Causes JOG to continue ? (PoKeys hardware)

« on: January 28, 2014, 05:22:14 PM »

Dear Forum. (Not sure if this is a Pokeys or MACH3 issue ?)

I have hooked up a Pokeys56U (USB)
From that I created a 8x8 matrix push button panel. (Basic JOG, MPG and other features)

One set of buttons is for JOG of XYZ axis, press the button = JOG, release = stop.
One button (X++) is linked to one OEM-Code 307, etc.
All good.

Then when I Toggle the "JOG" either via. mouse on the MACH screen or via my control panel following is observed:
The LED is OFF, indicating that JOG function is disabled. (And other related LED's like "Continued" or "Step" or MPG)
Not possible to JOG from Computer keyboard.

If I then press and Release my X++ JOG button on my control panel, the X-axis, moves, and CONTINUES to move
untill Stop or E-Stop is activated.

When i Toggle the JOG back on (LED = ON) then the function is back to normal ?!

PoKeys, MACH or user error ?
Best Regards, Bo Andersen.

25

General Mach Discussion / Re: G68, how digits are interpreted internally ?

« on: January 08, 2014, 10:12:02 AM »

Dear Sir,
Thank you for your prompt reply.
I also doubt that I will need 5 digits.
Never the less I'm now confident that I can proceed with this solution to PCB drilling.

Best Regards, Bo Andersen.

26

General Mach Discussion / G68, how digits are interpreted internally ?

« on: January 07, 2014, 05:12:07 PM »

Dear Forum.
I'm trying to drill PCB (Eching is done via photosensitive PCB and chemical etch process), so I slam the PCB to my spoil board.
Measure the board via. webcam, and calculate the Rotation needed. Fx:
G68 A0 B0 R-1.753
However when i run the G-code and look at the MDI-screen it say the rotation is -1.8

So is it internally handled as 1.753 or is it rounded to 1.8 ?

Best Regards, Bo.

27

PoKeys / Re: How to setup rotary encoder as MPG ?

« on: October 27, 2013, 12:44:32 AM »

Hi Matevz.
Thanks again.

Will look into the Analogue filtering, alternative the Encoder :-)
Lots of new possibilities and features with PoKeys....

Best Regards, Bo Andersen.

28

PoKeys / Re: Possible glitch in MACH3 plugin, with LCD panel attached.

« on: October 27, 2013, 12:42:36 AM »

Hi Matevz.
Yes. Have redownloaded the PoKey 3.0.65 with MACH3 plugin 6.10.2013
Still the same thing.

Tried with a 4x20 LCD also, same thing
Tried on a different computer, same thing (Different config files)

Line 1, Char 1, is only set when MACH3 application is restarted.
So if I set following:
'X: DROx'
Then the "X: " is set upon MACH3 load, and DRO value are changed accordingly.
If I then goto the Plugin from MACH3, and want to change Line1, Char 1, it's not updating. The X is static.
Then I restart MACH3, and it's updated.

This works when 1.st char is a static like "X: ", but you cannot have a DRO in line 1 Char 1 as it never updates !
Line 2+3+4, are all good.


Hopes this clarifies.
Best Regards, Bo Andersen.

29

Building or Buying a Wood routing table.. Beginnners guide.. / Re: Building or buying, an operator control panel ?

« on: October 23, 2013, 02:53:30 PM »

Hi adprinter.

Point taken.
I guess one of the reason are that I currently don't have a good setup with my screen, keyboard and mouse. So I move this back and forth....

However, I miss the "hot key" function i.e. having a push button for 80-90% of the functions, so I don't have to use the mouse so often.

Best regards, Bo Andersen.

30

Building or Buying a Wood routing table.. Beginnners guide.. / Building or buying, an operator control panel ?

« on: October 23, 2013, 10:46:51 AM »

Dear all.

I really don't know what to decide ;-)

Initially I planned to design and build my own control panel.
Green, yellow, red push button with integrated Light. (17x17mm in size)
MPG wheel, and rotary switches for Feed, jog override...
4x20 LCD panel for feeds and speeds DRO


However i can also find "Ready made" control panels from PoKeys and CNC4PC
But, I'm missing som key function, like "Ignore Tool change", Zero XYZ,
Touch probe, and some other functions.

And, these ready made panels, have functions that I never come to use.
"Learn" is one of them.

Regarding price, I think it wil be approx. samesame....

What have you done ?, what would you do different ?
Should it be a combo of the PoKeys 48key panel + my own buttons for my customization ?
Please give me the best of your experience..... show and tell what you have done......
using the std. mach screen, different combos, what works for you....

I'm using the machine in my garage for wood routing, and light alu-milling.
So of course the panel must be 'perfect' ;-)

Best Regards, Bo Andersen.
Hoping to gain more knowlegde.