Jeff Comments below: ----- Original Message ----- From: "Jeff Epler" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "Enhanced Machine Controller (EMC)" <emc-users@lists.sourceforge.net> Sent: Friday, June 15, 2007 5:48 AM Subject: Re: [Emc-users] [Fwd: Jog wheel ?]
> Here at the CNC workshop I had an opportunity to plug in a device which > identifies as > I: Bus=0003 Vendor=0b33 Product=0020 Version=0117 > N: Name="Contour Design ShuttleXpress" > The bottom of the device says > Shuttle Xpress > Model No. S-XPRS > S/N: 0 0 4 7 x x x > and there doesn't seem to be a date code. > > While this device is recognized by hal_input, it behaves very oddly--the > way it operates is at odds with other similar devices. I don't think > this device would be useful with emc without device-specific hacks, and > even then it would be problematic. Read on if you'd like a longer > explanation. > <snip> I got some good advice from Emc-developers earlier in the year about driving this device but never did manage to get it going with EMC2 because of the sort of strange numbers your test have just shown. However, although I think the hardware is idiosyncratic, it does generate sensible values for buttons, inner wheel and the spring loaded ring under the built-in HID driver of Win Xp - two wrongs make a right do I hear :=) In particular you do get zero reports, > For instance, imagine you use the shuttle to > jog in one of 8 slow speeds. When you let go of the shuttle, it snaps > back to the unreported "zero" position, but there's no report for that. > There's no guarantee it reports "1" either. So you can't tell for "a > few seconds" (until a report of a held position would have arrived) that > you've returned the shuttle to home. Do you want your machine to keep > jogging for 5 seconds after you stopped? A resounding "No!". > > The jogwheel already isn't very useful due to its small number of > reports per revolution (10), and the fact that 1 report out of 256 is > lost (what's worse, the lost position will be at varying positions of > the spinner since 256 is not a multiple of 12). > > As a result of this experience, I do not recommend the Shuttle Xpress to > anyone who hopes to use it with emc2. I must, however, disagree with this conclusion. If it could be interfaced it would be a valuable jogging tool. If you program the 7 (forward and reverse) speeds of the ring in geometric progression to 100% of rapid speed it turns out to be very ergonomic. You can jog end to end of a big table (or big Z) at high speed and end with a very gentle touch to the time honoured Rizla. The inner wheel is then useful to put on a few thou of cut with a few clicks. I know of people who use the ring speeds for manual machining - say facing off stock with a fly cutter. Two of the devices driving X and Z of a lathe are very good for tool setup work - quicker than conventional MPGs because of the geometric range of speeds - and perfectly usable for manual turning like facing off a length of stock. Now the product is not IP65 protected and would not survive a pallet lifter driven over it but at the price and as it uses no precious I/O pins I believe it is worth the effort of getting it to work. John Prentice ------------------------------------------------------------------------- This SF.net email is sponsored by DB2 Express Download DB2 Express C - the FREE version of DB2 express and take control of your XML. No limits. Just data. Click to get it now. http://sourceforge.net/powerbar/db2/ _______________________________________________ Emc-users mailing list Emc-users@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users
