Assignable inputs and Names

[tayloredtech]

@masso-support Hey Jatinder, hope you and the fam are safe and well right now mate.

I'm doing a rebuild-upgrade to the Multicam machine at the moment to make it a 5 Axis 2800mm x 1400mm x 450mm chip monster and adding an interface to control the ATC and axis movements from a 3rd party interface.

• I noticed there are inputs for moving XYZ but not A or B, is there a way to add these?
  
• Is there a possibility for inputs to home each axis individually from an input or should I just use the inputs for pre-saved G-code and insert them there?
  
• Tool change inputs only go up to tool 8, I will have 10 tools on my ATC so is it possible to add more? or again should I used pre-saved G-code inputs( though there are only 6 slots available and I will need 5 for the above homing of each axis)
  
• Is there a reason we can only job one axis at a time? currently you have to wait until the machine has completely stopped before it can change direction? The original controller could move the machine around in all directions.
  

Much appreciate your answers,

Mitch

 

[stevefrisby]

Hi Mitch I have been wondering if there is some way of assigning an input to any button on the screen (They must be mapped somehow in software) , or even a sequence button presses. for instance zero dro, probe for z. If each button on the screen was assigned a code then you could make some amazing add on hardware. I am looking at an easy to configure android app that communicates to a small embedded processor via WiFi that would connect to the Masso via its input pins. So you could have the equivalent of a jogging set up screen, a probing screen, and a running screen on your phone. It would be good if one of the analogue inputs could be assigned to feed rate as well. The tech looks really simple and cheap, going to see if I can get a basic mpg going in the next week or so. But with the current list of inputs and outputs even a hard wired console has very limited functionality

I reckon once a Gcode file has been loaded you should be able to setup and run the job from a remote controller such as a phone, or mpg

I am glad someone else is requesting more inputs Thanks Mitch

 

[stevefrisby]

Hi Mitch I have started developing the android based controller here is a screen shot of the home screen, it has produced code that the wifi micro controller will actually send to phone to configure the android app. The buttons on the phone screen are all mapped to outputs on the micro controller which can connect to inputs on the Masso so if masso adds more functionality to their inputs this could be a working device very quickly. I have added a couple of other pages as an example a probing page that pretty much is the same as the one that comes up on the Masso screen.

The slider can be connected to an analogue input on the Masso so 0V is left and full +ve volts is right the small micro can generate the required voltage according to the slider position

The 3 way switch can be connected to the existing mpg step setting switch connections (For changing the step resolution in step mode)

The button with the x on it in the bottom right is for cycle start

If I can get all of these working you could load the gcode file and do complete setup and run gcode from your phone

The coding and hardware to do this is simple and very flexible you can even pass text over the wifi link which would allow for a lot more functionality but that would mean a lot of integration into the Masso system (Maybe they could actually utilize these ideas and make an app as the hardware already has wifi built in)

I have worked in the live audio industry for many years and most hardware now has had some sort of wifi control via a phone of tablet device for many years which is why I am pushing for this as it is taking their equipment into a whole new level of flexibility and definitely ease of use

 

[tayloredtech]

Quote from SteveFrisby on March 26, 2020, 2:15 pm

Hi Mitch I have started developing the android based controller here is a screen shot of the home screen, it has produced code that the wifi micro controller will actually send to phone to configure the android app. The buttons on the phone screen are all mapped to outputs on the micro controller which can connect to inputs on the Masso so if masso adds more functionality to their inputs this could be a working device very quickly. I have added a couple of other pages as an example a probing page that pretty much is the same as the one that comes up on the Masso screen.

The slider can be connected to an analogue input on the Masso so 0V is left and full +ve volts is right the small micro can generate the required voltage according to the slider position

The 3 way switch can be connected to the existing mpg step setting switch connections (For changing the step resolution in step mode)

The button with the x on it in the bottom right is for cycle start

If I can get all of these working you could load the gcode file and do complete setup and run gcode from your phone

The coding and hardware to do this is simple and very flexible you can even pass text over the wifi link which would allow for a lot more functionality but that would mean a lot of integration into the Masso system (Maybe they could actually utilize these ideas and make an app as the hardware already has wifi built in)

I have worked in the live audio industry for many years and most hardware now has had some sort of wifi control via a phone of tablet device for many years which is why I am pushing for this as it is taking their equipment into a whole new level of flexibility and definitely ease of use

Haha well played, I have an automation and A/V company also so I have worked with control systems of a similar nature for over a decade. Masso had a serial port I asked Jatinder multiple times if he could add the ability to share comms so my system could talk natively to the Masso but it's not going to happen... I nearly gaurantee it. much simpler features I have talked about were passed off so I am doing what I can with I/Os from the Masso until a more practical G4 or another company make a controller that has the ability for 3rd parties to comm with. It's very sad and frustrating to people like us but we are the mercy of others... I have control of my Spindle via Rs485 if I want and have all other types of sensors and relays connected to my system but the Masso is stuck with basics... for now

 

[tayloredtech]

Also just like hte serial port the analogue inputs don't actually do anything on the Masso... I have asked for the ability to use the input as an overide for the spindle RPM and or feed rate multiplier but again... Crickets...

 

[stevefrisby]

The thing that annoys me is they advertise their equipment as having all these ins and outs and they are practically useless unless there is some way to map an input or output from the GUI to a physical in or out (Just assign a screen code and button position or even the descriptor for that in the GUI as an option in the in or out drop down menu) And you and I both know that the amount of code to do that would take hardly any of their precious memory space. I am starting to wonder what platform and technology is being used in the g3 (VGA out ?) and for a product like this to be running out of flash memory at this stage in its life cycle is pretty embarrassing. Especially when you look at the capabilities of say a Raspberry Pi for example a complete embedded solution retailing for under 100 dollars. Yes a direct serial communication between a remote controller and the G3 would be amazing but just give me the ability to connect to inputs and outputs and the analogue inputs and assign what I want to them which is what you assume when they actually use the number of ins and outs as a big part of their advertising to be.

