Wireless MPG Problems

[hebs]

Hello all. I am having a few issues with the Centroid wireless MPG. I have mill pro and the MPG works great about 80% of the time however, for the other 20%, the jog increment occasionally decides to randomly change on the software and not reflect the dial position on the MPG.

The CNC12 software seems to keep jumping back to x1 when the MPG is on x10 or x100 rather than jump higher than the MPG dial, however, the dangerous bit is when I continue and it decides to jump back to the MPG setting without warning. This could be quite catastrophic when it jumps up to x100 and I’m spinning the handwheel like it’s on x1 - it has done this but fortunately I was ready and did not crash it.

I have moved the antenna to different positions, changed the USB port and have changed the batteries on the MPG but it still happens. I managed to capture the issue in a video in this Dropbox link:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/pzqriqmti86pf ... M.MOV?dl=0

There have been occasions when it has been stuck on x1 for 20mins or so (turning off and in the MPG did not fix it) and a few times the jog increment on the software would jump around in a crazy way when the MPG switch was still.

Has anyone come across this issue? It doesn’t feel like a loose cable or dodgy dial (movement of the MPG doesn’t trigger it) it feels like an unreliable communication link. All other buttons work perfectly even when the jog is playing up.

[cnckeith]

how close are you to the antenna, i couldn't tell in the video.. you don't want to be too close! i know that is anti intuitive.. but have the antenna at least 6 feet away from the MPG and try again. Also be sure that you are plugged into a USB port that is directly connected to the motherboard of the CNCPC. no USB hubs or extensions.. etc..

and thanks for posting the video.

and for others...remember the MPG has priority over the FAST/SLOW and X1,x10,x100 buttons on the VCP. If you have the MPG on, the VCP reflects the selections you have made on the MPG and you can not change those settings using the VCP, i've seen this trip up new users.

the report shows lots of travel exceeded messages and drive faults on 10-9 and 10-8 looks like power to the drive wasn't on and you were up against a software travel limit which would stop jogging as well.

[hebs]

Thanks Keith, I will try moving the antenna, I’m about 3 feet away.

I’m still building the machine, setting everything up and testing, hence the various messages in the log. I’ve managed to get all 3 axis working so that I can ‘manually’ mill a few parts to help finish the proper conversion.

I love the MPG, it makes life so much easier!

I will report back on progress.

[hebs]

Ok, over the last few weeks I have tried everything that I can think of to solve this issue:

Every USB port,
usb extension / no usb extension,
All radio devices off (in the entire house) inc wireless keyboard and mouse and pc radios,
Antenna close & as far as the cable will go (even the next room),
Antenna cable coiled and straight,
New batteries in the MPG,
All my electronic and power supplies have EMI filters,
I’ve run the antenna cable away from all other cables.

My MPG is dangerous to use for manual milling. When it works this is a great system but I think mine is faulty.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/pzqriqmti86pf ... M.MOV?dl=0

There also appears to be another wireless MGP glitch; when set to adjust spindle speed it also decided to move my X axis! Again, this is intermittent.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/3gys98bpq8vfc ... 8.MOV?dl=0

Can anyone suggest anything that I haven’t already tried please.

[Fastest1]

I just received mine and can confirm something appeared odd in the operation of the spindle.
It did appear the dro's were moving on the selected axis though I was only raising or lowering the spindle speed.
I am in the infancy stage of setting up the mpg and the spindle. So it could be some issues on my part.
Wireless did sound too good to be true

[cnckeith]

There are two known bugs with wireless MPG in CNC12 v4.18
1.) when set to SPIN, the axis will move if you have the axis know set on x,y,z,or4... to avoid this, simple turn the axis knob to OFF when adjusting the Spindle speed
2.) MPG probe protection does not work with NC probes.. so just be careful when using the MPG in conjunction with a NC probe as there is no safety net.

soon to be released V.4.20 will address both of these minor wireless MPG issues.

I (and the over 500 current users) assure you the wireless MPG is a fantastic tool.

[cnckeith]

Ok, over the last few weeks I have tried everything that I can think of to solve this issue:

Every USB port,
usb extension / no usb extension,
All radio devices off (in the entire house) inc wireless keyboard and mouse and pc radios,
Antenna close & as far as the cable will go (even the next room),
Antenna cable coiled and straight,
New batteries in the MPG,
All my electronic and power supplies have EMI filters,
I’ve run the antenna cable away from all other cables.

My MPG is dangerous to use for manual milling. When it works this is a great system but I think mine is faulty.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/pzqriqmti86pf ... M.MOV?dl=0

There also appears to be another wireless MGP glitch; when set to adjust spindle speed it also decided to move my X axis! Again, this is intermittent.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/3gys98bpq8vfc ... 8.MOV?dl=0

when set to SPIN, the axis will move if you have the axis know set on x,y,z,or4... to avoid this, simple turn the axis knob to OFF when adjusting the Spindle speed

Can anyone suggest anything that I haven’t already tried please.

thanks for the videos..

in the first video..please describe what is the issue?

also post a fresh report.zip so we can see the settings of the configuration that you are using in the video.

[adatesman]

There are two known bugs with wireless MPG in CNC12 v4.18
1.) when set to SPIN, the axis will move if you have the axis know set on x,y,z,or4... to avoid this, simple turn the axis knob to OFF when adjusting the Spindle speed
2.) MPG probe protection does not work with NC probes.. so just be careful when using the MPG in conjunction with a NC probe as there is no safety net.

soon to be released V.4.20 will address both of these minor wireless MPG issues.

I (and the over 500 current users) assure you the wireless MPG is a fantastic tool.

Ah. Was wondering if I had something set up wrong and was going to video/post about it tonight. Does it for feed override as well, always moves X. Seems if I hit the jog button on the MPG it starts behaving properly.

Looking forward to the update.

[cnckeith]

yeah me too.... just get in the habit of turning the axis selector knob to OFF when you don't want to move an axis with the MPG wheel.

[adatesman]

Thx Keith. I’m still in the implementing phase, so haven’t used it much. Love the pendant, as it’s so much nicer than the Shuttle Contour I used to use and much closer to the Mazaks I used to run.