Sinumerik controlpanel with Linux CNC

JimPanski wrote: yeah totally. But what about the button LEDs are there so many outputs on the 7i73 free for it?

If there is an LED for each button, maybe not. Though Charlieplexing might help.

For reference: already posted pics of the pcb here forum.linuxcnc.org/30-cnc-machines/34845...it-with-7i76e#113857

That looks like a lot more than a simple matrix-wired keypad. I think that one would be a challenge. Is that really the same as the one in forum.linuxcnc.org/30-cnc-machines/41429...-cnc?start=10#200813 ?

Charlieplexing sounds interesting - but it has the limitation for one led at a time

Yes, these pics are from my panel (but mpi type) which is the same type as Onkelmat postet in the first post at the first picture here in this thread.
Mine was connected by MPI bus on the S7 plc on the sinumerik FM-NC.
After I understood that this is no simple serial connection I was searching the siemens docs and found the other types of it but with different connection types.
It would be really nice to get away connecting it by a bus connection rather than throwing it away - buy matrix type of it - buy 7i73 - connect gazillions of wires :dry: ...

JimPanski wrote: Charlieplexing sounds interesting - but it has the limitation for one led at a time.

Typically you cycle between them very rapidly (and over-drive them) and use persistence of vision to make it look like they are all lit.

Yes of course. Like on the 7 seg. LED displays..

Do you may have ideas how its possible to use this mpi bus type of panel?

BR
Conny

Google tells me that MPI is RS485. So some sort of protocol analyser (wireshark?) might help figure it out.

Mpi has quite some common part with old profibus. Can't remember witch one is a subset of the other. Mpi is newer, think it has more possibilities.