I am very impressed with this product by the way, It has been easy to get running and works well. But I just want a little bit more, also by allowing someone to say develop a WiFi based remote control wouldn't that give their Masso system a great big advantage in the market. It would be the next level of mpg and take their product to a new level.

I honestly think that by not allowing for the development of external interfaces by the people that use their product they have really missed an opportunity to get free R and D done and develop an even better Masso.

BTW if they bring out a G4 because they built a unit without enough headroom for continued development and firmware releases and used old tech to cut down on costs I am pretty sure I would travel to their factory in person and demand the new model

Honestly what do you regard the life cycle of a piece of technology like this should be. I personally would think at least 5 years

 

[breezy]

Steve,

My understanding is, that it is the G2 that has run out memory, G3 has more memory and a faster CPU.

In the redesign they removed the output drivers for the relay outputs that were available on the G2, to gain real estate on the circuit board. Don't know when the G2 was released but the Bicton Men's Shed has had theirs for about 3 years and it's serial number is in the 1800's.

And yes they should provide a larger variety of in & out types on the G3.

Regards,

Arie.

 

[stevefrisby]

Ah I thought it was the g3 version people were talking about running out of memory. I wont mention it again...

I am really wanting to proceed with getting a phone app running with the Masso, I have put a request in for a probe z and set z input but have not received any response and now realized set dro and rewind are also needed I can connect to the available inputs (MPG an Inputs) to at least get a WiFi MPG app running on android. I really just want to be able to load a file and then do all the other operations from the phone but there are a few options not available. But at least getting a bare bones app and interface running might at least encourage Masso to allow for more options, Unless they plan to build their own app and charge for it, pretty easy for them as g3 has WiFi inbuilt.

I really just want to get my CNC built to what I would consider a very user friendly machine, and working at a high standard for wood working purposes (It is one project on my bucket list).

Thank you Arie for your comments and suggestions I will continue to post what I am up to on my build thread

 

[stevefrisby]

Hey does anyone out there know if its at all possible to emulate touch screen output in order to communicate with Masso in a around about way.

 

[tayloredtech]

Quote from SteveFrisby on April 7, 2020, 2:21 am

Hey does anyone out there know if its at all possible to emulate touch screen output in order to communicate with Masso in a around about way.

If you search the interwebs for HDI touch screen codes and got an emulator you could use it over USB send co-ordinates. I can see it working but pop ups would be very hard to control. It's the most basic HID input commands. I would get a touch screen you know 100% works with Masso then sniff out single presses in certain locations to find what the structure of the codes is like so you can recreate them in an Arduino or similar.

 

[stevefrisby]

Thanks for that confirmation Mitch, I was hoping you would offer your opinion. I will have to see if I can find an inexpensive compatible touch screen, I have stocked up on WiFi Arduino's as I have a feeling that I will need a good project to get into as we become more house bound. I am in a good place to do this project as my Garage is my workshop, I am retired due to illness though I seem to be more busy than ever. I do need to do a few perk jobs to keep afloat though.

It is unfortunate that we have to get creative in order to get even a simple set of inputs operational on the Masso, I saw another potential Masso customer asking if he could use pot's to control the spindle speed and axis travel speed override, all possible if analogue inputs could be assigned to these controls. I like the Masso product a lot and honestly don't understand why they have such a limited range of inputs.

I do know that you can use an in circuit programmer to program the small processor that does all the USB to serial conversion on the Arduino boards to emulate HID protocol, I haven't done any embedded development in years but I definitely remember getting an Arduino to emulate a HID keyboard this way.

Thanks Again

Steve

 

[stevefrisby]

Am thinking if anyone is reading this they might want to also go to this post

Search results for query: p1-p16-outputs-linked-to-input/

www.masso.com.au

Cheers Steve

 

[evermech]

@stevefrisby

@tayloredtech

hi guys, I just notice this topic and thought that maybe there is a product that could help with remote operation. Automation Direct has a "headless HMI " that can use a cell phone or tablet to communicate with a Plc. Not sure of the fine details but I did use one to control a couple inputs on a Plc as an expirement and it seemed to function as advertise. Just a thought

Guy

 

[stevefrisby]

Hi there Guy, My medical condition has taken a turn for the worse, I ended up doing 11 rounds of chemo that were not even working but due to restrictions on the hospital they were not doing the normal scans it has left me with permanent nerve damage to my hands and feet so I am finding working on electronics especially difficult, also as cancer has now spread to my lungs, and I am struggling to do anything in this covid environment, I am still committed to designing a wireless mpg that emulates a hid keyboard using Arduino boards and nrf24l01 for wireless communication as having a wireless mpg is useful to me. It is also something that could be built into a console and expanded on (You could use control M and send strings through MDI for instance). I am very slowly working towards this and when I have something that is reliable and working 100% am willing to share all the relevant information and files with anyone that might be interested.

Thank you for your advise Guy

Kind Regards Steve

 

[MaccaRnD]

Hope your well @stevefrisby, f#$k cancer
the ability for external control from a phone would be great, Id be happy at the moment for the ability to name my own inputs and outputs, while Masso has a large selection on pre selectable names it would be good to be able to customise them so you know what they are straight away without having comparison charts, ie “tool changer input 5” is “tool in position OK” actually is tool carousel extended and in position for tool change, just being able to change it to sometbing that’s easily recognised would be handy.