Build Your Own Arcade Controls Forum

Main => Project Announcements => Topic started by: rdagger on October 12, 2010, 09:44:46 pm

Title: Rotary CNC Joystick
Post by: rdagger on October 12, 2010, 09:44:46 pm

Here's my latest controller (http://rototron.info/default.aspx?Page=CNCJoy/CNCJoy.aspx).  More CNC than arcade, but the build is relevant.

Title: Re: Rotary CNC Joystick
Post by: severdhed on October 12, 2010, 10:49:51 pm

awesome

Title: Re: Rotary CNC Joystick
Post by: BobA on October 13, 2010, 08:39:30 am

Wow, great CNC machine and controller.   Your other projects are very impressive as well.  :applaud:

What would be the main use of the human manual control (hmc) on a CNC machine?

Title: Re: Rotary CNC Joystick
Post by: rdagger on October 13, 2010, 02:35:07 pm

Quote from: BobA on October 13, 2010, 08:39:30 am

Wow, great CNC machine and controller.   Your other projects are very impressive as well.  :applaud:

What would be the main use of the human manual control (hmc) on a CNC machine?

There is quite a bit of manual positioning required (NPI).  First you have to determine the X, Y & Z zeros of the material you are cutting.  This is done my manually moving the bit to the edge and just above the work piece.  It also necessary to be able to manually move the router out of the way when clamping/unclamping material to the tooling plate and when changing bits.  Also manual control is necessary when using probes, measuring tools and performing maintenance and cleaning.
Most CNC vendors offer an MPG (manual pulse generator).  This is basically a spinner with detents that can manually control 1 axis at a time.  My joystick is an alternative to an MPG.

Title: Re: Rotary CNC Joystick
Post by: BobA on October 13, 2010, 03:17:34 pm

Didn't realize there was so much manual setup for CNC but it makes sense now.  Your new controller looks like a super upgrade from a MPG.

Title: Re: Rotary CNC Joystick
Post by: DaOld Man on October 14, 2010, 06:23:16 am

Cool. Some day I will own a CNC.

Title: Re: Rotary CNC Joystick
Post by: mountain on October 14, 2010, 06:49:32 am

Nice looking machine and controller you have! I thought about building a home made pendant for my CNC until I realized that Mach3 had a plugin for an xbox 360 wireless controller. Simultaneous, incremental control of all axis's as well as the ability to program all of the extra buttons and custom macros make it hard to beat. Are you running Mach 3?

Title: Re: Rotary CNC Joystick
Post by: rdagger on October 14, 2010, 01:29:59 pm

Quote from: mountain on October 14, 2010, 06:49:32 am

Nice looking machine and controller you have! I thought about building a home made pendant for my CNC until I realized that Mach3 had a plugin for an xbox 360 wireless controller. Simultaneous, incremental control of all axis's as well as the ability to program all of the extra buttons and custom macros make it hard to beat. Are you running Mach 3?

I use Mach3.  I don't have an xbox but I did see the plugin and it does look like a great solution.  Still, I prefer arcade controls.