[ssutton]

Often I am cutting something new with my machine and it would be nice to be able to adjust my feed rate without having to use the windows keyboard (The only input device that I currently use with my machine). Is there a CHEAP (<$50) way to use an external device like a potentiometer or something else to control the
feed rate? A potentiometer would be nice but how would that interface with MACH3. Again let me stress CHEAP.

Thanks
Scott

[ger21]

To use a pot, you need a breakout board or modbus device that accepts analog input.
On the Machsupport forum, there's a tutorial to use an Arduino that I think will allow this, and it's probably right around $50 to get it running.

Simple tutorial on analog inputs with Arduino

The required Arduino file is here.
Arduino sketch for analog inputs to Mach3

[ssutton]

Interesting. I am very experienced with programming PIC microcontrollers and they can accept multiple channels of 10 bit res analog signals. The question that remains is what to do with the digital value and how to insert it into MACH3. It sounds like I need to serial input the data to the PC and configure MACH to find it. I will investigate the Arduino link and see if that answers any questions.

Thanks Gerry

[ivans]

I wonder if something like this would work with Mach?

Amazon.com: Griffin Technology NA16029 PowerMate USB Multimedia Controller: Electronics

Attachment 212370

Fairly inexpensive and it is a USB input device.

[ger21]

I wonder if something like this would work with Mach?

Amazon.com: Griffin Technology NA16029 PowerMate USB Multimedia Controller: Electronics

Fairly inexpensive and it is a USB input device.

To use a USB device with Mach3, you'd need to write a plugin. There is a Mach3 plugin for that device to use as an MPG, but if I recall, it never worked very well, and I don't think it works with current versions of Mach3.