Remote Pendant/Handwheel

Greetings all,

Are any of the commonly/readily available remote pendants suitable for use with EMC?
Not really wanting to use a "joystick", so have been looking at pendants, ready-made.
I'm normally the kind of person that makes everything, but as I get on in life my priorities shift and right now
it seems a better idea to simply purchase one instead of buying switches, a MPG, and a box to make one.
To be frank, everything I've come across seems to mention MACH3, so I've to wonder if and how to make one work with EMC.

If it matters, I'll be using Mesa cards.

Thanks.

Hi

This explains how to hook up one of the CNC4PC pendants

linuxcnc.org/docs/2.5/html/examples/mpg.html

Just depends how much you want to spend. I made mine from a MPG from an old controller, plus 3 switches and ABS box cost about £10.

Most companies only know about windoze, so only mention Mach.
At the end of the day a switch is a switch, only matters that it is connected correctly.

regards

Thanks for the info.
That is what I thought ( a switch being a switch) but wanted to be sure as
I head into this because I'm sure I'll have enough other, bigger issues to tackle.

Thank you.

BigJohnT wrote:

I use a joypad on my plasma and would not use one for a mill. I have a MPG and selector switchs on my Lathe not in a separate box but that is the only difference from a pendant. My knee mill has the MPG mounted to the X table and is convenient to use there. Just as ArcEyc said a switch is a switch and a MPG is a MPG. John

Hi John,

Thanks for the reply.
"Joypad"? I'm not familiar... Is that another word for joystick?
If so, agreed, I'm not considering one.

Thanks.

Thank you for the explanation, John.

Well I actually use a modified version of John's joypad on my router, knee mill and lathe. It is small, light and if need be easy to add a usb extension to for large machines ( my router is 4'x8').

Rick G

John,

I use the joypad to set G92 for x,y,z,w on the knee mill. Hold the #10 button and hit the x,y,z or w axis. This sets the axis and makes an audible beep to let you know it is set, one beep for x, 2 beeps for y, etc.

Left joystick
x and y must be used with buttons number 1,2,3,4 or 10. Jogs, incremental jogs and set coordinate with G92
Press straight down to switch to Manual mode.

Right joystick rz,z must be used with buttons number 1,2,3,4 or 10. Jogs, incremental jogs and set coordinate with G92
Press straight down with the 5 button to retract z and then send xy home, or whatever position you have programmed.
Press straight down by itself to switch to MDI mode.

Hat

x plus and minus Feed override.

y plus and minus Spindle override.

Number pad

#1 1st proportional jog speed

#2 2nd proportional jog speed

#3 3rd proportional jog speed

#4 incremental jog

Base

#5 Safety for Spindle hold down and go home routine

#6 Spindle ON/OFF when combined with holding down 5 Spindle ON Pushed by itself Spindle OFF

#7 unused (possible future lube/coant, mode, ON /OFF, etc.)

#8 unused (possible future lube / coolant, mode, ON / OFF, etc.)

#9 E-STOP press to stop

#10 set coordinate when combined with x, y, z, w joystick

Rick G