Read Me: Pokeys plugin Update with Mods. ALWAYS use the latest Firmware upgrade, currently 2.0.7 download from: www.poscope.com Update 7.6: 04Nov2009: 1). Added the ability to Use upto 4 PoKeys simultaneously!!!! Devide IDs of the 4 PoKeys are: 0,1,2, and 3, there are 4 "DLLs" for your use, one for each potiential PoKey. PoKey0.dll, PoKey1.dll, PoKey2.dll, PoKey2.dll This expands the IO potiential and functions to: 440 Digital IO, upto 16 Analogs (4 of those can be converted to Analog output for spindles), 4 LCDs, 4 Matrix Keyboards 8x8, Encoders by the truck loads, 12 PWMs Update 7.5: 02Nov2009: 1). Added another Range for both Inputs/Outputs mapped to User LEDs, for a total of 2 Ranges of PoKeys Inputs to UserLEDs, and 2 Ranges of UserLEDs to PoKeys Outputs. 2). Added 2 Optional extra PWM outputs for LCD use. One is for Back Light LED of the LCD (pin 20/PWM2). The other is for Text Contrast in the LCD (pin 21/PWM1). If you not using PWM Spindle, set up the PoKeys Software, like PWM spindle control, below. (set freq to 25 Micro seconds). Update 7.0: 28Oct2009: 1). Added PWM Spindle support, PWM is configured from the PoKeys Cfg. dialog screen, NOT the Ports/Pins under spindle. PWM will come out of Pin 22 on the pokeys. You will need to use the PoKeys Software to configure PWM to Pin 22, and set the freq. to 25 us (25 Micro Seconds), and enable Pin 22. If you choose to use PWM, you will need to check the "Use PWM" check box on the PoKeys plugin dialog config page. 25us = 40,000 hrtz from the pokeys. Update: 22Oct2009, added Matrix Keyboard support and Quick Pick "PoPendant" support. Update: (15Sep2009) PoKeys Plugin version 4.12 Upgraded Encoders (all 7 of them), to the 32 bit Encoder capability of the latest firmware upgrade to the PoKeys (Pokeys version 2.0.5). Added Encoder "Mapping", you can now set up lets say Encoder1 in PoKeys using the poKeys software, then in the plugin you can check the "Use Encoder1 from PoKeys" and map it to any of the seven Encoder/MPGs in Mach3. I.e. Encoder1 can be mapped to MPG1 in mach by putting a "4" in the box to the right of encoder1, and hitting OK. Slight Time out for LCD refreash was added to give a more stable display for larger LCDs. Update: (29July2009) PoKeys Plugin version 4.0 Added LCD support!!! You can have a: 1/2/4 Row(line) by 8/16/20 Column(Character) Display. You have One "User Label" per Row/line that your LCD supports. You have TWO options to write to the LCD: 1). You can write the the User Labels that you choose in the PoKeys config dialog, from VB in Mach3. 2). The other Option for those who dont want to code in VB is, you can choose to check the "Quick Pick" check box. You will also have to Choose a "Trigger" User LED number, and Put in the "Message" you want displayed when the LED that you Picked goes to "ON". When that LED is OFF it clears that Line. NOTE1: If you want, you can format the DROS into the UserLabels in VB (like in the Macropump), to display X, Y, Z or what ever DRO you want to display in "Live Time" on the LCD. (i.e. Pendants). NOTE2: You no longer need to unplug the PoKeys before you configure it with the dialog. I moved ALL the configuration stuff to its OWN Dialog Screen. It appears below the menu option of "PoKeys Diag.." it is called: "PoKeys Cfg.." NOTE3: there is "Error" cheaking in your Message lengths, if you try and put a message that has more Characters than the LCD supports on a line, then you will get an Error message, on the PoKeys LCD, and in Machs Error status line, and in the "UserLabel" that you where trying to fill. NOTE4: there is "Cutouts" of the pins that the LCD uses, both in the Ports/Pins selections, and User LED selections. the LCD uses pins: 23-26, and 28-30, Pin 43 also becomes "Used" if you turn on Analog Spindle output. ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// 1st modification: I added the Option that you can have Analog Spindle Speed control OUT, (10bit res, 0-1023), on Pin43. The UserLEDs for mapping discreate inputs/outputs are all working as well. Finished up the Flash Help screen that has a copy of the Users manual in it. Got to go out today, but should finish the installer, tonight or tommorrow. PoKeys.set screen has On/Off control of 55 UserLEDs, (you can only turn on/off the ones you choose as outputs, since the ones you choose for inputs are always updated by the PoKeys). It has a Display for the Value of 1-4 Analog In, and the optional Analog Out that is tied to the DRO99 of the spindle. you have all 7 of the Encoder DROs on screen for your use as well. Thanks goes out also to "Matt", of Pokeys who helped me get the Protocol formatted to map out an Analog out for the spindle. Note: We found a "Bug" in the hardware that Boris will be putting on his website, BUT, if you have Pin4 as an input, and it is grounded when the PoKeys is plugged into the USB, (or the computer boots up with it plugged in), then the PoKeys will not boot up!!! So watch out for that. Note: you have to have the Pokeys hardware unpluged, to configure the ULEDS and spindle control on the diagnostic dialog. becuase it will constantly update, and you cant change any thing other wise. After you make your changes, plugin the pokeys, close and reopen mach3. Scott