Arcade joystick as pendant

[Mmedeiros89]

Centroid is working on software for this pendant..

That would be great! I have one of these from when I was using Mach3. I personally liked it.

[ScotY]

I’ll definitely be picking up one of the pendants when they are available but (my humble opinion as one coming from the low end market) the real DIY options (i.e. cheap) are important if Acorn’s user base is to grow. It’s in the price range of the usual hobby grade motion controllers (Smoothstepper, etc.) already, so, provides guys can reuse what they were using makes the switch more appealing. I’m already 110% convinced but I had very little invested in the old stuff, Mach3, etc.

[martyscncgarage]

I’ll definitely be picking up one of the pendants when they are available but (my humble opinion as one coming from the low end market) the real DIY options (i.e. cheap) are important if Acorn’s user base is to grow. It’s in the price range of the usual hobby grade motion controllers (Smoothstepper, etc.) already, so, provides guys can reuse what they were using makes the switch more appealing. I’m already 110% convinced but I had very little invested in the old stuff, Mach3, etc.

Seems like there is flexibility for whatever you want to put together. The gamepad software opens it up for just about everything.

I came to Centroid for their reputation with solid hardware and software. I prefer to stay with commercial grade accessories.

Point is there is flexibility with Acorn to do what you want within reason. DIY CNC is not a cheap hobby.

[762x51]

DIY CNC is not a cheap hobby.

"Hear-Hear" -

[martyscncgarage]

Well, its nice to be an Amazon prime member. The USB game pads I ordered showed today instead of tomorrow. And as CHEESEY as I think this is, it does seem to work!
Little stickers to give you an idea how I programmed them.
Here are the gamepads I purchased from Amazon:
http://a.co/2mnYGIb
I also purchased a couple of USB Extension cables(I'd keep these to a minimum length:
http://a.co/6DvhayN


I/C=Toggles between Incremental & Continuous
S/F=Toggles between Tortoise & Hare

The buttons on top, cycle back and forth through X1, X10, X100
The Select button=ALT+J (Turns on the Jog screen)
The Start button=ALT+S (Cycle Start)

You have to load JOYTOKEY first before starting CNC12 (obviously after you have configured your USB gamepad device)
Also, it can also emulate a second joystick if you only have one. You use ONE key as a SHIFT sort of key, hold it and then use the same joystick (or buttons) for other functions.

Its pretty simple and slick software. I will pay the guy the $7. I suggest all of you that use it do the same. Its free, but his programming effort for coming up with it and the value it provides is worth it.

Link again to the official site: https://joytokey.net/en/

It seems this would be an inexpensive way to build a pendant with the kit previously mentioned or do what I did and get a couple of simple inexpensive game pads to get by with until the XHC pendants are available.

Thanks again to Mmedeiros89 for bringing it to our attention and demonstrating it.

Marty

[Mmedeiros89]

Well, its nice to be an Amazon prime member. The USB game pads I ordered showed today instead of tomorrow. And as CHEESEY as I think this is, it does seem to work!
Little stickers to give you an idea how I programmed them.
Here are the gamepads I purchased from Amazon:
http://a.co/2mnYGIb
I also purchased a couple of USB Extension cables(I'd keep these to a minimum length:
http://a.co/6DvhayN


I/C=Toggles between Incremental & Continuous
S/F=Toggles between Tortoise & Hare

The buttons on top, cycle back and forth through X1, X10, X100
The Select button=ALT+J (Turns on the Jog screen)
The Start button=ALT+S (Cycle Start)

gamepad1.jpg

gamepad 2.jpg

You have to load JOYTOKEY first before starting CNC12 (obviously after you have configured your USB gamepad device)
Also, it can also emulate a second joystick if you only have one. You use ONE key as a SHIFT sort of key, hold it and then use the same joystick (or buttons) for other functions.

Its pretty simple and slick software. I will pay the guy the $7. I suggest all of you that use it do the same. Its free, but his programming effort for coming up with it and the value it provides is worth it.

Link again to the official site: https://joytokey.net/en/

It seems this would be an inexpensive way to build a pendant with the kit previously mentioned or do what I did and get a couple of simple inexpensive game pads to get by with until the XHC pendants are available.

Thanks again to Mmedeiros89 for bringing it to our attention and demonstrating it.

Marty

Glad I could be of help to everyone! I know it's not the most ideal, but it works, and actually quite well in my opinion.

[martyscncgarage]

Glad I could be of help to everyone! I know it's not the most ideal, but it works, and actually quite well in my opinion.

On the contrary, with that Arcade kit, A guy could make a pretty neat control panel.
Now if there was only a way to use a regular MPG handwheel and connect it...hmmmm
Thanks again!

[midy]

Its just a shame you have to have Alt J up to use the xbox controller, is there any way around this?

[martyscncgarage]

Its just a shame you have to have Alt J up to use the xbox controller, is there any way around this?

I programmed the SELECT button on my test unit (Gamepad) to produce Alt-J
Works fine.

[midy]

That sounds like a plan....