DIY Pendant configuration question
29 Jul 2015 23:42 #61019
by Delron
DIY Pendant configuration question was created by Delron
Hi All,
I've been searching the forums and web for info about a project I'm interested in taking on, and I hope someone smarter than me can point me in the right direction.
I'm building a Pendant and trying to find info for hooking it up electrically and configuring LinuxCNC to utilize it.
I'm open to Parallel port or USB connection wise. I have a Quadrature encoded hand wheel as well as 16 buttons on my pendant. I need to decide what functions I'm interested in having each button perform. I'm expecting to hook up the buttons as a 4X4 array requiring 8 inputs and the MPG encoder requiring x-number of inputs.
I'm not looking to re-invent the wheel here, so no C++ or other programming etc. I can work with HAL to get it all up and running, but need advise on the details.
Can anyone help or point me in a solid working direction?
Cheers!
Dale
I've been searching the forums and web for info about a project I'm interested in taking on, and I hope someone smarter than me can point me in the right direction.
I'm building a Pendant and trying to find info for hooking it up electrically and configuring LinuxCNC to utilize it.
I'm open to Parallel port or USB connection wise. I have a Quadrature encoded hand wheel as well as 16 buttons on my pendant. I need to decide what functions I'm interested in having each button perform. I'm expecting to hook up the buttons as a 4X4 array requiring 8 inputs and the MPG encoder requiring x-number of inputs.
I'm not looking to re-invent the wheel here, so no C++ or other programming etc. I can work with HAL to get it all up and running, but need advise on the details.
Can anyone help or point me in a solid working direction?
Cheers!
Dale
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31 Jul 2015 01:43 #61053
by andypugh
All the HAL pins you need exist in motion or halui.
you probably want an encoder component for the mpg.
www.linuxcnc.org/docs/html/man/man9/motion.9.html
www.linuxcnc.org/docs/html/man/man1/halui.1.html
www.linuxcnc.org/docs/html/man/man9/encoder.9.html
Replied by andypugh on topic DIY Pendant configuration question
HI'm not looking to re-invent the wheel here, so no C++ or other programming etc. I can work with HAL to get it all up and running, but need advise on the details.
All the HAL pins you need exist in motion or halui.
you probably want an encoder component for the mpg.
www.linuxcnc.org/docs/html/man/man9/motion.9.html
www.linuxcnc.org/docs/html/man/man1/halui.1.html
www.linuxcnc.org/docs/html/man/man9/encoder.9.html
The following user(s) said Thank You: Delron
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31 Jul 2015 22:19 #61067
by Delron
Replied by Delron on topic DIY Pendant configuration question
Hi Andy,
Thanks so much for assisting me.
I'm aware that HAL has all the pins I need, where I'm stuck is with the electrical connections.
I know I can use a USB interface (Joypad example) and have lots of inputs that I could tie the keypad to, but I cannot find if it's possible to connect a Quadrature encoder (Hand wheel) to the USB inputs.
I also know I can tie the encoder in using the parallel port and have a few inputs left over for some buttons, but not 14 or 15 buttons unless I can use matrix keypad scanning on the parallel port, but I cannot find any info to do that.
So my problem is, I do not know how to connect an encoder AND 14 keys to one or the other ports.
Cheers!
Thanks so much for assisting me.
I'm aware that HAL has all the pins I need, where I'm stuck is with the electrical connections.
I know I can use a USB interface (Joypad example) and have lots of inputs that I could tie the keypad to, but I cannot find if it's possible to connect a Quadrature encoder (Hand wheel) to the USB inputs.
I also know I can tie the encoder in using the parallel port and have a few inputs left over for some buttons, but not 14 or 15 buttons unless I can use matrix keypad scanning on the parallel port, but I cannot find any info to do that.
So my problem is, I do not know how to connect an encoder AND 14 keys to one or the other ports.
Cheers!
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31 Jul 2015 22:27 #61068
by andypugh
Alternatively you could use emergent.unpythonic.net/01198594294 and modify the Arduino-side code to count encoder pulses.
The ideal interface for a remote pendant is: store.mesanet.com/index.php?route=produc...83_88&product_id=116 but that only works with the Mesa FPGA cards.
There is a HAL component for that: www.linuxcnc.org/docs/html/man/man9/matrix_kb.9.html
Replied by andypugh on topic DIY Pendant configuration question
You would need to connect the two quadrature channels to two general purpose IO pins on the USB interface, then use a software encoder counter in HAL to count the pulses.I know I can use a USB interface (Joypad example) and have lots of inputs that I could tie the keypad to, but I cannot find if it's possible to connect a Quadrature encoder (Hand wheel) to the USB inputs.
Alternatively you could use emergent.unpythonic.net/01198594294 and modify the Arduino-side code to count encoder pulses.
The ideal interface for a remote pendant is: store.mesanet.com/index.php?route=produc...83_88&product_id=116 but that only works with the Mesa FPGA cards.
I also know I can tie the encoder in using the parallel port and have a few inputs left over for some buttons, but not 14 or 15 buttons unless I can use matrix keypad scanning on the parallel port, but I cannot find any info to do that.
There is a HAL component for that: www.linuxcnc.org/docs/html/man/man9/matrix_kb.9.html
The following user(s) said Thank You: Delron
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31 Jul 2015 23:12 #61069
by Delron
Replied by Delron on topic DIY Pendant configuration question
I saw the Matrix_kb HAL component, but concluded it was for the Mesa FPGA boards only. Is that correct? Or would it work for inputs from the parallel port as well?
The Arduino application has been on the back of my mind as well, but I'm not a programmer and afraid of getting into to much complexity. The emergent link you gave me seems to handle only 6 digital inputs, but still interesting.
