[massajamesb]

NGinuity, you need to hurry up. If you don't hurry, I might build it myself

[steve323]

My design plugs directly into the parallel input port of the HobbyCNC stepper controller. It is really handy for testing my router before I move a PC out to the garage. I doubt I will ever use it after I have a computer nearby with Mach 3 installed.

[NGinuity]

NGinuity, you need to hurry up. If you don't hurry, I might build it myself

If you do, I will give you 5 dollars for it :-)

[dan dimock]

STEVE 323 Are you going to sell yours after you get your system going?
Dan

[NGinuity]

My design plugs directly into the parallel input port of the HobbyCNC stepper controller. It is really handy for testing my router before I move a PC out to the garage. I doubt I will ever use it after I have a computer nearby with Mach 3 installed.

Do you really suspect that putting it inline of the computer will cause it to miss steps? Could you possibly mitigate that risk by using blocking diodes so the parallel signals from each device don't interfere with each other? You could also build some sort of "lock out" option that would prevent output from the joystick if there was data coming from the computer. I only ask that because I really have my heart set on running the panel inline.

[massajamesb]

If you do, I will give you 5 dollars for it :-)

SOLD!

You wouldn't be offering me that if you knew how much R&D I have in my design.
I think somewhere around 1.32 USD would be fair....

[NGinuity]

SOLD!

You wouldn't be offering me that if you knew how much R&D I have in my design.
I think somewhere around 1.32 USD would be fair....

Perhaps I could persuade you with a count of 6 adult beverages next time I am at the shop? :-D

[massajamesb]

Perhaps I could persuade you with a count of 6 adult beverages next time I am at the shop? :-D

And yet again, SOLD!

:cheers:

[NGinuity]

And yet again, SOLD!

:cheers:

That joystick might just start working on it's own after enough beer! LOL

[massajamesb]

That joystick might just start working on it's own after enough beer! LOL

Ah, you figured out my design. It's copywritten, so I can't provide you with a schematic.

[NGinuity]

Ah, you figured out my design. It's copywritten, so I can't provide you with a schematic.

Great. Thanks a lot...now I have to clean all of the sweet tea off of my keyboard I just spit out when I read that :-D

[Torchhead]

Let you do what, exactly?

Just about anything you want. Here is a 28 function Hand Controller with a Jog Stick (proportional jog speeds with two ranges and a single step mode and the XY or ZA select button. In addition you can contol things like referencing 3 or 4 axis, zero the DRO's (reset workpiece zero) RUN , STOP Feedhold, Feedrate overrides, Spindle speed overrides, Spindle on/off etc ,etc.



What makes it all work is the ability to write Plug-in programs for MACH using the SDK.

[NGinuity]

What language is the SDK? The design I am working on would involve a DRO LCD display that is on the machine itself. Is that what this does too?

[Switcher]

Check this out from "hoss2006" (here on the zone), joystick, jog buttons, DRO, everything!

He shows how he built this on his website.
http://www.hossmachine.com/projects_...#control panel

And another thread he started:
http://www.cnczone.com/forums/showthread.php?t=30385

His website says he used Keygrabber from Mach3, to program the buttons.


.

[NGinuity]

Actually, i am not looking for something quite that robust, but I can definitely see some similar ideas I have.

[steve323]

No, I plan to keep it for testing my future CNC milling machine. I will probably need it to test my CNC lathe after that. I have 2 small kids, so this plan will take many years to complete.

[steve323]

There seems to be many simpler options of using a secondary USB keypad to send control signals directly to Mach. This would avoid the need to intercept the parallel port data path. Of course, this only works after you have installed Mach and have a computer in your workshop.

My design only has a parallel output port that is sent directly to the HobbyCNC board. I thought about adding an input port, but decided to keep my design "quick and dirty" so it would have a chance of getting completed.

[Torchhead]

Installing a second parallel port for MACH costs less than 20 bucks and takes about 10 minutes (on a bad day).

Tom Caudle
www.CandCNC.com