[charris1950]

Evening,

Anyone know of a decent X, Y, Z, A axes MPG pendant. Nothing you buy from China comes with instructions that are worth a damn and I'm a bit worried about that. I saw this on ebay:http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/New-Wireless-MPG-Pendant-Handwheel-Mach3-For-CNC-Mac-Mach-3-4-axis-Controller-/400483630310

Does anybody have one of these?

[baskarz]

Hi there,
Xbox 360 controllers work well as a wireless pendant (you can go wired if you prefer), all you need is a wireless receiver which are dirt cheap.
I picked up a receiver from ebay for $11 and works a treat. AU PC USB Wireless Gaming Receiver Adapter FOR Xbox 360 Controller Black | eBay
both analog sticks will operate the axis you require.
I used the pcb from an 360 controller to make my own custom pendant along with the analog sticks.
Still a work in progress (need to add status leds and change a few things) but it is functional and works well.

[pk7639]

We have one of these: vistaCNC on the router. It's really good. Nice solid feeling encoder, good integration with Mach3. We bought the E-Stop relay option and made our own 5m cable..

A few months ago I left the thing sitting on the gantry and hit the home button. This smashed a switch. I was able to obtain a replacement switch from them. Good service.

[country kid]

If its for a Plasma i would err on away from a wireless one.... your moving super hot air past metal it has a habit of doing strange things to signals both wired and wireless. Router of mill doesnt really matter.

last build i did i bought a 90$ ebay one with a home X,Y,Z (axis home) E stop ect on it.. no instructions so i used a scope to find each output (took me a while!) and used a DB15 plug and shielded wire..... used it twice in the 6 months i had the machine.... i honestly rekon there more hassle than there worth. i think next time i will use a X box controller, cost effective and does everything you need, or, i would splash out on a VistCNC unit.

[aarggh]

I have that same model, and while it works beautifully and reliably, to be honest I haven't found it as useful as I originally thought I would, so I just don't bother with it anymore.

cheers, Ian

[InMesh]

Yay I purchased one of these Pendants and pow she worked straight out of the Bubble wrap ,now I can play up the other end of the table and also see what I am doing.

[daniellyall]

get one from peter homann

Pendants & MPGs : Homann Designs!, The preferred CNC Component Supplier

or vista cnc

good quality pendant, good backup, you can send them in for repairs and they back up there products

[RCaffin]

Yay I purchased one of these Pendants and pow she worked straight out of the Bubble wrap ,now I can play up the other end of the table and also see what I am doing.

They seem to work very well, and irc mine was only ~$25.
One or two buttons remain to be understood - but the rest go well.

Cheers
Roger

[InMesh]

To be honest I was not expecting a great deal I am surprised how well it works ,I just wanted to move small amounts sometimes but need to be there to see it so this gives me longer arms. John.

[RCaffin]

The coiled cable is stretchy but not long. You could install an extension cable with an outlet right by the machine.

Cheers
Roger

[InMesh]

I have no A axis moving yet I'm sure I have missed something may be in mach ,yep I have a small extension enough so I don't trip over my self .

[RCaffin]

> I have no A axis moving yet I'm sure I have missed something may be in mach
Config/System Hotkeys
A/U++ and A/U-- need to be set to whatever the pendant sends. From memory it is something like Alt/Shift/A for A+.
Mach3Mill.pdf, page 5-19, section 5.6.2.
"Click on the button for the required function and then press
the key to be used as hotkey. Its value will be displayed on the dialog."
Worked for me.

Cheers
Roger

[InMesh]

Thank's Roger,got it I keep forgetting my way around Mach all good now.