If the matrix_kb works with the parport, i'm inclined to pursure that route, otherwise, I'm glad you said it's possible to use the USB interface with the encoder after all. That sounds easiest although less noise immune.
The Arduino application has been on the back of my mind as well, but I'm not a programmer and afraid of getting into to much complexity. The emergent link you gave me seems to handle only 6 digital inputs, but still interesting.
If the matrix_kb works with the parport, i'm inclined to pursure that route, otherwise, I'm glad you said it's possible to use the USB interface with the encoder after all. That sounds easiest although less noise immune.
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31 Jul 2015 23:39 #61072
by andypugh
Replied by andypugh on topic DIY Pendant configuration question
In scan mode it will work with the parallel port too.I saw the Matrix_kb HAL component, but concluded it was for the Mesa FPGA boards only. Is that correct? Or would it work for inputs from the parallel port as well?
Actually it should be more noise-immune as the USB interface has error-checking, but I am not sure what hardware you intend to use to connect your MPG to USB.I'm glad you said it's possible to use the USB interface with the encoder after all. That sounds easiest although less noise immune.
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31 Jul 2015 23:47 #61073
by Delron
Replied by Delron on topic DIY Pendant configuration question
I was looking at the Teensy ++2.0 USB Dev board. I've seen other HID boards on the net as well that I have not spent enough time researching yet as I was unsure that I could use the encoder with them. But now that I know I can, I will need to figure out what would be the simplest to work with. I do like the idea of possibly adding a LCD DRO to the pendant in the future, which the Teensy seems to be able to handle.
Your help is so much appreciated!
Cheers!
Your help is so much appreciated!
Cheers!
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31 Jul 2015 23:56 #61074
by andypugh
It might actually be easier, and even cheaper, to buy an XHC pendant from eBay, which has a LinuxCNC driver: www.ebay.co.uk/itm/171854630609 as an example.
Replied by andypugh on topic DIY Pendant configuration question
I do like the idea of possibly adding a LCD DRO to the pendant in the future, which the Teensy seems to be able to handle.
It might actually be easier, and even cheaper, to buy an XHC pendant from eBay, which has a LinuxCNC driver: www.ebay.co.uk/itm/171854630609 as an example.
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01 Aug 2015 20:42 #61099
by lerman
Easier -- definitely
Cheaper -- probably
Better -- unlikely
Issues I have with the XHC pendant
1 -- the display is terrible
A -- When you change the axis knob there is a long delay where the display turns off then on
B -- there is a big space between the digits and the minus sign
C -- everything is canned -- I'd like a display where I could put what I want where I want it
2 -- the labels don't match the functions I use for them (sure, I could put stick on labels over the existing ones
3 -- I had to change the driver to provide more info
On the plus side though:
1 -- its cheap
2 -- the mechanical shape is handy -- If I wanted a better pendant, I would probably try ripping out the guts, add a different display, reprogram it to do what I wanted...
3 -- the magnets on the back let me stick it on the front of my machine in a convenient spot
My pendant and probe play nicely together and make setup and manual operation a pleasure.
Ken
Replied by lerman on topic DIY Pendant configuration question
I do like the idea of possibly adding a LCD DRO to the pendant in the future, which the Teensy seems to be able to handle.
It might actually be easier, and even cheaper, to buy an XHC pendant from eBay, which has a LinuxCNC driver: www.ebay.co.uk/itm/171854630609 as an example.
Easier -- definitely
Cheaper -- probably
Better -- unlikely
Issues I have with the XHC pendant
1 -- the display is terrible
A -- When you change the axis knob there is a long delay where the display turns off then on
B -- there is a big space between the digits and the minus sign
C -- everything is canned -- I'd like a display where I could put what I want where I want it
2 -- the labels don't match the functions I use for them (sure, I could put stick on labels over the existing ones
3 -- I had to change the driver to provide more info
On the plus side though:
1 -- its cheap
2 -- the mechanical shape is handy -- If I wanted a better pendant, I would probably try ripping out the guts, add a different display, reprogram it to do what I wanted...
3 -- the magnets on the back let me stick it on the front of my machine in a convenient spot
My pendant and probe play nicely together and make setup and manual operation a pleasure.
Ken
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01 Aug 2015 21:38 - 01 Aug 2015 21:41 #61102
by Delron
Replied by Delron on topic DIY Pendant configuration question
Thanks again for everybody's help/ideas.
I think I'm going to go the parport way and drop the idea of a display for now. Now that I know the matrix.kb module will work, I like the idea of zero lag on the parport.
A config idea that was offered on another forum I like is;
"Its certainly doable with a single parallel port and the matrix_kb component.
For example if you set the parallel port to "in" mode you have 13 inputs and 4 outputs
This would allow for example 16 keys (8 in x 2 out matrix) and leave 2 outputs for LEDs etc
2 inputs for MPG encoder and 3 spare individual inputs for mode switches etc.
This setup has some advantages over USB interfaces in that it has basically 0 jitter (all real time)
so response is excellent (USB will always have variable delays up to the 50 or more ms region)"
Cheers!
I think I'm going to go the parport way and drop the idea of a display for now. Now that I know the matrix.kb module will work, I like the idea of zero lag on the parport.
A config idea that was offered on another forum I like is;
"Its certainly doable with a single parallel port and the matrix_kb component.
For example if you set the parallel port to "in" mode you have 13 inputs and 4 outputs
This would allow for example 16 keys (8 in x 2 out matrix) and leave 2 outputs for LEDs etc
2 inputs for MPG encoder and 3 spare individual inputs for mode switches etc.
This setup has some advantages over USB interfaces in that it has basically 0 jitter (all real time)
so response is excellent (USB will always have variable delays up to the 50 or more ms region)"
Cheers!
Last edit: 01 Aug 2015 21:41 by Delron. Reason: Spelling
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