Makesmith-joystick

Control a MakesmithCNC machine with a simple analog joystick.

The MakesmithCNC machine was a Kickstarter project in 2014 to make an extremely low-cost desktop CNC router, using a laser-cut plywood structure and a closed-loop servo-driven motion system controlled by an Arduino Mega 2560 equipped with a custom driver board. After building the kit, I concluded that it wasn't going to be practical as a CNC router, and set it aside. In early 2017, it occurred to me that the machine would be usable as a platform for an inexpensive USB microscope. For that application, none of the CNC control features were needed, just a simple interactive joystick to allow the operator to position the microscope with respect to the work.

Getting Started

Connect a two-axis analog joystick with an integrated pushbutton (I used Adafruit product 512) to +5V, GND, A15 (X), A14 (Y), and A13 (button) on the MakesmithCNC's Arduino board.

Program the Arduino with this sketch. Now the machine is under joystick control. Press the button on the joystick to enable X/Y control of the machine. Press the button again to enable Z axis (focus) control.

If you're using a USB microscope with the machine, mount it where the spindle motor would go, and connect it via USB according to the microscope's instructions.

Prerequisites

You'll need:

• a MakesmithCNC desktop CNC router, assembled and working
• a computer with the Arduino development environment on it
• a 2-axis analog joystick with a button, like Adafruit #512
• some wire

Author

• Paul Williamson - Initial work - MustBeArt

License

This project is licensed under the MIT License - see the LICENSE.md file for details

Acknowledgments

• Bar Smith and Tom Beckett created the MakesmithCNC