Jog control

[ChadShelby]

Man! It's already been 26 days since I last talked here?! Where does time go?
Anyway, what did you mean it sucks power?
If it's plugged in then that should matter right?!

[PhilJohnson]

Older computers have limited power output to the usb ports. It was acting strange with it plugged in.

[ChadShelby]

Gotcha! I had to get a new computer on black Friday! I couldn't take it anymore with trying to do anything in a cad program of anykind.

[Traxxtar]

I will send you the Arduino code for the pendant later when I get out in the shop.

@ErikJenkins Can I get a copy of that Arduino code? Right up my ally with microelectronics and arcade buttons. Is the code commented? If not, I can figure it out. About the 4 buttons on the left and the 3 black buttons on the right side labeled X, Y, Z; what are those for?

[ErikJenkins]

I'll dig out the code and send it this weekend. And I tend to over comment my code...

The four Green buttons on the left are:

Go to X Zero
Go to Y Zero
Go to Z Zero
Go to Zero All Axis

The black ones on the right are:

Zero X
Zero Y
Zero Z

[LarryM]

And I tend to over comment my code

That is one of the things in life that is impossible to do................

[FredSawtelle]

Wow, all this time later this still hasn't been implemented. I need to move the spindle without having a project loaded and carve-ready more often than when one is. Universal G-Code Sender has a control section just for this. I guess I'll keep UGS open even if I'm using Easel, to have the needed machine control functionality.

[LarryM]

@FredSawtelle

You cannot run Easel and UGCS at the same time. The COM port can only be opened by one program at a time.

[FredSawtelle]

Thanks, Larry. UGS has a switch to open and close the port connection. I don't know whether Easel does or not, but I have the impression it's only open when the "Carve" button is visible and green. I know that it isn't when the button is blue. I bet a bit of experimentation would yield workable results. Or... the Easel guys could just take the UI and code that are accessible after the "Carve" button is clicked, and move that onto its own tab to be accessible at all times. What a concept!

[LarryM]

Inventables has excellent service to its customers for hardware issues.

Unfortunately, the same can not be said for feature requests in Easel.

[BrooksNelson]

Could I possibly get the code for the pendant control with Arduino to mach3. I am starting a project which this would be really helpful. Thanks.

[PhilJohnson]

but I have the impression it's only open when the "Carve" button is visible and green. I know that it isn't when the button is blue.

Something is wrong with your connection. Easel automatically opens the port when you open Easel.

In ease, we hit the carve button, jog, close the walk through.

Or if you home you can set G28 and g30 positions (parking spots) and open the machine inspector (ctrl+shift+D) and type g28 or g30 (if properly set), close the inspector.

[PhillipLunsford]

Yes it would be helpful to be able to use the jog controls outside of the carve window. I clean the machine and all wheels and completely inspect the machine before the next project.

[FredSawtelle]

Thanks, Phil, your input is much appreciated. You say you hit the carve button, jog, close--but in order to do that you have to have a project loaded and displaying the carve button. I often just want to move the spindle, before I ever load a project.

I'm still having connection problems, but a knee injury is keeping me out of my shop until after surgery. I'll readdress this when I can get back to the machine.

[PhilJohnson]

I often just want to move the spindle, before I ever load a project

I'm not trying to be condescending, but why? There's no difference. The only reason to move the spindle is to carve something from a project file or clean. Even to move it around to clean the rails you can use a project.

Make a square very large. Set the ipm to something like 20. Set the depth per pass to .005. Set the depth of the square to .25". You'll have 50 times around slowly to rub the V wheels off and clean the rails.

You can also just name a project junk or temp. Use as the project you open when you don't need to cut anything.

Or use UGS or @JonGlazer new code sender.

[PhilJohnson]

I'm still having connection problems, but a knee injury is keeping me out of my shop until after surgery.

Man! I hope everything turns out! We can definitely try to work out your connection issues too.

[PhillipLunsford]

What is the best way to clean the V wheels. I have been brushing them off after each project. They do get crud on them that is hard to brush off

[PhilJohnson]

I use a damp paper towel every 3 months as described above

[FredSawtelle]

I'm not trying to be condescending, but why?

I spent 20 years writing medical and business software. One of the things you learn early on is to make it as simple, obvious and user-friendly as possible. If something requires three clicks, can we make it require two instead? How about one? Is it possible to do away with the clicks altogether?
I was writing software for a steel fabrication plant (CNC machines) and took my latest work to the Production Control manager to test. He did something totally ridiculous, and crashed my program within eight seconds. "But why would you ever do something like that, anyway?" I cried, and he said, "Because my people will do it."
Keep it very simple, very obvious, and don't assume anything, that was the key. And so when I see something like this, I immediately know what needs to be done to make it simpler for the user. Instead of asking me why I want to move the spindle without having a project loaded, ask, "Why should the user have to load a project to move the spindle?"

[PhilJohnson]

Because easel is not just machine control. It's cad, cam, and sender.

Jogging is a function purely for the sending portion.

If you use a dedicated sender like UGS, the machine controls are right there.

I too would like comand prompt and jogging controls on the main screen.

But I'm telling you why it is, not why I think you're right or wrong.