Interested in a CNC version of PanelDue firmware
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It seems that connecting something like a Raspberry Pi might be a faster way to do this, but I'm interested in looking at a CNC version of the PanelDue firmware.
I've moved mine from the 3D printer to the MPCNC, and while it's still useful, there are certainly a few things that the PanelDue could do better for the CNC environment.
Like the re-work of the DWC, being able to switch workplace coordinate systems from the dashboard, set workplace zeros, and similar functions would be useful. Currently, I do all that with a set of macros, which is functional, but not as slick as I think the machine is capable of.
Previously, I did some scripting which used a Pi to talk to the Duet on the PanelDue port, generating line numbers and checksums for the serial communication. I could get a simple touchscreen for the Pi and do most of what I want there... Or I can see if someone has done anything in this direction on the PanelDue. If not, then I might try my hand at it, though I'd probably be more comfortable working from the Pi.
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There had been some discussion and work done on something like this and may see some continued work in the future. Part of the difficulty is the limited capability of the PanelDue hardware itself. But hopefully someday.
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@phaedrux I'm seeing that. I've set up the build environment and have been getting familiar with the setup for the firmware.
Some things don't seem too difficult.
It looks like I might be just building a replacement using a Raspberry Pi and a touchscreen.
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@supraguy using raspberry and a touch screen you already have the web interface oriented for cnc...in my view is already getting better and better so you don't need to make it yourself...the only need is to have a vew browser installed on raspberry pi
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@weed2all True... However if the DWC were fully adequate, I'd have never got started down this path, since what I started with when I installed the Duet on the CNC was a 7" tablet which I had a browser connected to the DWC. Some things with that were annoying me, so I stopmed off upstairs to grab the PanelDue from my 3D printer and plugged it into the CNC instead. (Mostly on the printer I use it to set temperatures before I start to print stuff, MAYBE adjust babystepping.)
I see the reasons why things are how they are in the DWC, but for what I need when I'm standing in front of the machine, it's just enough different. So far, I've programmed a set of macros that do most of the functions that I want, and I can call them from the PanelDue, but the interface is kind of ugly that way.
In short, this is a project that was born of frustration with the existing set of tools, and I'm still learning what things I actually want/need when I'm standing at the machine, so I was planning to adjust it over time.