Pendant for Plasma Table

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cutnweld
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Pendant for Plasma Table

Post by cutnweld »

Hi Everyone, I am still in the process of setting up my Linux-plasmac system before installing. Was wondering what you all use for pendants, I currently have the candcnc pn200 and really like the proportional jog. Is it possible to set that pendant up with my new system?
5X10 Shop built table
20x80x32 inch gap lathe
10x40 lathe
10x54 milling machine
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Miller XMT350MPA
Lincoln squarewave tig 255
12 Ft Durma Brake
cutnweld
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Re: Pendant for Plasma Table

Post by cutnweld »

I may get cold feet about doing this if this is all the answers there is on this forum :-( I thought possibly there would at least be an "I dont know" :-) You all have a good weekend.
5X10 Shop built table
20x80x32 inch gap lathe
10x40 lathe
10x54 milling machine
2-Miller 255
Miller XMT350MPA
Lincoln squarewave tig 255
12 Ft Durma Brake
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djreiswig
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Re: Pendant for Plasma Table

Post by djreiswig »

I doubt the pn200 will work with anything but the candcnc systems. It connects to the rs-485 hub, which you wouldn't have with another brand.
I use an x-box controller. The joysticks are proportional.
2014 Bulltear (StarLab) 4x8
C&CNC EtherCut
Mach3, SheetCam, Draftsight
Hypertherm PM65
Oxy/Acetylene Flame Torch
Pneumatic Plate Marker, Ohmic, 10 inch Rotary Chuck (in progress)
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acourtjester
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Re: Pendant for Plasma Table

Post by acourtjester »

Have you tried here, I got some answers from the guys there. Sometimes they like to see who has the best theory and the answer gets lost. but you got to try. :HaHa
https://forum.linuxcnc.org/forum
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sonbakler
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Re: Pendant for Plasma Table

Post by sonbakler »

cutnweld wrote: Thu Feb 10, 2022 5:50 pm Hi Everyone, I am still in the process of setting up my Linux-plasmac system before installing. Was wondering what you all use for pendants, I currently have the candcnc pn200 and really like the proportional jog. Is it possible to set that pendant up with my new system?
I believe CandCNC software is also Linux based, just their own flavor of it so I expect you will be able to make this work.
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djreiswig
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Re: Pendant for Plasma Table

Post by djreiswig »

Do you have the hub? Otherwise I'm not sure how you will connect it to your system.
2014 Bulltear (StarLab) 4x8
C&CNC EtherCut
Mach3, SheetCam, Draftsight
Hypertherm PM65
Oxy/Acetylene Flame Torch
Pneumatic Plate Marker, Ohmic, 10 inch Rotary Chuck (in progress)
Rodw
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Re: Pendant for Plasma Table

Post by Rodw »

I don't think its worth pursuing, there are other options that already are supported by linuxcnc.
Hats off to CandCNC for coming up with a plasma controller back when there were none but their pendant pendant is part of their proprietary solution.
When they adopted linuxcnc, they maintained compatibility with their own solution which communicated via RS485.

Today, with the improvements in linuxcnc over the last few years, there is no need for external hardware for a plasma solution.
Drivers exist for the XHC WHBO4 and WHB06, and game controller
there is the Mesa 7i73 pendant chip if you want to roll your own wired solution
The MESA 7i76e supports two MPG inputs and the main docs show how to use a MPG but with an axis select switch only one is needed
The Mesa 7i96 can support a MPG but at the expense of input pins which are already in short supply.
XHC have some professional wireless pendants (I use one) which have a hardware based receiver unit that can be wired into you control panel and use 433 Mhz wireless to talk to the hand held bit.

So really, there is no point to take the long, hard approach of hacking into a proprietary system with no guarantee of success.
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