This repository is for the software required to run an Arduino-based CNC Pendant and the Python software bridge that connects the pendant to a Gcode sender.
As of January 2020, the project completed a major overhaul. The prototype is retired having completed pilot testing, and the production model is LIVE.
The full journey is documented in full photographic glory at Hedge Court.
The source tree in this repository is divided into the production and prototype trees, since they are total rewrites rather than incremental modifications.
The 2020 revision includes:
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Host pendant application rewritten in Python.
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State information (jog size and units) stored in host application, opening the door to multiple client devices/emulators.
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Built-in pendant emulator, allowing the user a GUI to enter any commands that the hardware pendant device supports.
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Hardware client pendant in beautifully crafted wood enclosure, containing custom manufactured PCB holding an Arduino Nano controller.
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bCNC compatible. UGS testing underway.
The rest of this document is obsolete and pertains to the pendant v2 model, a prototype that launched in 2017.
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The sender is the control software that is connected to the CNC machine. Senders are outside the scope of this repository. The client/host that are part of this repostiory interface with the sender of your choice. Currently tested with Universal Gcode Sender (UGS) and bCNC. Via modifications to the properties file, can support any web ui that takes a simple line of Gcode via a request parameter.
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The client is the physical pendant device powered by an Arduino, connected to the host computer via USB.
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The host is a Java application that runs on the host computer. It listens to the client over USB, and feeds G-Code to the sender (UGS, bCNC) via the sender's pendant web UI.
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It is common that the host will run on the same computer as the sender, however this is not required. URL references to localhost can be changed to the remote address of the sender.
This directory contains the Arduino sketch that runs on the pendant device.
This directory contains the host application Java source and resources plus Maven .pom project descriptor.