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I wanted a jog remote for my X-carve and just happened to find a mid-90’s Centroid CNC pendant at a local thrift store for $7. All this pendant really requires is an encoder, (4) equal value resistors, a 4 position switch and an Arduino Pro Micro. The Pro Micro takes the input from the switch and encoder and then emulates a keyboard to send the keyboard jog key presses to Easel. You just have to have the jog control open and then you can use the remote. Here is a video of jogging my X-Carve : https://youtu.be/hy4YvOU_418
Once I had it working on a breadboard, I milled a custom PCB and installed it in place of the original board.
That is pretty awesome. I am interested in knowing how you got the movement so smooth. when I use the control screen on easel, the movement is very abrupt.
The Arduino is sending the keyboard command every time it senses a movement of the encoder knob. Try setting your jog step to .1 and the rapidly tap the cursor key 10 times for every inch you want to jog (careful that you move in a direction that has room). This will simulate what the Arduino is doing.
My machine started life as a Shapeoko 1… Since then has been updated to the X-carve with longer extrusions, X carriage, DC spindle mount, and all x-carve gantry plates. It is still running NEMA 17 steppers and a arduino/protoneer CNC shield (3.51) for the controller. I am running GRBL 1.1h and I guess I never updated the acceleration settings.
