Sound and/or Speech

I was watching a (Mach 3) video where they use what looks like VB script... in this they had a probe routine, and during the routine the computer said, " 3, 2, 1" before a tool movement, and "Tool Complete" when it was done. It also played a beep sound at the end.

Video:

In VB or VBA in Excel I can script that easy... Application.Speech.Speak("Have a nice day") for example...

Now I am wondering if a G-Code can post to an external program? It would be great if I could call a speech program and have it say something like "Insert the tool" or whatever... I've found some software that would probably work...
askubuntu.com/questions/501910/how-to-te...t-using-command-line

Another way would be to play a WAV or MP3... I could make "canned" phrases and call them. I could for example have "countdown.wav" then call it and pause until done.

Got any (simple) ideas??
Jerry

I think you could use a custom M-code (M1xx) to call up a saved sound file

something like:That will not pause the machine while the sound plays. If you delete the & at the end of the command it will pause while the sound plays and then resume.

In my qtvcp branch, i support speech using espeak libraries.
I like python so my solution would be something like this:

Of course you need the espeak libraries installed:

sudo apt-get install espeak

Should do it.
The voice is not great but is usable.

Chris M

Ok... I'll start to evaluate these...

Todd Zuercher - Your method looks like it would call up ONE sound per M-Code as written. If I can pass a variable... like M100 P1 for example... that will work great. I'll have to tinker and report back with my findings.Also... stopping the machine while it plays would be undesired... if anything I would have it say "Three" and do a G4 P1, then "Two" G4 P1... etc.

The timing would sound better.

Or... just record 3..2..1.. and a sound... then do a G4 P3 right after it... yeah... I'm digging that idea.

Cmorley - So if I understand you... then I could do something like this in the G-Code...

I'll give that a try as well... but I already installed spd-say... it worked pretty well... so I may try that first.

Ultimately... if the playing of a WAV or MP3 works... likely I'll go that way as the end user won't need to install anything... I already have a folder IMAGES, and another ROUTINES in my configurations... so adding SOUNDS is not a far cry... and I can make some spiffy recorded voices. (I have access to a BUNCH of synthesis options for Windows... so I can create the files and put them in the folder.

Thanks... this will give me something to experiment with.
Jerry

Askjerry wrote:

Ok... I'll start to evaluate these...

Cmorley - So if I understand you... then I could do something like this in the G-Code...

G21 M90
import os
cmd = ' Insert Tool 1'
os.system('''espeak -s 160 -v m3 -p 1 "%s" &'''% cmd)
M6 T1
...
...
M2

I'll give that a try as well... but I already installed spd-say... it worked pretty well... so I may try that first.
Jerry

No the code must be in a user M code unfortunately.
spd-say and espeak sound the same on my system.

Chris M

If you remapped the toolchange routine you could have it speak the tool number, while still using regular gcode - but that is not simple like you asked.

Chris M

The whole idea was during a probe routine to basically tell them the probe was going to move, and afterward that it was finished.

Basically... a polite/cool way to say, "Get your fat fingers out of my way!"

... a little "wow" factor for my video series... and I really appreciate the help!

Jerry

Todd Zuercher - I just tried the play sound method... it crashed with a number parsing error. I think the "#" threw it off.

Here is the G-Code file...

I also tried the other method... also failed...

And with the other speech program... also failed.


Jerry

The code I posted worked on a VM test machine. But it has to be in a custom m-code.