USB Expansion board for cnc control panel

[Terho]

Hi

can't you produce a usb expansion board for cnc control panels so that you avoid a lot of cables from the control board to the control panel? It would be easier to just have a usb cable to a card for only feed, spindle speed, buttons, emergency stop, etc. Everything would be so much easier

MACH3 USB expansion card, Mach3 USB interface board with integrated USB interface and USB cable, 64 digital inputs, 4 encoder inputs, 4 analogue inputs, for manual control https://amzn.eu/d/0cLuwwE

/Terho

[cncdrive]

You can do it with Modbus.
But we also have similar extension panel planned. We working on it already.

[Terho]

Don't know anything about modbus, might have to study it. How far away is that board from reality? I have two machines that would need it, I have designed modular control panels for them, it would be fun to start making them and avoid so many cables.

[Battwell]

i have used some very nice modbus io cards (cheap on aliexpress) see more recent videos.
also used arduino mega as a modbus io controller.
but each requires a fair bit of work to set up.
and then you have to write macros to do what you actually need. eg press this button if that input is pressed.

for a control panel there isnt a one stop solution. i think everyone thinks their idea should be what is made.
i did a few videos of poor quality about the one i made for my mill. runs a macroloop to create the functions.
used an arduino mega at the time. connected by usb.
here are the videos of it.
https://youtu.be/6QUOmCKuJHQ?si=VoYIldqgEqbP74-T

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MyeXwe- ... 5lbA%3D%3D

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mxr_4iR ... 5lbA%3D%3D

[cncdrive]

We designed a Modbus board with 16+16 digital I/Os and 4+4 analog I/Os and 2 MPGs.
It will work via plugin in UCCNC using Modbus.
It is in the designing stage.
I'm attaching a picture of the PCB plan.

[Terho]

Hello. Is it USB A or USB C that you will use? will it work on uccnc and mach3? in the process of preparing my panel in cad for expansion cards so it's good to know approximately which ports to mount

[dezsoe]

It's Ethernet. On the middle of the bottom edge there is an Ethernet module. Of course, if you want you can use USB too, but then you have to write the program for it. The board in the middle is an Arduino Mega2560 Pro.

[cncdrive]

It will work with UCCNC, but we will consider writing a plugin for Mach3 too later on.

[Terho]

It's Ethernet. On the middle of the bottom edge there is an Ethernet module. Of course, if you want you can use USB too, but then you have to write the program for it. The board in the middle is an Arduino Mega2560 Pro.

ok, so two ethernet ports are needed if I control the machine with the UC300ETH-5LPT. Will be a bit of a hassle as I intended to have a tablet but I guess I can put a mini switch after the usb hub with ethernet port.

[Terho]

It will work with UCCNC, but we will consider writing a plugin for Mach3 too later on.

mostly use uccnc but sometimes mach3, then i just need an expansion board that makes the panel smaller.