The FluidDial CNC Pendant for FluidNC

This shows off a really practical, but low cost CNC pendant.
Here are some links.
FluidNC Wiki: wiki.fluidnc.com
Pendant Wiki Page: wiki.fluidnc.com/en/hardware/o...
Source code: github.com/bdring/PendantsFor...
FluidNC Github repo: github.com/bdring/FluidNC

[@whitneydesignlabs8738]

Supercool, Bart! FluidNC just keeps getting better and better. What a useful, low cost, upgrade.

[@design8studio]

Thanks for this! I got my Fluid Dial pendant printed, assembled, and wired (on pendant side), and firmware built and uploaded. Still need to do the wiring connection on the board side. I had an issue with the case not allowing enough room to connect the power to the dial, and I wound up remixing the printed base to add 7mm to its depth. The power input socket on the dial came with a green plastic "power block" insert, but the printed base was not allowing enough room for it, and also did not have enough room for using 2.4mm pin housing type connector either. The remixed version seems to be OK. Thanks again!

[@AJB2K3]

Very cool, I hadn't even considered using the M5Dial for this.

[@philip_fletcher]

Very cool. I very nearly went with the 'display within MPG' for the Manualmatic Pendant (see bio/channel) but needed a touch screen and a little more real estate! Well done.

[@criznach]

This is awesome. My M5 dial just shipped. :D

[@keithh9491]

Thanks for the initiative. Like it.

[@bmillier]

Very fine project. I landed on this YT site while looking for some documentation on the M5 Dial's software routines. M5 has very little documentation on the software routines for the display, etc. Looks like you have figured it all out. From your code, I believe you use PlatformIO, which I don't use (I use Visual Micro plugin for VS for any Arduino projects I do)
While I wasn't thinking of the M5Dial for a pendant, I also have a homemade CNC milling machine and a fancy pendant that I built with a lot of mech. buttons , and a very fancy encoder wheel that is industrial quality (although I got it from Bangood).

[@jon_raymond]

Epic!

[@Intervaloverdose]

I really love your ethos @engserve! Stumbled across (many recommendations for) your work while I was checking out tasty, tempting Fluidnc stuff. And now I can't wait to start using some of your gear as well! GRBL, Fusion and Easel should be really enough for me, but no! Not not now I've seen ESP32s being wielded by Bart Dring. Big wants :)
I just need to finish a minor *complete transformation* of my now sloppy old 3018 engraver into a solid 3D carver. I Have almost all the bits for the job, except maybe fasteners, I keep ordering the wrong ones lol.

[@dcmotive]

Nice work!

[@claudedicesare6817]

Splendid !

[@design8studio]

Awesome! Thank you!

[@AzaB2C]

Neat Pendant!

[@suretechlock4692]

This is awesome thank you. One small request is a 5th screw at the top. :)

[@criznach]

I bought the pre-made connectors linked on Amazon. They fit the dial ports nicely, but only if you cut off the locking tabs. They do still seem to click into place and are fairly secure.

[@engserve]

You are correct. I added a note about that to the wiki page.

[@davecgriffith]

Sweet!

[@design8studio]

If you get a chance, please post a link to which buttons you used (perhaps either in the pendant wiki or here the description).

[@engserve]

They are usually called anti-vandal buttons. Any button that fits in a 12mm hole should work. Added to wiki wiki.fluidnc.com/en/hardware/official/M5Dial_Pendant

[@design8studio]

@@engserveI'm genuinely excited about this project. It occurs to me that if a file browser could be programed into it to display what is on the SD card and allow starting jobs from this pendant, it could reduce need for a smart phone or tablet. Don't know if that's possible, just an idea.

[@nerddub]

@@design8studio almost always you want a momentary switch for these types of inputs, but it may be worth checking up on these functions and their uses before you attempt a project like this, maybe start with something much simpler to learn on, there's tons of beginner arduino kits out there

[@design8studio]

@@nerddub Already ordered momentary switches. Thanks. I'm quite confident this project won't be an overreach for me and others in the V1E maker community. We're already eyeing enhancing it, and our community is populated with the brains to help. Thanks again.

[@allted]

Soooo, if we can select and start a file on the SD card, this would be full-featured and most would not even need to sign in to the Wi-Fi. Is it possible?

[@engserve]

Yes, it is totally possible and I bet someone adds that in the future, but I wanted to optimize it as a pendant. It is more of a UI challenge than a programming one.

[@allted]

@@engserve That is great to hear!

[@CraigHollabaugh]

You fancy!

[@midwestcyberpunk]

Looks great. I may have asked before but for what do you use this little cnc I always see in your demo vids? Pcbs?

[@engserve]

I used to use it to make wooden drink coasters. Now I primarily use it for FluidNC testing because it fits easily on my desk.

[@design8studio]

Hey, any chance of adding to the wiki, a photo showing where this gets connected to a 6-pack board? - Update: I took one glance and figured it out ... never mind about the pic!

[@zoeyzhang9866]

If any custom PCBs may help for any upgrade work? If so, would love to sponsor! (PCBWay zoey)

[@tmilker]

I've scanned through the github and the wiki but I can't find any information about hardware controllers that you'd load FluidNC/grbl_ESP32 firmware on to. Is it your Grbl_ESP32 CNC Development Board V4.1 on Tindie? It's out of stock at the moment, are there are alternatives?

[@engserve]

There are a lot. Here is a list of the ones I know about. wiki.fluidnc.com/en/hardware/existing_hardware

[@tmilker]

@@engserve Thanks! I want to turn this cheap CNC engraver into a foamboard cutter and I have a feeling I'm going to have to replace the guts with something better.

[@TravisPickle]

is their anyone have one for sale? Thank you

[@elgaragecreativo]

😘😘😘😘😘😘