Re: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] Linux USB Support -- Second Keyboard (pendant)

> William Scalione wrote:
>
> > John,
> >
> > Not sure I am getting what you are saying here, but you would want to
> > be able to use either the keyboard or the switches (hooked to the other
> > keyboard circuit board).
>
> The problem with this scheme (at least with EMC and any other program
> that runs in a windowing environment) is that the keyboard(s) is/are not

always

>
> connected to the CNC program. Depending on window system settings,
> clicking on another window, or even moving the cursor over another
> one can select a different program to receive the keystrokes. As long as
> the emergency control functions don't go through keyboard keys, then
> this may just be a slight annoyance.
>
> But, If I went to the trouble of making a decent pendant, I'd want to to
> always have a connection to the CNC program, no matter what the
> keyboard and screen were up to.
>
> Jon

Jon,

I see your point, but I think it would be more of an annoyance than
anything else. The newer version EMC which runs under the RH 6.?
allows a "click to focus" setting so that should help a bunch in that
respect.

I haven't got your electronic or programming skills, so I will have
to make do with what I can figure out :>(

I am not really building a pendant but more of a control panel.
I just got a 9" diag. active matrix LCD panel working under
Linux tonight, and will use that for the display. I plan on putting
switches connected to the following keys around the LCD.

X, Y, Z, G, F, F1, F2, F3, F4, F5, Run, Pause, Step, Resume, Escape
0-9, <, >, Home, Pg Up, Pg Dn, and a joystick with switches instead
of pots connected to the arrow keys. Probably a couple that I forgot
in there also. The numbers 0-9 will do dual duty In MDI mode hitting
G01 X6 Y5 Z4 F20 should work, while in auto or manual they will
control the feedrate override. Really just another keyboard with
only the keys that are used most of the time, hopefully arranged in
a logical order. It will be mounted on the front of my machine about
1 foot from my eyes so the small size of the display should not be
a problem. There will be a regular keyboard connected to the
machine as well, off to the side somewhere for logging in and
whatever else I need it for.

I am going to try to modify the TkEmc and remove the widgets
that I don't need such as spindle speed, coolant, and possibly
even the buttons for the auto function such as run, pause etc.
Maybe move some stuff around as well. I'm running an engraver
and router so those functions are not needed in my case. It
may take a while but I'll do a little whenever I get the time.

Bill