[originalsigns]

I'm looking into a wireless controller and want to know what you recommend. I've seen a lot of options on Amazon, but not much feedback. I see some folks using game controllers, but that doesn't seem like a good option to me. First stupid question - I use Mach3 & the UCCNC400 Ethernet connector to the CNC, is that an issue? I assume I still need that connected to my PC and the pendant controller just interfaces with the PC and not directly to the CNC. Right?

OK - Next can of worms. I'm interested in getting a laser for my CNC and switch back and forth from router to laser. I want to do the halftone pictures in wood and maybe cut light materials. What kind of laser would I need. Is there a kit that would be helpful that would include software or controller for that?

Thank you in advance for any input!

[OlfCNC]

I'm looking into a wireless controller and want to know what you recommend. I've seen a lot of options on Amazon, but not much feedback. I see some folks using game controllers, but that doesn't seem like a good option to me. First stupid question - I use Mach3 & the UCCNC400 Ethernet connector to the CNC, is that an issue? I assume I still need that connected to my PC and the pendant controller just interfaces with the PC and not directly to the CNC. Right?

OK - Next can of worms. I'm interested in getting a laser for my CNC and switch back and forth from router to laser. I want to do the halftone pictures in wood and maybe cut light materials. What kind of laser would I need. Is there a kit that would be helpful that would include software or controller for that?

Thank you in advance for any input!

You could use UCCNC with the UC400ETH, that software has a laser plugin built in and with that you can engrave halftone images.
Like on the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z01f-XYFSWs

For cutting with laser you can use the M10 and M11 fast switch codes on an output.

[OlfCNC]

You can use the wireless pendant if you will switch to UCCNC.
CNCdrive - motion controls

[originalsigns]

Thank you for the reply! I checked out the links, the pendant controller & software look great. It also looks like I would be able to import my settings from Mach3 - setup with Mach3 .xml profile import - that's really cool as I finally got it set up and don't want to go through that again. Is there anything thing else that I would need to operate a laser, boards or hardware? What kind of laser would you recommend? I'd like to do stuff like in the video, also have the option for some cutting some materials. Would I have to get different lasers for cutting & images? Thank you so much for the help - I plan to order the stuff as soon as I get a complete list of all the things needed.

[originalsigns]

I went back to the UCCNC web page and saw they also sell a laser - Laser - CNCdrive - webshop - I'm going to do a little research and see if this is what I need. My mind is racing with all the possibilities of combining a laser & router. I might get a 3D printer too so I can make a mounting bracket for the laser so It'll ZERO in the same place as the mill and just swap them out. Let me know if you have any other suggestions. Thank you again!

[ger21]

JTech is a popular laser vendor.
https://jtechphotonics.com/