Looking for new hand controller/Pendant

Hi all

The cheap little wireless one that came with my machine has given up working, and it never turned off so eat all my AAA batteries...

Looking for a new one that is wired and USB with support for Mach3.
The Wi XHC HB04 looks alright to me. Comes wired and wireless so would be getting the wired version.

Can only see wireless stocked in the UK and EU so would be an import jobbie. But if I order today, might get it Monday if I am lucky.


Any other suggestions for different models or retailers?

Jack,

I have one of those xhc ones. mines wired aswell due to lag over wireless ones. all works great on it, hardly have to use thekeybourd or mouse anymore because it has so many functions on it.

I've been using the wireless version of the HB04 for a while and still on original set of batteries. It's actually the WHB04B, a slightly later version, which has two knobs (apart from the big stepping knob) for selection of axis and step size. Both versions seem to be around although the B version seems a little dearer. I thought that direct selection of step size would be useful (which it is) but I have no experience with the other one.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Neale

I've been using the wireless version of the HB04 for a while and still on original set of batteries. It's actually the WHB04B, a slightly later version, which has two knobs (apart from the big stepping knob) for selection of axis and step size. Both versions seem to be around although the B version seems a little dearer. I thought that direct selection of step size would be useful (which it is) but I have no experience with the other one.

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Interesting. The wireless one I have atm, have had all sorts of problems which is why I am wanting to move away from wireless.
Think I am still going to go for wired though..

Each to their own! I prefer not to have the possibility of catching a cable on something (I like getting up close and personal when tool-setting sometimes so not really watching the cable) and it avoids the possibility of wire cores breaking with continued bending. But others don't like wireless because of electrical noise problems, battery life, etc. Six of one and half-a-dozen of the other!

I bought this one last Sunday
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/CNC-3-Axi...r/131454746732

It was shipped by royal mail yesterday 48 hour delivery so hopefully will have it tomorrow.

I wanted wired so it doesn't get lost lol, going to run the wire under the machine.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Desertboy

I bought this one last Sunday
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/CNC-3-Axi...r/131454746732

It was shipped by royal mail yesterday 48 hour delivery so hopefully will have it tomorrow.

I wanted wired so it doesn't get lost lol, going to run the wire under the machine.

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Nice find! For some reason when I was searching earlier in the week nothing came up within the UK.
Now I am getting that item and other.

[edit]
Just ordered the other one. Said special delivery but I doubt it. Closer to me so if it goes 24-48 it should be here tomorrow if shipped before 1700-1730...

[edit2] no post today so probably none tomorrow. Snow is nearly half a foot here on top of a hill...

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Originally Posted by JOGARA

Nice find! For some reason when I was searching earlier in the week nothing came up within the UK.
Now I am getting that item and other.

[edit]
Just ordered the other one. Said special delivery but I doubt it. Closer to me so if it goes 24-48 it should be here tomorrow if shipped before 1700-1730...

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The other one? You mean the wireless version? I'm using linuxcnc so I am going to have fun setting it up lol, has built in support for the wheel but will need to hand edit config files to get the buttons working correctly.

I was going to say you look just like Billy Mays but your avatar is actually Billy Mays lol.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Desertboy

The other one? You mean the wireless version? I'm using linuxcnc so I am going to have fun setting it up lol, has built in support for the wheel but will need to hand edit config files to get the buttons working correctly.

I was going to say you look just like Billy Mays but your avatar is actually Billy Mays lol.

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Other listing sorry. Birmingham vs London.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/273084343493

lol

Quote:

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Originally Posted by JOGARA

Other listing sorry. Birmingham vs London.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/273084343493

lol

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You're just down the road from me ;) I'm in Leicester 1 mile from J21.

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Originally Posted by Desertboy

You're just down the road from me ;) I'm in Leicester 1 mile from J21.

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Technically you are the one "down the road", I am on J24 xD

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Originally Posted by Desertboy

You're just down the road from me ;) I'm in Leicester 1 mile from J21.

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Technically you are the one "down the road", I am on J24 xD

Then Technically that makes you a Northerner lol, could be worse could be a shady drinking southerner.

My Pendant is out for delivery ;)

I got a VistaCNC pendant that is of no use to me right now if you want it.

R's

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Desertboy

Then Technically that makes you a Northerner lol, could be worse could be a shady drinking southerner.

