#flex-dev Logs
Nov 18 2025
#flex-dev Calendar
04:09 AM Tom_L: morning
04:42 AM JT-Cave: morning
07:13 AM Tom_L: JT-Cave, do you still have a 7i80 with the old xilinx chip?
07:15 AM JT-Cave: I have a 7i80HD-16
07:15 AM Tom_L: i may grab a spare when i get ready to put the pi5 on the mill
07:16 AM Tom_L: i'd rather not have 2 different boards to deal with
07:18 AM Tom_L: i don't see any 7i80 in the store
07:19 AM JT-Cave: in my store?
07:19 AM Tom_L: yup
07:20 AM Tom_L: the one you have has 3 idc50 connectors?
07:21 AM JT-Cave: yup
07:21 AM JT-Cave: want me to put it back in the store?
07:21 AM Tom_L: i don't feel up to rewirning the whole box for a 7i96s...
07:21 AM Tom_L: how much are they?
07:21 AM Tom_L: like 150bux?
07:21 AM JT-Cave: no clue
07:23 AM Tom_L: https://store.mesanet.com/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=62&search=7i80
07:23 AM Tom_L: doesn't look like he has any left
07:25 AM Tom_L: gotta run.. i'll figure it out later
07:25 AM JT-Cave: ok
07:25 AM Tom_L: don't get rid of it :)
12:21 PM Tom_L: what enables the blinkin leds?
12:22 PM Tom_L: err flashing estop
12:39 PM Tom_L: PR #410 for deb
12:59 PM lcnc-relay: <AllAboutJake@> https://jauriarts.org/_heisenbridge/media/jauriarts.org/gChEuPqRXvsYHxoLcfAuFsJD/NSY0Fo075ms/image.png
12:59 PM lcnc-relay: <AllAboutJake@> this dynamic poperty, which says "blink when this control is unchecked"
01:00 PM lcnc-relay: <AllAboutJake@> (can also be checked, which would be "blink when this control is checked")
01:00 PM lcnc-relay: <AllAboutJake@> and an additional QSS defintiion to define the style when blinking
01:00 PM lcnc-relay: <AllAboutJake@> QPushButton#estop_pb:!checked[flashing="True"] {
01:00 PM lcnc-relay: background-color: red;
01:00 PM lcnc-relay: }
02:48 PM JT-Shop: Tom_L, https://gnipsel.com/linuxcnc/flexgui/style.html#flashing
02:48 PM JT-Shop: https://mesaus.com/product/7i80hd-16/
02:49 PM Tom_L: what's shipping usually run on a board?
02:54 PM JT-Shop: 8-10 just depends on the distance
02:54 PM lcnc-relay: <alex.w#18266@> yeah, mesa shipping is reasonable
02:56 PM Tom_L: open that up and i'll grab it
02:56 PM Tom_L: about a stone's throw away :)
02:58 PM JT-Shop: ok give me a minute
02:58 PM Tom_L: you just have 1?
02:59 PM JT-Shop: yup
02:59 PM Tom_L: ok
03:00 PM * JT-Shop tests the shim he ground down today to see if I got better end play
03:02 PM Tom_L: will that fit in a rural box? the ass won't deliver it otherwise
03:02 PM Tom_L: 'rural box'... curbside also because of them
03:06 PM JT-Shop: well there are two sizes of mail boxes...
03:06 PM Tom_L: there you go
03:07 PM Tom_L: it's fine, if it won't fit i'll just have to pick it up the next day
03:07 PM Tom_L: they're being real ass's
03:08 PM JT-Shop: the box is 9 7/16 x 6 7/16 x 2 3/16
03:08 PM Tom_L: should be fine
03:12 PM Tom_L: she says anything i'll ask about the last 10-15 amazon orders...
03:14 PM JT-Shop: crap I still don't have the correct end play and I'm out of thicker shims
03:14 PM Tom_L: she showed me a video on that just the other day was what made me thing of that
03:15 PM Tom_L: shim too thin ?
03:15 PM Tom_L: not possible to stack shims is it?
03:16 PM JT-Shop: it's a thou bigger than the one I did yesterday and I still only have 0.0005" end play...
03:16 PM JT-Shop: dunno what is up
03:16 PM Tom_L: what's it supposed to be?
03:20 PM JT-Shop: 0.001 - 0.008
03:21 PM JT-Shop: I try to get 0.001 - 0.0015
03:29 PM rdtsc-w: G64 P0.0015
03:29 PM rdtsc-w: ;)
03:43 PM rdtsc-w: what requires 1-8 thou?\
03:51 PM Tom_L: so thicker gets you more endplay
03:52 PM JT-Shop: it should
04:02 PM JT-Shop: only one shim and one spacer
04:08 PM JT-Shop: https://www.corvettecentral.com/product/image/large/582159_582159-3.main.jpg
04:09 PM JT-Shop: tried to do a flex pull in the cave and it failed...
04:11 PM Tom_L: says it went on this end
04:11 PM Tom_L: for the deb?
