MPG over USB ?

Hello everyone, I am try to see what the options are to get MPG input in over USB. I am using a 7I76e and I am trying to not run a seperate cable from the computer to the controller. I want to build a dedicated control panel with with a touchscreen and I am considering adding an MPG and a few selector switches.

anyone have any thoughts ?

Thank You
Calvin

7i73

There are options to use an MPG pendant with Linuxcnc through a USB port. They do require a driver (hal component) that is specific to that hardware. An example would be an XHG-HB04 pendant (common on ebay). They come in both wireless and wired versions.
wiki.linuxcnc.org/cgi-bin/wiki.pl?Using_...Wireless_MPG_Pendant.
Remember a USB device is not going to be a real time component. (But that isn't usually a big problem for a HID, example keyboards and mice aren't real time either.)

I had wanted to avoid the extra cable of the 7i73 going back to the 7I76E but I do like the idea of keeping everything in the realtime layer.

anyone have any experience with the MPG listed about, I am wondering how smooth of a response the MPG wheel has to the movement of the machine, or if there is a human noticeable lag at all

Thank You
C

I run this on my 7i76e.

Pricey, but a real nice 433 Mhz wireless unit that can be purchased in a version that is 100% compatible with the 7i76e MPG
xhctech.en.alibaba.com/product/607207373...rator_for_FANUC.html

The receiver is a relay box with an external antenna that you just wire in to your control box

is is possible to get the 7I73 without the headers attached ?
so I can just solder wires directly onto the board ?

worse case I can always desolder them by hand, just curious

Thank You
C

If you want to "roll your own"

You may want to have a look at hidcomp.

hidcomp.sourceforge.net/

The only bugbear is the Qt dependencies.....but not such an issue,

I've been testing it on a "mess about machine" and once I have I have the time I'll run it live on the mill.....I have done some basic testing and seems to do what it says.

Or you may want to grab an Arduino Leonardo, Sparkfun ProMicro ( or any of the compatiable device on ebay $8AUD $12AUD) or Teensy ++ 2.0 and experiment with the Open Source LUFA usb stack. Which is the way I'm going with in conjuction with hidcomp. Or you can use hal_input. either will work if you build your device as a HID device. Hidcomp allows for more options, hal_input only allows for 8 LEDs due to a limitation in the linux kernel for keyboard LEDS. My end goal is just to have the usb panel for "setup" purposes. But as always have a physical ESTOP to stop the machine.

Theres a fair bit that can be done via keyboard\joystick creations on a lowcost mcu. If you want to go that way.

I do have some extra inputs on my setup that I can use for real time........BuI'm going to test with USB and if I find I want\need some features to have realtime I'll migrate. So far I have been using the keyboard for basic tasks, but the control panel I'm developing basically employs the same functions with a bit of in built logic in the micro controller.

An STM32 platform maybe better for updating LCD displays due to the higher clock rates. I've found myself picking a few various low cost dev boards to play with.