Looking for advise on how to add external jog buttons

[salmizar (Chris)]

Machine: K40, running C3D, Z Table, Stepper driver.

Firmware: Smoothie

Problem/ Question: I’ve installed a LightObjects Z-Table and have everything working properly. I can control it through lightBurn as expected. Limit switches are on the way to also add. My problem is, I’d like to add external Z axis jog buttons and I mistakenly assumed this would be a plug and play endeavor.

I came across this post and I believe it has the answer to my query, but its since been closed. I’m hoping someone can point me in the right direction WRT “set up basic jog-some-set-amount buttons using the switch construct in the stock config file”

Upgrade Z Table with stepper but keep manual control

Joe, using the Graphic LCD Control Panel is a good way to manually control your laser. You can jog the motors around with it quite easily. This is probably the most popular and easiest method of controlling movement outside of using a computer. I’d also recommend checking out our Knowledge Base article on setting up a Z table: After the basics are all working, it might be possible to set up basic jog-some-set-amount buttons using the switch construct in the stock config file, no firmware cha…

Thanks!

[loather]

You’d have to remap some unused pins to motion control switches. Unused endstop pins may be a good choice here. You’ll have to remove the assignment from the config file and add a switch definition.

The documentation from Smoothie’s website to do this is here:
https://smoothieware.org/switch

I’ve never tried messing with this, but it looks like it’d be pretty straightforward, and the example there even has a Z+10 button defined. Looks like you may be able to modify that to do what you need.

You’re in uncharted territory here - good luck.