Controlling ioSender with Arduino Leonardo as Keyboard

[mintracer]

Hi all!

well i would like to build a small easy working controlbox to control the simple commands as for example

Program run - green Button - ALT+R
Pause - orange Button - Space
Stop - red Button - ALT-S
etc...

The Arduino Leonardo can act as an HID and simulate a Keyboard...

Now my Problem, not all Shortcuts are working... even not with a real Keyboard...

Do i need to activate them?

I´m running Windows 11

Thx for helping me out!

Cheers... :)

[terjeio]

Now my Problem, not all Shortcuts are working... even not with a real Keyboard...

Which?

FYI you can write out the current mappings by clicking on Save keymappings in the Settings: App tab.

[mintracer]

all tested with real keyboard

don´t work -->

ALT + R (grbl mainscreen)
Space
CRTL+H
CRTL+U

---

works ->
ALT+R (Probing Tab)
CRTL+SHIFT (Axis XYZ) to zero
CRTL+SHIFT+0
CRTL+SHIFT+R
CRTL++/- (not on the NUMPAD)
CRTL+SHIFT++/- (not on the NUMPAD)
all the Functionkeys for the macros (F1, F2 ...)

[terjeio]

All works for me in the Grbl tab (Win10).
ALT + R requires program to be loaded.
Space requires program to be running.
CTRL + H requires homing enabled.
CTRL + U requires controller in a mode that requires unlock ("<Unlock> to continue." shown in status bar). Use SHIFT + CTRL + R to perform a soft reset first if in alarm mode.

[mintracer]

I tested the Shortcuts with a Job loaded, and running...

[terjeio]

Do you have another program running that claims the keys then?

[mintracer]

no, the strange thing is, that in the probing tab, ALT+R works... so when some App would claim the shortcut, it should work their either...
maybe its Windows 11 - BTW. im running the latest original ioSender, nothing self compiled.

[pad73]

The same problem for me. Spacebar and other Ctrl+ and Alt+ shortcuts are not working. Only numpad selecting of distance and feed is working. I can use only cursor (mouse) and click. Im have win10.

[mintracer]

what i thought about was, that maybe the ASCII are different depending on the Keyboard Layout...

[terjeio]

what i thought about was, that maybe the ASCII are different depending on the Keyboard Layout...

I am using keycodes not the characters produced so the layout should not matter.

Perhaps I should add a startup option that logs the keycodes to console?

[mintracer]

this would be great for testing / debugging purposes...

[terjeio]

I've uploaded a special edge version, ioSender Edge Keytest.zip, that logs keypresses to the console when Verbose is checked.
Note that since logging is done in keypress event handlers it might interfere with normal operation.
Examples:
Pressing space for feed hold:

<Run|MPos:66.018,91.805,-13.770|Bf:9,1023|FS:662,500>
Space None None False
<Run|MPos:67.768,92.068,-13.770|Bf:14,1023|FS:292,500>
Space None None True
<Hold:1|MPos:67.783,91.148,-13.770|Bf:18,1023|FS:0,500>

There are two events logged, keydown and keyup. The keyup log above has true added to it since the key was claimed as a shortcut.
Note that "printable" characters like Space will not be claimed as a shortcut if an input field has focus. E.g. if the MDI has focus, click in the Program, 3D View or Console tab to move focus away.

Pressing Alt + R for cycle start (with gcode loaded):

System R Alt False
LeftAlt None None False
System R None True
<Idle|MPos:64.560,89.298,-13.770|Bf:35,231|FS:0,500|A:CF>
[GC:G1 G54 G92 G17 G21 G90 G94 G49 G98 G50 M4 M8 T0 F100 S500.]
<Idle|MPos:64.560,89.298,-13.770|Bf:35,231|FS:0,500|WCO:61.260,85.768,-14.840>
[GC:G1 G54 G92 G17 G21 G90 G94 G49 G98 G50 M4 M8 T0 F100 S500.]
<Idle|MPos:64.560,89.298,-13.770|Bf:35,231|FS:0,500>
<Run|MPos:64.508,89.243,-13.770|Bf:0,435|FS:788,500>
[GC:G2 G54 G92 G17 G21 G90 G94 G49 G98 G50 M4 M8 T0 F1500 S500.]

Do not use this version for regular work!

[mintracer]

i will test it... thank you for the support!!

[pad73]

I can test today evening.

[pad73]

Great, this "keyversion" works well. I tested basic functions only ... Home, Start, Hold .... other keys which I tested before, it means switching feed, distance, are also OK.
Only Start (Alt+R) makes not only Start but also some Windows sound. I don´t know why. IMHO you can think if is possible to put Start Cycle and Feed Hold to only one key (Spacebar). Even situation you can only start program or only pause (feed) program. So big key seems to be ideal than Alt+R. But nevermind, it is important it works now. Thank you.

Is it possible to make own shortcuts? Not with macro function. Only to change "letter" definition of some commands

[terjeio]

Only Start (Alt+R) makes not only Start but also some Windows sound. I don´t know why.

I do not know either. Have to ask Microsoft?

IMHO you can think if is possible to put Start Cycle and Feed Hold to only one key (Spacebar).

I do not want that, cycle start should be a two-key combination for safety reasons.

Is it possible to make own shortcuts? Not with macro function. Only to change "letter" definition of some commands

Yes, write the shortcuts to a file by clicking on Save keymappings in the Settings: App tab and edit it to match your needs.