Anybody using an encoder for jogging?  

I am sure somebody must be.  It makes sense.  In my Hurco retrofit I wound up with a couple spare encoders.  One was on the original control console and was used for jogging.  I tested it today with a pair of LEDs and it appears to work.  Now, how would I go about using it to JOG an axis?  I imagine I could wire up one channel like a switch, and then use a separate direction switch, but there must be a more elegant way to do it.  

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rhfpo53ajpw

P.S.  I checked the manual and saw how you connect it and configure it in Mach's ports and pins, but I don't see how you tell Mach which axis you are jogging...  or do you need to configure one for each axis with a selector switch? 

Hit the tab key and the mpg flyout will appear.  There you will set which axis and what mode.  I would set it to single step mode and jog mode to mpg.

Brett

I think we are not communicating...  If you are using the display screens what is the point of having external controls?

Well, you have to make sure it is the right mode to be able to use the MPG.  MPG only works in mpg mode.

Brett

Are you saying the only way to use an MPG is to open the flyout screen and manually select the axis on the screen?  That doesn't make any sense at all.  You may need to set MPG mode, but why do so many pendants have selectors then?  Seems like a waste of a perfectly good switch to just put it on there for appearance.   

The pendants with selectors.................. what are they selecting?


Brett

There are OEM codes for selecting which axis the MPG controls.  You'd need to have switches, and a macropump, brain or plug-in to issue the OEM code at the proper time.  If you search the archives, back in about '08 or so I posted macropump code that implemented full pendant functionality - several jog modes on all axes, Run, Stop, Pause, Rewind, and many other things.  Search on my name, and VistaCNC or iMachPro.

Regards,
Ray L.

Got it.  Basically you need to have a smart board that will run small macros and send keyboard scan codes.

Well, if I keep this machine Mach when I finish it I won't waste another second with the MPG idea then.  I'll just throw in an arcade joy stick and a couple fire buttons for Z. 

Got it.  Basically you need to have a smart board that will run small macros and send keyboard scan codes.

Well, if I keep this machine Mach when I finish it I won't waste another second with the MPG idea then.  I'll just throw in an arcade joy stick and a couple fire buttons for Z. 

No, I don't think you got it.  All you need is a Mach3 macro.

Regards,
Ray L.