CNC style Pendant

Danal

I've seen plenty of pendants similar to the one DC42 linked, with individual wires from the switches and the phases of the handwheel. Some of them even have wiring diagrams!!

ATtiny or similar is the way to go for commercial production, making dozens to hundreds of boards... for a hobbyist who will produce one for themselves and documentation for others to copy, an Arduino Micro, Adafruit Trinket, or even an ESP8266* or ESP32 are better choices. Less PCB skill, and less coding skill, required. Cost is parity or possible even cheaper, for "one off" (vs ATtiny and PCB).

If anyone is interested, I'd be willing to help create one down that path. Assuming that a strategy of "listening" for "quiet" moments between the PanelDue and the Duet is "good enough", this would be DIRT SIMPLE.

Note: A PanelDue would not be absolutely required.

Anyone interested?

*ESP8266, in particular, has gotten cheaper than Arduino Micro. We'd just ignore the radio, and use it as a small imbedded controller for GPIO.

janvdg

I have bought a similar pendant to try and use it with the duet board. I have build a cnc style machine this winter that I use to do 3D printing, CNC work, and laser engraving. For the CNC work I would like to try to use the pendant to adjust the position of the mill. I was wondering if it is possible to send Gcode commands to the duet from a arduino board. I also was looking into the possibility of using the endstops as external inputs to trigger macro files to move the head. I don't have enough knowledge off programming to be able to make the arduino communicate with the duet WIFI directly. So I am erry interested in your input.

kind regards

Jan

Danal

@janvdg said in CNC style Pendant:

I was wondering if it is possible to send Gcode commands to the duet from a arduino board.

Yes, very easy. Very, very, very easy. Did I mention that it is fairly straightforward? Probably not hard? Have I beat this dead horse enough?

The port on the Duet that is intended to connect to a PanelDUE is a 3.3V TTL level serial port. The serial port on a standard Arduino is a 5 volt TTL level serial, so you'd need a level translator (couple of bucks from Sparkfun)... or, there are 3.3V microcontrollers, such as the ESP32 or ESP8266, both of which can be programmed from the Arduino environment. Very easy.

As I said in the post above, given one or two assumptions about "being in parallel with" a PanelDUE (or just not having a PanelDUE at all), this is extremely simple.

The key is, I'm not really interested in having a pendant, so I need to know that some number of people ARE interested... and if those people will post here in this thread, and/or contact me at "danal (dot) estes (at) gmail (dot) com", we can discuss how to prototype and pursue this.

Danal

To build one:

Either of these:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/6-Axis-CNC-Pendant-Handwheel-5V-100PPR-with-Emergency-Stop-Switch-MPG-ot16/123833021868

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Universal-Cnc-4-Axis-Mpg-Pendant-Hand-Wheel-100-Pulse-5V-Emergency-Stop-Cnc/264417325608

Plus this:

https://www.amazon.com/HiLetgo-ESP-WROOM-32-Development-Microcontroller-Integrated/dp/B0718T232Z/

Or plus this, if you want a display on the pendant (which will take a LOT more code... doable, just more work).

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07DKD79Y9/

And some very simple code, very basic arduino stuff that reads a pin and outputs some stuff on the serial port, and voilà, a CNC style pendant for a Duet. Quite a bit more code for the display, if we go down that road. As stated above, very doable.

What would you pay for a hobbyist-grade pre-made one? Parts add up to $80 to $100 US (when connectors, 3D printed case, etc, are considered). Would you pay $200 for a pre-made one? That is backed by a 1 year warranty for repair/replacement (not refund)? Knowing that it is a fellow hobbyist, not a huge company?

Again, for "let's do it together" post here or contact me. For "I want to just buy one, for around $200", also post here or contact me.

T3P3Tony

@danal glad you are taking the lead on this. we should chat to ensure is forward compatible to Duet 3.

A Former User

For duet 3, wouldn't a cheap USB-HIDdevice with a script talking to DuetSoftwareFramework be comparatively simple. I'll definitively have a stab at using a $2 gamepad when autumn sets in. That also allows users to pick and choose wireless or wired and use the same code.

