Joystick Control Options & Router ON/OFF Control

Software / Firmware
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Moving along nicely here in learning how to use my newly built LR4. Thank you to all the folk who have helped me get through my connectivity issues, that seems to be (mostly) resolved for now.

Some things I’m interested in understanding more about include:

Jackpot/FluidNC joystick control options for jogging and zeroing.

It is my understanding that there is a virtual joystick that is compatible with WebUI 3.0 and there is a pendant control project that there are multiple posts about. Is there any other option that people have come up with? I see there are a variety of pendant controls available for sale out there, but I’m guessing none of them are compatible with the Jackpot (otherwise Ryan would offer them for sale, right?!)

Alternatively, it is my understanding that EstlCAM can have multiple joystick options, but it isn’t compatible with the Jackpot board. I see the OpenCNCShield2 board is one that can work with EstlCAM, but it doesn’t look to be available in the US. Is there a board available in the US that is compatible with EstlCAM? Or even better, both FluidNC and EstlCAM? (The idea of being tethered to a computer doesn’t bother me, for what it’s worth)

Personally, from what I’ve seen, I really like the UI on EstlCAM, and it seems like it would be fantastic to just operate in one program.

Probing for XY&Z

Is there g-code or a macro that has been/could be made to probe for the z, and then probe for x and then for y? I’m imagining something where it prompts between each and allows for an offset relative to ‘home’ for each.

Router ON/OFF control

Has anyone created a post that clearly describes how to tap into the Jackpot in order to trigger a relay for controlling the router on and off? Where and how to edit in the g-code in order to make that a part of the program?

Also, how many amps is the pilot signal from the Jackpot rated for? I’m curious to know if I could drive a relay strong enough to pass power to both the router and a vacuum wired in parallel off said relay or if I could run the pilot signal in parallel to two separate relays.

I get that there are auto vac switches that I could likely use in this situation, but I’m guessing this is a more simple way to achieve the same result.

Thoughts on any of that?

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This post sums up my adventures in jogging on the Jackpot. Implementing jogging with a joystick is more complicated than you think which is why you can’t just hook up a joystick to a FluidNC board.

I made one once as an experiment but I don’t think this is as helpful as you might think. If you can provide details on why you’re trying to do this, we can point you in a direction.

That will never happen.

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I see how much everyone asks for a pendant or wired control of some sort. I have to say I really do not understand it.

I just simply do not move my machine around manually that much. My typical starting position is within a few inches of home. If I ever start further away I just add the new location to my starting gcode and it goes there itself. Pendants cost nearly as much as a jackpot board.

Probing - well once you realize it does not account for any alignment issues it is typically not very useful. What happens when you mount a 4x8’ sheet and you are rotated by 1/8"? Z probing is very useful and is including in my start and tool change cam settings (another reason not to need a wired controller) on the milling basics page. XY however are just not very useful typically.

Router control - yes it is very easy to do with an ssr or Amazon.com (also linked in the instructions) as for the way to control it, I think that is also in my starting and ending gcode on the milling basics page. You just trigger any output at the start, toolchange, and end of your program.

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I think you’re missing out on a market there, Ryan. A Jackpot board costs a consumer less than $70 right now. I can say I’d happily pay three times that (or more!) for a physical, wired joystick controller from your shop.

I’d encourage you to add that to your offerings.

As for the alignment issue, you’re totally right, and that’s something that makes the EstlCAM software so appealing.

Again, that seems like a market you may be missing out on, and offering up a solution when people ask ‘what can I do to use EstlCAM to control my LowRider’ would be a good thing to do.

You have developed a fantastic product, keep going vertical with the offerings, you have a rabid and loyal base of consumers who will support you!

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It’s that post of yours that got me thinking about this all more.

I have it in my head that Web3.0 is still not the recommended UI, is that accurate? If I’m mistaken, what is the process for migrating to it from Web2?

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But the great part is that you allow each of us to be “our own.”

My only frustration is that my computer is at a weird angle to the origin, so if I’m trying to line it up precisely, I’m going back and forth to the computer a lot. Not a huge deal, but it’s why I keep trying pendants.

Note - none of the pendants are required, and they could produce problems with machine motion or reliability. So be sure your machine is fully functional before exploring these devices.

Edit - I removed a comment about Jason’s new device, as its more appropriate elsewhere.

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Estlcam does not skew align. Unless that was recently added, that takes multiple probes on each side.

But why? I am not in this just for money. I can only support and offer products I believe in. I am just not convinced of the use case. If they were $10, sure, a $1 joystick and a $3 esp 32…but $45+ just in parts, nope. You have a $1000 touchscreen in your pocket that is very capable of the same exact function, minus a cute little knob. On top of that the phone is faster. To use a pendant you need to switch between axis and axis step rate, it is 6 times slower if you need to touch each axis…and it has a wire. The built in pad offers all three step sizes at the same time, wrelessly. I made the jackpot for the exact same reason. People did not like how “inconvenient” the SKR LCD was. So we built a custom wireless controller. Now people want a pendant that is harder to use than the LCD.

Jason has actually made a joystick plug-in for the wireless webui, it is rad, but for me it does not fit in my work flow. I move my machine with purpose. When I do not use home or a built in offset, I move my machine a set amount and take not of the starting offset in case I need to go back.

Absolutely, this is exactly why I added the expansion port to the jackpot, you can plug in a pendant but the rest of us that do not use one are not paying for the extra components. https://www.tindie.com/products/33366583/fluiddial-connection-starter-kit/, and everything on the “not included list”.

ui v3 is fully functional the connection can be slightly different so as of right now I am not sending it out as default because that one extra step can be hard from some. The captive portal is super easy for a beginner in ui v2

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Honestly, a joystick is mostly just cool and isn’t necessary at all. It works fine and I like it, but I spend very little time jogging my machine.

I would absolutely start off with the WebUI. If you’re just getting started, you should start with the basics and get used to using your machine with existing functions and features.

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