CNC style Pendant

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.

FelixH

Hi all,

I have run to a problem with the Pendant-PanelDue configuration in which one of the macros I have does not respond and neither does the actual GCode of the macro sent by the PanelDue's console. When the pendant is not plugged in, it works just fine, apparently. It also works fine if the macro is executed via the web interface from a computer. The code of the Macro is:

G28 Z
G54 G1 X0 Y0 F1500

Which just moves the tool back to the WCS #1 origin. When I execute the macro, only the G28 Z command is executed. On the screen or PanelDue there is no warning or message.

Has anybody experienced the same or similar?

PS: wouldn't it be a good idea to create a Pendant section on the forum??

dc42

I find that very odd. PanelDue just sends the M98 command to run the macro. The lines from the macro file are fetched from the SD card by the Duet.

Are you sure that this is reproducible?

FelixH

I am positive. Yes. I had the problem for many day and just two days ago I found out that it was working from the web interface. Apparently all other macros work just fine.