JRDM

I think most printers don't need it, but when I run my larger machine I wish I had some kind of pendant-like device.

Danal

@jrdm said in CNC style Pendant:

I think most printers don't need it, when I run my larger machine I wish I had some kind of pendant-like device.

Agreed, that's why I'm not all that personally interested... pendant not really needed for printers. I've never had the slightest hint of desire for one, even on my biggest printers (which are bigger than I am). PanelDUE and/or DWC, with appropriate Macros, works far too well. In fact, if I had a "jog pendant", I doubt I'd use it, vs. a screen with macros.

CNC, on the other hand, pendant is almost a must have. At the moment, my CNC stuff has "TinyG" controllers installed. Unfortunately, development for these has stopped. And the "TinyG2" project that supposedly displaced it seems non-viable as well. Therefore, I'm changing my biggest, and most used, CNC machine over to PlanetCNC. And... I've pre-ordered a Duet3. Odds are about 50.50 that it will go in a 3D printer, or a CNC. If it goes in CNC, I'll be darn sure pursuing the pendant idea, as well as an alternative UI.

Danal

@t3p3tony said in CNC style Pendant:

@danal glad you are taking the lead on this. we should chat to ensure is forward compatible to Duet 3.

@bearer said in CNC style Pendant:

For duet 3, wouldn't a cheap USB-HIDdevice with a script talking to DuetSoftwareFramework be comparatively simple. I'll definitively have a stab at using a $2 gamepad when autumn sets in. That also allows users to pick and choose wireless or wired and use the same code.

@T3P3Tony , I would like to chat and ensure that. At the same time, I think @bearer is correct.

Given a Single Board Computer, i.e. an RPI4, one of the wired or wireless USB pendants, plus a bit of relatively simple scripting, it seems that will probably be a quite effective method.

Those USB pendants basically send "keycodes" (more technically correct, they are HID devices that send byte or multi-byte payloads when a switch or the wheel is actuated). Guessing that it will be dead simple to look up those codes, just through experimentation, and send appropriate commands onward to RepRap/Duet. Very close to a one line script + a data table.

A Former User

yeah, the usb hid pendants are popular with the LinuxCNC crowd, both the gamepads and more traditional looking, but while more accurate i found the traditional single mpg pendants cumbersome to use as you need to select one axis to jog at the time.

the basic gamepad provides enough inputs to control jogging and probing, and it's accurate enough to jog around and start probing.

refrences
https://github.com/chrishamm/DuetSoftwareFramework/blob/master/examples/CodeConsole/Program.cs
https://sourceforge.net/p/joy2key/code/HEAD/tree/joy2key.c

zapta

@dc42 said in CNC style Pendant:

could be adapted to drive the PanelDue port using a small board based on an attiny microcontroller

How will this work, in addition to the Panel Due or instead of it?

I am using a tethered PanelDue, so almost a pedant, and having a mechanical or even virtual joystick would simplify moving in x/y and Z compared to the existing Move screen.

T3P3Tony

Very good point! In other win for SBC choice on Duet3!

dc42

@zapta said in CNC style Pendant:

@dc42 said in CNC style Pendant:

could be adapted to drive the PanelDue port using a small board based on an attiny microcontroller

How will this work, in addition to the Panel Due or instead of it?

I am using a tethered PanelDue, so almost a pedant, and having a mechanical or even virtual joystick would simplify moving in x/y and Z compared to the existing Move screen.

Either. From an earlier post:

@danal said in CNC style Pendant:

Note: A PanelDue would not be absolutely required.

BTW, PanelDue has a connector with 3 spare inputs on it. I intended this to be used to support a rotary encoder with push button. This connector might be useful to connect a pendant, however I expect a pendant would need more than 3 inputs.

Danal

@dc42 said in CNC style Pendant:

BTW, PanelDue has a connector with 3 spare inputs on it. I intended this to be used to support a rotary encoder with push button. This connector might be useful to connect a pendant, however I expect a pendant would need more than 3 inputs.

