CNC style Pendant

FelixH

@dc42 here is what I wired, I think I did not miss anything, but I'm known to miss that sort of things, so...

Also, today I plugged the display (only display as usual) after the Duet on my CNC was turned on, and it did not respond either, just like with the pendant. I had to boot again. Could it have something in common with the problem?

dc42

Have you a datasheet on the level shifter you are using? I'm wondering whether your level shifter might not be able to drive the load on the Nano RX pin.

FelixH

@dc42 I don't find any datasheet, but it is this one...

https://www.amazon.de/XCSOURCE-Logisches-Konverter-Bi-Direktional-TE291/dp/B0148BLZGE/ref=sr_1_9?dchild=1&keywords=Logic+Level+Converter&qid=1590256177&sr=8-9

dc42

Unfortunately that design of logic level converter doesn't provide any current amplification, so it has the same problem as a PanelDue driving the RX pin of the Nano directly.

You could make the modification(s) to the Nano that I described in my post; or substitute an Arduino Pro Micro for the Nano.

FelixH

@dc42 so in other words, the logic converter I got, doesn't convert any logic... well, that's a disappointment...

What throws me back from doing the modification to the Nano is forgetting about it and having problems in the future because of that. On the other hand, if I ever open the pendant again in the future and I see a logic converter, I will know what's up. Is a sort of future proofing the whole thing.

I guess I will try to find a better logic converter...

thanks!

dc42

It's probably easier to get an Arduino Pro Micro. I would have designed the pendant around that originally, had I known that it existed.

FelixH

just like this one??

https://www.amazon.de/KeeYees-ATmega32U4-Entwicklerboard-Arduino-Leonardo/dp/B07FQJW2KN/ref=sr_1_3?dchild=1&keywords=Arduino+Pro+Micro&qid=1590259813&quartzVehicle=184-492&replacementKeywords=arduino+micro&sr=8-3

I just want to be sure...

btw https://www.arduino.cc/en/Reference/softwareSerial is good for 57600baud might also solve some issues?

dc42

@FelixH said in CNC style Pendant:

just like this one??

https://www.amazon.de/KeeYees-ATmega32U4-Entwicklerboard-Arduino-Leonardo/dp/B07FQJW2KN/ref=sr_1_3?dchild=1&keywords=Arduino+Pro+Micro&qid=1590259813&quartzVehicle=184-492&replacementKeywords=arduino+micro&sr=8-3

I just want to be sure...

Yes, that's the one. I already have one on order to use for testing, to make sure that the changes I made for the Pro Micro are correct.

dc42

I have converted my CNC pendant to use an Arduino Pro Micro and updated the firmware at https://github.com/Duet3D/CNC-Pendant-Firmware. I've also added a wiki page about CNC pendants at https://duet3d.dozuki.com/Wiki/CNC_Pendant.

tntjet

Is it possible to control a 4th axis in position 4?

dc42

Yes, the pendant firmware is set up to control the U axis.

tntjet

Thank you David !

dc42

If you had the 6-axis version, it would control the V and W axes too. You can change which axes positions 4, 5 and 6 control in the firmware. It's an Arduino sketch, so easy to change and upload.

tntjet

Thats awsome David , if wanted to change the increments on the rotary encoder feed switch to .01, .1, 1 what would I need to change?

dc42

@tntjet said in CNC style Pendant:

Thats awsome David , if wanted to change the increments on the rotary encoder feed switch to .01, .1, 1 what would I need to change?

Lines 268-270 of the .ino file currently read:

    output.print(distance/10);
    output.write('.');
    output.print(distance % 10);

I think changing them to this should work:

    output.print(distance/100);
    output.write('.');
    output.print((distance % 100)/10);
    output.print(distance % 10);

tntjet

Thank you David , i did try the changes it gives me the same increment on the first and second switch positions . i have reverted back to your original sketch . I appreciate your effort and responses.

FelixH

Yesterday I noticed something weird while using the pendant. The multiplier knob was set at x10 and, not thinking about it, I tried to move the Z axis. Because I turned the wheel too much, I got a message on the display telling me to chill out (paraphrasing here) because I wanted to move more than the axis allows. So far, so good. However the X axis moved a little bit instead, even though the Z axis was selected on the axis knob. Now that's weird. Once I switched to x0.1 multiplier, the Z axis moved ok.
Knowing that, I'll be more careful from now on, but I am really curious if this is a "global" bug or it is just me.

I am using an Arduino Nano and I changed the resistor on it in order for the bypass of the display to work. The Arduino Pro Micro I ordered came when the Pendant was already assembled, so I saw no reason to open it up again. Also, I did not update the firmware to the latest version, as I understood it was only Pro Micro related and I didn't see a point on doing it.

Cheers!

jhonf441

@FelixH Hello, I don't use pendant but I have noticed that sometimes when I am moving the machine on the Y axis it moves a little on the positive X axis and vice versa

dc42

@jhonf441 said in CNC style Pendant:

@FelixH Hello, I don't use pendant but I have noticed that sometimes when I am moving the machine on the Y axis it moves a little on the positive X axis and vice versa

That will happen if you use skew compensation, M556 in config.g. It can also happen on a CoreXY machine that isn't constructed or set up properly.