My Pendant is out for delivery ;)

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https://i.imgur.com/KqGnQ9x.gif

OMG WHY DID I NOT BUY THIS THING LAST YEAR!?!?!?!?

It is amazing. Truly is.
Can now move in 0.01mm steps and accurately now with the wheel control.
It does not respond to 0.001mm steps (as the 2200L can't step that low) but 0.01mm is perfect.

The controller is larger than I thought it would be. But it is fine.
Feels really well built and the macros are really easy to change.

Though on the config page the macro numbers and arrows don't line up.
Macro 1 points to Macro 2. It is in fact Macro 1.

The USB lead is quite long, like long enough for a 8x4 foot bed.

10/10 would recommended.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by JOGARA

OMG WHY DID I NOT BUY THIS THING LAST YEAR!?!?!?!?

It is amazing. Truly is.
Can now move in 0.01mm steps and accurately now with the wheel control.
It does not respond to 0.001mm steps (as the 2200L can't step that low) but 0.01mm is perfect.

The controller is larger than I thought it would be. But it is fine.
Feels really well built and the macros are really easy to change.

Though on the config page the macro numbers and arrows don't line up.
Macro 1 points to Macro 2. It is in fact Macro 1.

The USB lead is quite long, like long enough for a 8x4 foot bed.

10/10 would recommended.

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Just got mine working I agree 100% for the price an essential purchase, it's also nice having the coordinates on the screen. Very responsive as wellhad read it could be slow to respond but real time for me.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Desertboy

Just got mine working I agree 100% for the price an essential purchase, it's also nice having the coordinates on the screen. Very responsive as wellhad read it could be slow to respond but real time for me.

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Still getting use to the cords on the screen. Double checking with Mach3 atm just to make 100% sure. But yea it is useful.
Have noticed that some times it goes pass the soft limits. Not sure what is up with that.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by JOGARA

Still getting use to the cords on the screen. Double checking with Mach3 atm just to make 100% sure. But yea it is useful.
Have noticed that some times it goes pass the soft limits. Not sure what is up with that.

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No but I'm using Linuxcnc

help wanted getting the wifi version to work in Linuxcnc
I'm new to linuxcnc so every day is a schoold day
Paul

Hello I´m Stoandl from Austria and hope to get support in this thread .
I use mach3 , CSMIO IP-M and the wireless MPG WHB04B.
The problem is -when using the MPG - z-axis does not move anymore with the keyboard button (pg-up,pg-down) x-axis and y-axis work as usual with the arrow buttons.
Does anyone have an idea to solve the issue ?
thanks Stoandl

I use the same pendant with mach3 on a mill and have no issues with movement of any axis using the mpg or the keyboard keys
The mill is controlled through a standard parallel port

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Stoandl

Hello I´m Stoandl from Austria and hope to get support in this thread .
I use mach3 , CSMIO IP-M and the wireless MPG WHB04B.
The problem is -when using the MPG - z-axis does not move anymore with the keyboard button (pg-up,pg-down) x-axis and y-axis work as usual with the arrow buttons.
Does anyone have an idea to solve the issue ?
thanks Stoandl

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I have a very similar setup and also have some problems with it. I posted something about two weeks ago describing my problems. I'm not sure that the arrow keys work on my Mach3 screen, but I have never worried about it as I always use the MPG for jogging. I'm not surprised, though - there do seem to be some issues with this particular combination of hardware.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Neale

I have a very similar setup and also have some problems with it. I posted something about two weeks ago describing my problems. I'm not sure that the arrow keys work on my Mach3 screen, but I have never worried about it as I always use the MPG for jogging. I'm not surprised, though - there do seem to be some issues with this particular combination of hardware.

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Dear Neale, thanks for your reply .Seems I have to cope with inconveniences with this hardware combination and future issues , nevertheless I trust in the experts of this forum .

Regards Stoandl

Yes, there is a known incompatibility between the CSMIO-IP/M plug-in and the latest versions of Mach3. I am running a slightly older version of Mach3 to avoid the problems which stopped my tool-height setting macros from running correctly. Over the last year or two I have been starting to find one or two other issues which I am still trying to understand but which seemed to arrive when I started using the MPG. Your "jogging" problem is one that I noticed recently but because I do not use the feature I was not sure if it was a real problem or that I had forgotten how the facility worked! I have to say that I do like my MPG and it is always in use for any job I am doing.