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Hi, is it possible to write a plugin in C#, that writes X, Y and Z to a serial com port?
I would get the values, something like:
X = UC.Getfield(true, 226); // XposDRO
Y = UC.Getfield(true, 227); // YposDRO
Z = UC.Getfield(true, 228); // ZposDRO
And write them say 10 times/second to a serial port?
Then I could use an Arduino with an LCD on the control panel.
I could post the Arduino solution to receive the characters from the serial port and display them on a display here, if somebody likes the idea.

Hi TP, I'm new to this. Can you explain for me what you mean, and if possible give me an example?

Hi TP, that looks very good!
I created a macro m200005.txt (I believe they have to be in that range).
I checked COM1 is there: "USB Serial Port (COM1)", in the Device Manager.
It is not in use by another program (Like Putty).
I get "An exception has been thrown by the M20005 macro.
System.UnauthorizedAccessException: Access to the port 'COM1' is denied.
I tried to access it with Putty, which works, and I can see the LEDs flashing in the serial connector (FTDI).
Trying to move it to another COM number.

Hi TP, it works now!
Because we call the macro repeatedly, we also need to close the serial port.

Code: Select all

string X = AS3.Getfield(226);
string Y = AS3.Getfield(227);
string Z = AS3.Getfield(228) ;

string XYZ = "X=" + X + " Y="+ Y + " Z=" + Z + Environment.NewLine;
// MessageBox.Show(""+XYZ);

System.IO.Ports.SerialPort myPort = new System.IO.Ports.SerialPort("COM1");
if (myPort.IsOpen == false) //if port (com1)not open, open the port
{
    //open port
    myPort.Open();
}
// Working code goes here

if (myPort.IsOpen == true)
{
    // Send String through the serial port:
    myPort.Write( XYZ );
    myPort.Close();
}


Hi TP, well that works well, I have just increased the baudrate to 38400, and do now also transmit F and S.
I just ordered these I2C LED-displays:
https://www.adafruit.com/products/1002
Two are needed for one 8-digit display, and 10 in total for 5 displays.
Eight addresses can be selected with address-selection jumpers, so two I2C busses are required.
It is cheaper to implement this on the mbed platform:
https://developer.mbed.org/platforms/ST-Nucleo-F446RE/
Those will be programmed in C++, using an online compiler. (registration required)

Code: Select all

// Comport specification
string ComPort = "COM1";
int    ComBaud = 38400;

// Get fields
string X = AS3.Getfield(226);   // XposDRO
string Y = AS3.Getfield(227);   // YposDRO
string Z = AS3.Getfield(228);   // ZposDRO
string F1 = AS3.Getfield(867);  // Setfeedrate
string F2 = AS3.Getfield(868);  // Actfeedrate
string S1 = AS3.Getfield(869);  // Setspindlespeed
string S2 = AS3.Getfield(870);  // Actspindlespeed

// Form a string, separated by spaces, so it can be split easily on the remote platform
string XYZ = "X=" + X + " Y=" + Y + " Z=" + Z;
XYZ += " Fs=" + F1 + " Fa=" + F2;
XYZ += " Ss=" + S1 + " Sa=" + S2;
XYZ += Environment.NewLine; // This could as well be a space character, but it displays well in a terminal for debugging
// MessageBox.Show(""+XYZ);

// Create the Serial port object
System.IO.Ports.SerialPort myPort = new System.IO.Ports.SerialPort(ComPort, ComBaud);
if (!myPort.IsOpen) // If the serial port is not open, open it
{
    // Open serial port
    myPort.Open();
}

if (myPort.IsOpen)
{
    // Send String through the serial port:
    myPort.Write( XYZ );
    // Close serial port
    myPort.Close();
}