I am really finding your videos so helpful. Just built a modified 3018-PROVer. I was looking to use Candle, but really like the look of UGS, particularly the macro function.
I just bought a gamepad on eBay for 7ukp and it works ok. I was using a keypad but this is much better :-) The ebay ad title was "USB Wired 2.0 Game Controller Gamepad Joypad Joystick Turbo for PC Windows 10 UK"
My ordered game pad came in today, waiting om my Labtop that is on his way, so i am verry exited. building an enclosure for my 6050 gemitsu, had to make the wiring longer and so on. I have a lot to do but love it. and James thanks for the great vidios, top
The mobile option for me is great. The best part is that the CNC is out in the shed and I can see what it's doing. Especially where the Z axis is and the best part the percentage and times of how much of the file has been processed. I've got a night webcam in the shed but can only see enough to see if the machine is moving. This now gives me so much more information and I don't need to keep listening to see if the machine is still running. Thank you!
James, I have to say I will be going the game controller route for 1 simple reason. I can manipulate a game controller without taking my eyes off of the work area. Going to Amazon after leaving this comment.😉
i have gone with the mobile wireless version - i bought a cheap tablet and made a housing unit to hold it in front of my machine - has made it soo much easier to operate. I also bought a wifi power plug - plug these into the wall, one to plug into router and one to put in my workshop (workshop 20meters from router) - basically, they turn the electrical wiring in your house into an Ethernet cable PS - what is a "kayboard" (see timestamps lol)
Great video. I didn't realise I could run my CNC over wifi this easily. Brill thanks.. Just noted that it seems initially you seem to need to connect to the internet each session to make a connection. After that you could switch off internet until your next session. (I have to do that as I'm using my phone as sole connection to the net. My pc connects through my phone to the net). Thanks again...
Here's my current dilemma and maybe you can offer a solution? I built a CNC plasma machine and it's using the MKS DLC 32 version 2.1 card. If I use Open Builds Cam to create a G-Code file and install that file onto the onboard SD card, I can then use the Makerbase ESP32 mobile app controller to initiate the cut. And from that point forward the machine will execute the G-Code. The problem I'm having is that the ESP32 controller app doesn't have the ability to adjust the Z axis. Don't ask me why, but it's probably because the mobile controller was built for a laser cutter which doesn't use Z-axis (although I understand older versions of the app did have the z-axis control). Nevertheless, before I can start a cut I need to use Open Builds Control software to set the Z height before switching over to the esp32 controller. You may wonder why I just don't run the G-Code directly from Open Builds Control, and the reason is because the interference from the plasma machine causes my computer to glitch out and the cut stops about a minute into it. But if I run the file directly from the control board it doesn't have that issue. Obviously my computer is not shielded well enough to execute the cut. Be that as it may, a USB connection is my only option to connect a computer to the card, and I've heard that ethernet connections are more stable. Nevertheless, all I'm really looking for is Z-axis control without having to hook the computer up every time just to set the height. I downloaded grbl controller to my phone and connected it to the USB line of my control board card. But it was not recognized. I was thinking that perhaps GRBL Controller might offer me a way to launch the G-Code from the onboard card as well as be able to set Z-axis height. If you have any advice for me I would greatly appreciate it. Thanks.
Depends on your software but usually they can all add custom buttons so you would just put that in as a custom button and then perhaps a second button with M5 to stop it
It's all good, but I'm missing more convenient options for the keyboard, when, for example, Crtl+Right move to the right in steps of 10, Shift+Right - step 1 and Alt+Right - step 0.1 🙂
@James Dean do you happen to have integrated stepper motors the ones like the onefinity has? I was wondering if you happen to know how to wire them up from scratch to a raspberry pi 4 or grbl Arduino board so it can be connected with a VFD 2.2kw spindle. It's cuz all the controller around now are really expensive
Dear brother please help me my grbl shield not supporting tool change command it's showing error in g code block whenever I put Or the M6 tool change command appears
magnificent video Can these controllers be used at the same time as the PC? With controller offline, only one can be used Controller or PC not simultaneously I apologize for my poor English
I am brand new to this machine I ha e never used anything lk it... do u have videos for the very forst time user in step by step how to use it and set it up using the app
Thanks so much. I usually use easel to control rather than ugs. Will the joystick function still work in easel if i initially set up with ugs? Kind regards
Is there a way to turn off the step jogging function? I would much rather be able to jog the machine by holding down the jog button then use the step function for fine adjustment. Thanks!
Yes I believe so, especially when using something like the controller. I can't remember where off the top of my head but I'm sure it's in the settings to control the sensitivity
Thanks! I finally got my phone working but I had to turn my firewall off to connect. Did anyone else have any problems with windows 10 firewall? I'd like to connect with out turning my firewall off.
I tried making a rule and other things for hours yesterday and nothing worked. I was going to try again today and as soon as I opened the pendant I got a notification asking to allow access though the firewall. I guess the computer needed rebooted 😂😅
Thank you for making this video but I have missed a step somewhere.......how do you get the Gcode to your CNC machine. I can do it with my laptop but don't want to have this working in the workshop when Im cutting but want to convert from my laptop to a mobile phone or hand controller . please help and stay safe Bill M8-)
You need a standalone cnc controller that will read the gcode from a SD card. But most CNC professionals avoid this approach as there is no control over the operation of the machine
In theory if both your laptop and phone are connected to the same wifi network then their should not be an issue. Unless something is blocking it. UGS has regular updates come out, you could always try a newer or older version of it
I have been looking though you old videos trying to learn more and seeing this one made me think? can you use a tablet to send g-code to you machine instead of a computer? I am in the process of designing a small (about 450 x 450mm cut area) but where I can put it! I have to use about 180 metres of cable, or get WIFI Booster, or use SD card plugged into machine or last choice by a cheap laptop/computer
Only obsolete if using FluidNC, I review quite a few machines and have not yet had one with this although I suspect they may filter through more in 2024