Most of them (that are not USB) just break out all the switch contacts, plus a A,B,A-,B- for the rotary. It would be possible to diode or resistor matrix several of the switches and therefore use fewer pins... however... given that a widely available 3.3V candidate, the ESP32, has LOTS of input pins, my inclination for hobbyist/one-off is to just hook everything to a separate pin, and handle it in the script. Easier to understand for people new-ish to hardware and scripting.

Summary: Probably a small number of pins (but more than 3) in a truly engineered product that will be built in hundreds or thousands; probably a dozen to fourteen pins in a one-off hobbyist style.

P.S. I have been contacted by one user who sent me a wiring diagram. I'll post some of my thoughts here in the next few days.

Fdem

Nice idea

With 3 inputs we can do all we want

The encoder need only 2 inputs
And the third can be for "activate pendant wheel"

All the other feature like :

axis select
ratio select

can be done on paneldue

Danal

@fdem said in CNC style Pendant:

All the other feature like :

axis select

ratio select
can be done on paneldue

Sorry, but no. That usage pattern REALLY misses the point of having a pendant on a CNC machine.

I hope that does not come across as critical... I am only attempting to clearly communicating the "use case" or "user story".

It is often true that when the machine operator is using a pendant, the main HMI (Human Machine Interface, in this case the PanelDue), is out of reach. Far out of reach. Like "Out Of Reach" being defined as "Operator has to get up from laying on the floor and walk completely around a piece of equipment" or similar. Again, this is VERY common on CNC, and can even be the case on 3D Print (I have printer setups that require six or more steps to get from some of the places where I'd be using a pendant, to get from there to the Panel Due... and my stride is almost a meter because I am just a hair under two meters tall.)

Short version: When using a pendant, don't expect to reach other controls. That's why pendants have all of those switches, and not just a wheel.

Fdem

Why paneldue must be fix ?

When i use pendant, i'd like see tool coordinate.

In fact, pendant and encoder wheel can be the same device and when not used is the cnc screen

Danal

Very VERY preliminary ideas for implementation:

Buy one of these for about USD $10 (shipped) on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B079PVCF2G/
Programmable with Arduino IDE, and TONS of input pins.

Follow these directions to set up your Arduino IDE for this board. When the physical board arrives:

Hook it up (USB mini cable)
Use the "Tools" menu, "Board", in the IDE to select ""ESP32 Dev Board".
Select a port just like you do for an Arduino.
There will be a bunch of new settings in "Tools", between "Board" and "Port"... leave them all at default.

From that point, it programs just like an Arduino. Most libraries will work. Any sketch or library that DIRECTLY manipulates hardware registers will not work.

Physical Wiring: Something like this:
0_1566060266676_920e0b1f-d05c-4c15-9cd2-4ba14f43e258-image.png

It is possible that Diodes will be needed on TX2/RX2, if this is "Parallel" with a PanelDUE.

Arduino Sketch: Below is the beginning of an idea that can be expanded. Note, this compiles and outputs correct diagnostics when I ground one of the axis or feedrate switch pins, but I have no way to truly test it, and absolutely no way to test the encoder wheel; so wheel code is just not there (yet).

Also note the "style" or "architecture" of this sketch is VERY "brute force", there would be much more elegant ways to code this. I'm intentionally keeping it simple so beginners can understand, and change, it.

// Duet2_CNC_Pendant
// Intended to run on an ESP32 and interface hardware pendant to Duet3d/RepRap
// controller via TTL serial at 3.3V. Intended to run "in parallel" or "in place"
// of a PanelDue. 
// Example pendants can be found on E-bay; must have individual wires (not usb).

/*
Copyright (c) 2019 Danal Estes, all rights reserved. 
Permission is hereby granted, free of charge, to any person obtaining
a copy of this software and associated documentation files (the "Software"),
to deal in the Software without restriction, including without limitation
the rights to use, copy, modify, merge, publish, distribute, sublicense,
and/or sell copies of the Software, and to permit persons to whom the Software
is furnished to do so, subject to the following conditions:

The above copyright notice and this permission notice shall be included in all
copies or substantial portions of the Software.

THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS", WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND,
EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY,
FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND NONINFRINGEMENT. 
IN NO EVENT SHALL THE AUTHORS OR COPYRIGHT HOLDERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY CLAIM,
DAMAGES OR OTHER LIABILITY, WHETHER IN AN ACTION OF CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE,
ARISING FROM, OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOFTWARE OR THE USE OR OTHER DEALINGS IN THE SOFTWARE.
*/


//Encoder Wheel 
#define WheelA1    39
#define WheelB1    36
#define WheelA2    35
#define WheelB2    34

// Axis Switch
#define SwitchX    33
#define SwitchY    32
#define SwitchZ    27
#define Switch4    26
#define Switch5    25
#define Switch6    23

// Speed Switch
#define SwitchX1   22
#define SwitchX10  21
#define SwitchX100 14

// Second Serial Port (for parallel with, or in place of, PanelDue)
#define RXD2 16
#define TXD2 17


int  feedRate = 1800;
char axis     = 'X';

void setup() {
  Serial.begin(115200);
  Serial.print("");        // Clear any garbage from boot. 
  Serial.println("Duet2_CNC_Pendant initalizing.");
  Serial2.begin(57600, SERIAL_8N1, RXD2, TXD2);  // Baud must match PanelDue (if one is present)

//Encoder Wheel 
pinMode(WheelA1,INPUT_PULLUP);
pinMode(WheelB1,INPUT_PULLUP);
pinMode(WheelA2,INPUT_PULLUP);
pinMode(WheelB2,INPUT_PULLUP);

// Axis Switch
pinMode(SwitchX,INPUT_PULLUP);
pinMode(SwitchY,INPUT_PULLUP);
pinMode(SwitchZ,INPUT_PULLUP);
pinMode(Switch4,INPUT_PULLUP);
pinMode(Switch5,INPUT_PULLUP);
pinMode(Switch6,INPUT_PULLUP);

// Speed Switch
pinMode(SwitchX1,INPUT_PULLUP);
pinMode(SwitchX10,INPUT_PULLUP);
pinMode(SwitchX100,INPUT_PULLUP);
}

void loop() {
  if (digitalRead(SwitchX1  ) == LOW) {feedRate = 1800;}
  if (digitalRead(SwitchX10 ) == LOW) {feedRate = 18000;}
  if (digitalRead(SwitchX100) == LOW) {feedRate = 180000;}
  // Maybe put in logic to only include feedrate if it changed. 

  if (digitalRead(SwitchX) == LOW) {axis = 'X';}
  if (digitalRead(SwitchY) == LOW) {axis = 'Y';}
  if (digitalRead(SwitchZ) == LOW) {axis = 'Z';}
  if (digitalRead(Switch4) == LOW) {axis = '4';}
  if (digitalRead(Switch5) == LOW) {axis = '5';}
  if (digitalRead(Switch6) == LOW) {axis = '6';}

// *******************************************
// Need something to read wheel encoder here. 
// *******************************************

  if (1) {    // Need "if the wheel moved" logic here. 
    // How far to move?? Numerically?
    int m = 10; 
    Serial.printf("G0 %c%d F%d\n",axis,m,feedRate);   // For Debugging
    // Possible need to listen before transmitting to avoid collisions.
    Serial2.printf("G0 %c%d F%d\n",axis,m,feedRate);   
  }
 // Required somewhere in main loop on ESP chipset to allow background tasks.
 yield(); 
 // If any part of sketch does not yield() or delay() for about 3 seconds, chip will reboot. 
} // End main loop

Danal

@fdem said in CNC style Pendant:

Why paneldue must be fix ?

This is not a "fix" for panelDUE, it will not affect existing panelDue at all.
It is an addition, for people who prefer a "hard click" wheel to a touch screen. By all means, anyone who likes the screen should stick with it.

When i use pendant, i'd like see tool coordinate.

In fact, pendant and encoder wheel can be the same device and when not used is the cnc screen

Then you are in great shape. Use the screen you have.

There are some other folks that specifically want a pendant with a click wheel, not a touch screen.

Fdem

I already done my own pendant
I use a a chinese pendant and a stm32f407 board from waveshare

It work pefectly

Why can't do a really simple pendant with only the most important thing for me :

the rotary encoder