You know, the ones like Mark connected and attached to his MKII. If you're among the first people to go here http://tinyurl.com/kj2w5c , you might get one for less than $10 shipped!
If they're all gone, search for "Targus Numeric Keypad" w/ 2 USB Ports - they're listed elsewhere for just a little more $$
(By the way, they will work on a MK1 or MK1.5 also.)

 

Thanks Dorsal. I bought one, 2 left.

 

You're welcome!
I got #5, Crash got #4, you got #3 . . . .

 

That's a good deal for a high quality Targus keypad!

I've been thinking of getting a numeric keypad also, so I've been looking around for deals too:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16823328007

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16823173016

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16826169019

ok I'm done now! :roll: Attached files

 

I've done some research on this, since last night. Now unfortunately, I've got some many ideas on how to hack a keyboard.

 

There are still (2) Targus left - http://tinyurl.com/kj2w5c

 

http://microcenter.com/single_product_r ... id=0228120

 

Yes, but shipping is extra where as the ebay one is 'shipping included'.

 

Ahh, I have a Microcenter right down the street from me

 

Hey guys, I have started looking at gamepads. The cordless one have very good range and supposedly no lag, because they are meant for gaming. To test things out, I tried my RealFight controller and it worked. And the jog speed is actually proportional. Set to a max of 120 units/min, I get a low of 6 and a max of like 111 which follow the stick motion. And there is a nice dead spot at stick center, so it unlikely to accidentally move you cnc machine. There is even exponential, which I set on the Z. And I get as low as 0.3 units/min with that setting. To set all this up, you need to use the "Keygrabber" software in the Mach3 folder.

-Kwok

 

Mark,

I will put up a video, later tonight or tomorrow. I just can't seem to get my mic working, right now. I don't have a running PP, so it will just be a virtual demo with the Mach3 screen only. I can show how to set up "Keygrabber" also. I'm not using a gamepad right now, but the rc sim controller for realflight (same thing really). It's basically a tx controller, so dual joystick with a gameport plug. I use a game port/usb adapter for it. I found a pic of it on the web: Attached files

 

Crazy, I had to reinstall my audio driver to get the mic to work. :roll:

You can also download the original video (6mb) here: http://www.filedropper.com/usingjoysticktocontrolmach3

 

Hi Mark,

I've uploaded the video to youtube and it's now embedded above.

If you want to go cordless, I was narrowing the choice of gamepads to the "Logitech Cordless Rumblepad 2". Cheapest place I found for it was Amazon for ~$33 shipped:
http://www.amazon.com/Logitech-Cordless ... 98-0691859

Yes, it's very interesting to play with this stuff. Before the gamepad idea, I also had the idea to use a wireless keyboard. I found out keyboards use a matrix. So for example, if it's 10x10, you can have 100 keys/switches. All that means is that you have 2 sets of 10 terminals and you just connect a switch to any two pairs. I took apart a regular keyboard and the pcb is tiny, something like 2" x 3". That's the only thing you need and some switches. I was also wondering if you could set up a circuit to automatically pulse the switch to control joy speed. Anyways, I just wanted to mention this, if anyone can make use of it. I like the gamepad idea much better.

-Kwok

 

Yea, custom controllers for everyone! And you can hide the guts, too.

Check this out. This guy made a custom unit with a Shuttle Pro 2. I lack the experience to know what I need in a controller. So I've been looking for video of controllers in use. This is the only videos, I could find: http://www.seabreezeparachutes.com/spro ... oject.html

My keypad should be delivered today. So I mess around with it and see if I can get it working.

When you open keygrabber, it already has the default setting file loaded. So you just need to hit the button to start Mach3. I tried using dos batch file, to start them both with one double click. It worked but, you can't shut down keygrabber afterwards? If you open Mach3 through keygrabber, then keygrabber closes automatically when you shut dowm Mach3.

One thing worth noting is you can use multiple means to define controller function. Mach3 actually has plugins, that you can activate (some you need to DL). For example for the Shuttle Pro 2, xbox 360 controller, and generic joystick. These controllers won't need to be configured. Their joystick plugin is supposed to be v2 with dual stick support, but when you DL it it's only v1 (only support x & Y on a single stick). That's how I had my controller configured orginally and I added just the Z axis with keygrabber. Now all 3 of my axis is configured with keygrabber. Another thing is that gamepads have like 12 buttions. You can also use the driver software, that comes with the gamepad, to configure the buttons.

-Kwok

 

I found documentation for KeyGrabber. Look in appendix 3 of this pdf:
http://www.machsupport.com/docs/Mach2_6.11_Custom.pdf

I also found the way to run the KeyGrabber/Mach3 combo with one short cut:
Make a copy of the Mach 3 Mill shortcut and Rename it. Then change the target path to "C:Mach3KeyGrabber.exe /p Mach3Mill" instead of the original "C:Mach3Mach3.exe /p Mach3Mill". Obviously, if you installed Mach3 in a different locations, you will have to adjust it for your computer.

I got my keypad today, played around with it, and have concluded it a bust. I just don't see a good future for it. The problem is windows sees it as the keyboard and not a seperate device. Dispite the fact that KeyGrabber list's the keypad as a HID device; KeyGrabber is looking for buttons in the "HID Keys" tab. And the keypad has no buttons.

Another thing is that the KeyGrabber documentation, said that if you reassign a keyboard key then it's no longer available to any other program. And in fact you get a warning screen when you reassign a keyboard key. So it's probably best not to mess with a keypad, where you have to reassign keys. If you want to hack an entire usb keyboard, then that is fine, because all the the keys are there for you to use.

Sorry Mark, but most likely you can't make the keypad a separate device, like you want to.

-Kwok

 

Here is a good example of hacking a usb keyboard, to make a controller:
http://www.craxor.com/foftar/

 

Also try using the logitech wireless controller, Mach3 has a new plugin for it and works great, I used it on my CNC machine.