CNC Pendant, again...

Nightowl

I'm using a CNC pendant that I'm not particularly happy with, so I'm thinking about going down the route explained by Duet here, but has anyone had success with this, please?

I'm not using a PanelDue, so I don't need the passthrough (if I understand that correctly) and I'll probably retain the multi-core wire, rather than replace it with 3/4 core, unless there is a distinct disadvantage!)

Firstly, is the pendant fairly easy to source from the UK?
Secondly, do the axes move per step when turning the rotary knob, in relation to the setting of the selector switch, and can the step size be programmed?
Thirdly, what function does the E-Stop button serve, e.g. does/can it turn the controller board (Duet3 MB6HC in this case) off or does it just isolate power to the pendant?

Thank you

dc42

I don't have a CNC machine so I can't say how well it works in practice; but in answer to your questions:

@Nightowl said in CNC Pendant, again...:

I'm not using a PanelDue, so I don't need the passthrough (if I understand that correctly) and I'll probably retain the multi-core wire, rather than replace it with 3/4 core, unless there is a distinct disadvantage!)

The multicore cable is quite thick, that's why I used 4-core cable instead.

Firstly, is the pendant fairly easy to source from the UK?

https://www.amazon.co.uk/RATTMMOTOR-Electronic-Trailer-Emergency-Generator/dp/B08KZQP9XP

Secondly, do the axes move per step when turning the rotary knob, in relation to the setting of the selector switch, and can the step size be programmed?

The step size is determined by the setting of the x1/x10/x100 switch.

Thirdly, what function does the E-Stop button serve, e.g. does/can it turn the controller board (Duet3 MB6HC in this case) off or does it just isolate power to the pendant?

It sends the Emergency Stop command to the Duet.

Nightowl

Awesome, thank you @dc42

Nightowl

@dc42
Probably inappropriate to ask here, but how straightforward would it be to 'translate' the code for the Arduino version into the RPi version?

If I'm going down this rabbit hole, I might as well start with the RPi, so I don't need to relearn everything, or worse - confuse one language with another!

dc42

@Nightowl I am out of the office today, but as there is an Arduino port for the RP2040 then it's likely that the original Arduino program will work on the RP2040 if you adjust the pin numbers if needed.