Joystick controller

[Eric Mims]

Anyone tried the Logitech Cordless Rumblepad 2 to control WinCNC? It says it has programmable buttons and I read (I think on the shopbot forum) of guys using it to control their control software. I would guess that the joystick part might not translate to arrow moves, but if you have 10 programmable buttons, it seems that would be plenty to control XYZ movements or other key commands.. and maybe you can even get the joysticks to control the XYZ..

[Eric Mims]

just posted this to cnczone, so I'll copy it here for all you Camaster wincnc users.

OK, so I bit the bullet and got one from Amazon. It came in today and I can tell you that within 5 minutes I was running my machine around with the controller. The gamepad is Logitech Rumblepad 2 for the PC, not the ones made for the console gaming systems.

I downloaded the newest driver/software (I'm running Vista) from their website and it includes ways to attach keystrokes to any button on the gamepad. For instance, I have the 4 right thumb buttons set to control X and Y movement, and the 2 right finger trigger buttons to move Z. The analog joysticks can be set to control XYZ movement too if you like, or whatever else. Keep in mind that WinCNC allows you to hold down XY at the same time to move diagonally, but it doesn't allow curved movements, so you're not going to be doing circles by spinning the analog pad around in circles, plus that kind of thing isn't possible with keystrokes anyways since there is no smooth transition between keystrokes.

You can also record multiple key commands as well, so I can have the 'left trigger' button run G92 X0 Y0. Or if you have your program set up for macros, just run it's macro command. On my machine, typing 'M3' runs a macro, so I could just have the gamepad button run 'M3'.

I tried it from the farthest point in the shop (only 25' or so.. small shop) and it worked fine.. no reason to use it that far away other than for emergency stop.

So far so good.. time will tell how it holds up, but customization seems just fine and I have to assume that any program that has the ability to use standard keyboard keystrokes could be controlled by this thing.

I will mention that the D-pad lets you put keystrokes on all 8 directions, not just 4 directions like the 2 analog joysticks. And if I count correctly, there are 26 customizable buttons/joystick directions. Only the 'Mode' and 'Vibration' buttons cannot be customized.

Requires USB for the receiver. When you start the customizing software, just click on 'setup a game' or whatever it is, and choose winCNC.exe or whatever your program's executable is... it's self explanatory. You don't have to have the actual customizing program running once you have it set up.

[Eric Mims]

hey Jim, the analog joysticks can control mouse movement, and also I found you can assign the analog pad to give a mouse click when pressed down.

[james mcgrew]

eric are you still using the rumble pad?

call me i got a new phone and i need your number

jim

[Eric Mims]

yes I am still using the wireless controller. I cellphone died recently too, so I sent you a private message with my number.

[james mcgrew]

i just ordered one!!

jim

[Eric Mims]

have you tried it yet? I still use mine exclusively.

[james mcgrew]

i did not get any software so i will have to set it up online maybe tonight, still ar work

jim

[Eric Mims]

I'm still working too. That's a good thing though. Got on with a local sign shop and they are throwing lots of work at me. Lots of Sintra, some $$$$ cedar blanks which are a bit scary to cut in to at first. Have 2 sheets of HDU coming Thursday, a bunch of letters to do.

[pescado_loco]

I'm curious as to how you went about getting work from the sign shops. Care to share your insight?

[Eric Mims]

No prob, I made a sign for a friend of a friend (see the tattoo sign in the show room forum). Well, apparently the shop had other banners and things made by a sign co here in town at some point. The owner of the sign co. happened to be in the same building one day on a delivery (large historic building with many professional offices that share large hallways), saw it and got my contact info from them.

I am cutting a bunch of 1/8" Sintra for them using a 1/16" bit in 2 passes (onion skinning it).. Their old cnc router people would use whatever bit they had loaded, and just cut it regardless of what was spec'd! They had 2" high letters being cut with a .25" bit. Looked terrible. Point is, sometimes it's not that hard to compete.

In my town, alot of people have their stuff cut by the guys at the plastic/sign wholesaler as there doesn't seem to be alot of dedicated routers. They are more used to cutting relatively rough size cuts out of large sheets of plastic. They didn't seem to put alot of care into the stuff they cut for the sign co., who needed more precision. Right now, I have a 4'x8' x 1.75" thick cedar blank sitting on my router table. Thing cost about what my car is worth!!

[Eric Mims]

to add, I have not approached any sign shops as of yet. and also, when I first spoke with them, I got them to give me a scrap of their material and email me their file and I went back and routered a few of their pieces for them at no cost of course, so they could compare with the product they had been receiving. It didn't take much to convince them to give me a try. Quick turnaround helps too.

[james mcgrew]

you are gonna love the foam !

as far as sign shops just knock on thier door

jim

[Joey Jarrard]

Greetings all from the island of st. thomas it is great down here.

Eric that is a huge piece of wood no wonder the nerves at first. PLEASE take a photo of the work and post.

I just had to check in and post (no one tell my wife, no work on the vacation)

Jim please call Les i had chuck call him today about some tooling (only if you have time)

thanks to all and i will be back on monday

[james mcgrew]

joey i lived in st thomas from 1980 to 1985 right above the 1829 hotel, i was an owner of the crown bay marina (we called it shoreline back then) hope you enjoy it i have some great memories of living there.

jim

[Dan]

Joey,

Don't know about today...But St. Thomas used to be real nice...

I lived on St Croix for 10 years...1970's...Trips to St John were nice also...

Snorkel diving one afternoon picked up 112 lobsters off a reef....

Was a nice place to live until a hurricane came straight at ya...
No place to run...

Enjoy the sun and the sand..!

Dan