New Toy for My Model-A

[Boort]

Good Morning,

I wanted to tell everyone about the latest addition to my Model-A. For Xmas I received an IMach3 Pro CNC control pendant. I was missing the interface board and just got it ordered last week. (Note: the new pendant models are USB and no longer require an addon board. I have one of those now too for use on my CNC lathe when I get it running.) This weekend I hooked it up and and configured it. Wow. It makes setting up a job so much easier!

I can now jog and position the axis on the X/Y/Z Zero point with one hand and without looking at the Mach3 interface!

Regards,
BoorT

[Wongster]

Hi BoorT,

Which pendant are you using? Easy to setup?

I'm using XBox360 controller. Difficult at times to adjust small amount unless using Step movement in Mach3.

Regards,
Wong

[Boort]

Wongster,

I have the iMach3 Pro Pendant currently hooked up it was easy as adding the controller board (not needed since you use the SmoothStepper), installing the board's driver in Windows, copying a DLL into the plugins dir and turning it on. There was complete step by step instructions included all I had to do was follow the screen shots. It was setup and working in about 20 mins.

I understand that this model has been discontinued and replaced with a New USB connected one. I just got the new USB one (I got the iMachIII P2 Pendant model) but have not yet had time to play with it. This one has a much smoother MPG knob (100 click instead of 32) and fits a bit nicer in my hand.
Here is a link to where I got both of them from:
http://www.vistacnc.com/a02_product/product.htm

I'm going to try to get some pics/videos of it in use this weekend if I can borrow a camera.

Regards,
BoorT

[rockcliff]

Yes, a pendant is nice for fine adjustment, have never tried an imach3, it sounds good with the usb input,

Originally Posted by Boort

Good Morning,

I wanted to tell everyone about the latest addition to my Model-A. For Xmas I received an IMach3 Pro CNC control pendant. I was missing the interface board and just got it ordered last week. (Note: the new pendant models are USB and no longer require an addon board. I have one of those now too for use on my CNC lathe when I get it running.) This weekend I hooked it up and and configured it. Wow. It makes setting up a job so much easier!

I can now jog and position the axis on the X/Y/Z Zero point with one hand and without looking at the Mach3 interface!

Regards,
BoorT

[Wongster]

Thanks BoorT. I'll check that out. Prefer to turn than to use the stick on the xbox controller. Hope it's not too expensive with shipping and not difficult to setup with my G540 with smoothstepper. If all is right, I'll need 1; one for my mill (with G540 and smoothstepper) and one for my lathe (with Rockcliff drive)

Regards,
Wong

[Boort]

Wong,

The new USB version models should be much easier to install. Plug in USB pendant, copy DLL into Mach3 plugins dir, restart Mach3 and enable the plugin. should not matter if you are using the Smooth Stepper (The older models used either a custom parallel port card or the Smooth Stepper board to interface with the computer).

Regards,
BoorT

[Boort]

Rockcliff,

I have been surprised how much easier it has made my setup. When I first saw the pendants I thought they were just remote button panels what to I really need one of those for. Now after using it for a few days I think tha tI'm hooked.

Setting the x,y,z zero is as easy as select axis and speed, roll MPG knob with thumb until I get in the ball park, switch to step mode and roll MPG till I'm on the money. Much better than constantly walking back and forth to click the mouse on the right button and faster than turning the machine off and adjusting the motors by hand.

BoorT

[robertt4522]

Looks great and glad you like it. I just ordered a board to build something similar, I figure anything is more convenient then a keyboard in a shop, but to be really truthful I bought it because it looked like a fun and useful project.

Once again glad you like it.

Bob

[Wongster]

BoorT,
Just visited the site. Looks nice. A little pricey. May just get one to play with first. Am trying to decide on a small drill press now. Either a Chinese or a Proxxon. Prices are far far apart. Chinese drill press is about 1/6 of the price of the Proxxon and has a larger envelope. The Proxxon seems more rigid and accessories (pricey too) are available to fit.

The rest I found are too big for my little converted (or coveted ) shop which now occupies slightly more than 3/4 of the room.

Apology for the OT.

Regards,
Wong

[Boort]

Wong,

No problem on the OT. I moved the threads regarding the pendant out from under the stepper motor thread to avoid completely hijacking that thread.

As for the Proxxon vs import drill press I can only suggest to buy the best quality tools that you can afford and fit into your shop. I have been steadily (painfully $$$) learning that I need to buy the best quality tools that I can afford. I'm on my 3rd table saw. My skills outgrew the accurracy limits of the first 2 within only a couple of years. Same goes for my first wood lathe. I bought a cheep China Freight lathe and later upgraded to a quality used Delta. The lack of acceeories for the cheep import made it useless for doing the projects that I wanted to do. (It does make a really nice variable speed multi wheel buffer though.)

BoorT

[Boort]

Bob,

It does look like an interesting project. I was thinking about building one myself last fall but my electronics design and soldering skills needed some work.

Where did you get the board?

Regards,
BoorT

[robertt4522]

Originally Posted by Boort

Bob,

It does look like an interesting project. I was thinking about building one myself last fall but my electronics design and soldering skills needed some work.

Where did you get the board?

Regards,
BoorT

My electronic skills are a bit lacking also but this looks right up my alley and if I can do it for under $100 so much the better. Check it out:

http://randyray.com/TexMicro/index.htm

Bob

[Boort]

Bob,

Cool Kit. I remember a while back the Bob Campbell started selling the completed version of this on his website. I did not know that it was available in kit form. Thanks for the pointer.

BoorT