MPG vs Joypad

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20 May 2010 19:10 #2932 by chuck1024
MPG vs Joypad was created by chuck1024
I am currently using the keyboard to manually move the machine which leave a lot to be desired. I have read the various articles on gamepads/joypads and MPG pendants and I am wondering which one makes the better interface?

MPGs are available from a number of places. They plug into the parallel port and the EMC interface looks fairly easy to install. A pendant and buffer card from CNC4PC will cost about 200 bucks. I already have a second parallel port.

I can buy a Logitech game pad from many places, such as best buy for about 20 bucks. The software changes don't look too bad based on the simple pendant article.

It seems to me that a gamepad is much cheaper but who do the two compare in operation?
Which do you use???

thanks
chuck

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21 May 2010 02:03 #2942 by chuck1024
Replied by chuck1024 on topic Re:MPG vs Joypad
I stopped by bestbuy and bought the Logitech gamepad. I installed it using the simple remote pendant example in wiki. Works very well. Now onto the enhanced version. thanks
chuck

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21 May 2010 10:35 #2945 by BigJohnT
Replied by BigJohnT on topic Re:MPG vs Joypad
I use a joypad for my plasma and it works fine for that. On my lathe the MPG is the only way to set the tools as I can move the tool 0.0001" per click while I watch for touch off...

John

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21 May 2010 11:13 #2948 by Rick G
Replied by Rick G on topic Re:MPG vs Joypad
I use the joypad on my mill, router and lathe.
I like to set the 3 speeds as rapid, half speed and incredibly slow to sneak up on a position.
I also added an incremental button to the joypad so I can click one predetermined move at a time while watching for touch off. You can set this move to be as small as you like.

Rick G

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21 May 2010 13:25 - 21 May 2010 13:26 #2955 by Andy123
Replied by Andy123 on topic Re:MPG vs Joypad
I made my own USB pendant using Microchip PIC18F2550 with custom HID firmware
it enumerates as an input device in linux.

I use:
80mm MPG,
3 axis selector with LEDs
3 resolutions+ continious selector with LEDs,
two jog buttons
Feed Override pot

I found that MPG is the most convinient for manual setups.
Last edit: 21 May 2010 13:26 by Andy123.

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21 May 2010 15:12 #2956 by chuck1024
Replied by chuck1024 on topic Re:MPG vs Joypad
Thanks guys. You have been most helpful. I like the joypad so far, but there is enough experimenter in me to consider building a MPG too. Is there a writeup on making a USB pendant?

I do have one comment on the simple remote pendant article example. This line is used to first.
net joy-z-jog halui.jog.2.analog <= input.0.abs-z-position

When the axis is reversed, this line is used.
net reverse-z sum2.1.in0 <= input.0.abs-rz-position

In the first reference,
z-position is the horizontal movement of the joystick where
rz-position is the vertical movement of the joystick

It would be nice if there were made consistent in the example and a comment about how to select the one you want. I assume the lathe operator would want horizontal and the mill operator would want vertical.

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21 May 2010 22:30 #2959 by BigJohnT
Replied by BigJohnT on topic Re:MPG vs Joypad
That is to show you if the axis moves in the wrong direction how to correct it.

John

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22 May 2010 10:25 #2972 by Rick G
Replied by Rick G on topic Re:MPG vs Joypad
The buttons you select are just what is more comfortable to you, John and I both used the right stick for the z axis, John selected horizontal I selected vertical. At the time I was working on a router and vertical movement in my mind of the stick related to vertical movement of the axis. This works well on my first mill also. I am now setting up a knee mill with both a z axis quill and a w axis knee, both will move vertical and I will use the vertical joystick for the quill and the horizontal for the knee. (so much for keeping things intuitive) When setting things up I find it is easier to go to hal and watch the different inputs while hitting buttons and pushing sticks to see how they are labeled and then decide which ones to use for what. By the way my router is 4'x8' so I added a USB extension to the joypad which allows me to walk over to where the work is for a better view. It is also nice on a large machine to be able to zip the router around on multiple axis at the same time all from a joypad.

Rick G

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30 May 2010 11:02 #3045 by Rick G
Replied by Rick G on topic Re:MPG vs Joypad
For those following this thread who are interested in building their own usb pendants you might want to look here.
generichid.sourceforge.net/
hidcomp.sourceforge.net/

Rick G

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