04:12 PM Tom_L: PR #410
04:12 PM JT-Shop: yup, did a pull here with no issues
04:12 PM Tom_L: oh
04:12 PM Tom_L: i screwed myself the other day when i cloned it
04:12 PM JT-Shop: something got wonky down in the cave
04:12 PM Tom_L: messed up all the git settings
04:12 PM lcnc-relay: <AllAboutJake@> Pull #411 sent. I think this really makes the keyboard work nicely
04:12 PM Tom_L: now i gotta find my 7i80 config
04:13 PM lcnc-relay: <AllAboutJake@> disables jogging when in certain controls (QEditLines, etc) and re-enables when leaving
04:13 PM Tom_L: this one has it loaded
04:14 PM JT-Shop: that could be cornfusing I think
04:14 PM Tom_L: me too
04:14 PM lcnc-relay: <AllAboutJake@> I thikn its really bad to be editing the MDI and press an arrow and not have the cursor move, and instead have hte machine move.
04:14 PM JT-Shop: user would not know why the jog is not working
04:15 PM JT-Shop: I think it's worse to press the arrow and jog does not work
04:15 PM Tom_L: i don't think i ever use keyboard.. i jog with my pendant
04:15 PM JT-Shop: if you have a keyboard and a mouse and keyboard jog is enabled then use the mouse to move the cursor or uncheck keyboard jog
04:16 PM Tom_L: does too many things behind the user's back
04:16 PM JT-Shop: yup
04:17 PM Tom_L: ok ports are verified and --readhmid works
04:17 PM JT-Shop: Axis only allows jog when the manual tab is in focus
04:18 PM JT-Shop: the flexibility of flex makes that not possible
04:19 PM lcnc-relay: <AllAboutJake@> I have to check how other UIs handle this. but I really disagree that for keyboard users this could be a crash.
04:19 PM lcnc-relay: <alex.w#18266@> I jog all the time with keyboard despite also having a pendant
04:19 PM lcnc-relay: <AllAboutJake@> if you're in a text box you expect the text box to take precidence
04:19 PM lcnc-relay: <alex.w#18266@> Depending on the style of jogging I'm just faster being able to jog in multiple axis at once
04:19 PM JT-Shop: just uncheck keyboard jog
04:20 PM JT-Shop: it was actually tricky to get the event before everything
04:23 PM Tom_L: is that shim like a washer?
04:23 PM JT-Shop: if the text box is the only thing in the current focus and your not using it and expect a jog it won't so you don't know why
04:23 PM Tom_L: turn out some steel stock and surface grind another one
04:23 PM JT-Shop: pretty much a hardened shim
04:23 PM Tom_L: ok
04:24 PM JT-Shop: I just ordered a 0.145" one
04:24 PM JT-Shop: and I'll start over
04:24 PM Tom_L: nothing else is keeping it tight?
04:24 PM lcnc-relay: <AllAboutJake@> when does a text box get focus without you selecting it?
04:25 PM JT-Shop: the shim prevent preload on the bearings
04:25 PM JT-Shop: if you select a tab with a text box it gets focus
04:27 PM lcnc-relay: <AllAboutJake@> Brb
04:28 PM JT-Shop: the flange nut is torqued to 100 ft lbs so the spacer and shim set the end play
04:29 PM Tom_L: the spacer is one size?
04:29 PM * JT-Shop spend a lot of hours making jog work when a line edit is visible
04:30 PM Tom_L: and the adjustment is with the shim..
04:30 PM JT-Shop: yup the spacer is one size and the shims make up the difference in the bearing housing and bearings
04:30 PM JT-Shop: yup
04:30 PM Tom_L: did you mic the spacer
04:30 PM JT-Shop: no
04:30 PM Tom_L: that could have an effect
04:31 PM Tom_L: the spacer butts against the shim from what i can tell
04:31 PM JT-Shop: hmm yup if the ends are not parallel that could screw it up
04:31 PM Tom_L: between the inner & outer bearings
04:32 PM JT-Shop: so there's a setup shaft and you assemble everything with the thickest shim then measure the end play then change the shim to get the end play you want
04:32 PM Tom_L: convenient
04:32 PM Tom_L: i'd check the spacer too
04:33 PM Tom_L: do we have specs on it?
04:33 PM JT-Shop: so if you have 0.010 of end play with the 0.145 spacer you subtract 0.009 from 0.145 and that should be the perfect spacer thickness
04:34 PM JT-Shop: shim not spacer
04:34 PM Tom_L: i knew that :)
04:34 PM JT-Shop: the spacer length is not relevant
04:34 PM Tom_L: right
04:35 PM Tom_L: as long as it's ends are parallel
04:39 PM Tom_L: that uses a 'leaf spring' across the axle on the rear right?
04:39 PM Tom_L: composite or whatever
04:40 PM lcnc-relay: <AllAboutJake@> JT-Shop: yeah so in the implementation, changing tabs (or clicking anywhere outside of a text-editable control) does not set the focus to the text fields, so this doesn't happen.
04:40 PM lcnc-relay: <AllAboutJake@> It seems like its 2-against-1 though 🙂
04:40 PM lcnc-relay: <AllAboutJake@> chalk this up to something I'll keep in my repository.
04:41 PM JT-Shop: I tested quite a bit and if a line edit is there it gets focus
04:41 PM JT-Shop: it's not about 2 to 1 it's about being consistent and not cornfusing users
04:41 PM JT-Shop: it's simple to just uncheck keyboard jogging and do your editing
04:42 PM lcnc-relay: <AllAboutJake@> yes, until you forget and then go "on I misplaced a decimal point on this MDI move" and press an arrow (and get a jog instead)
04:43 PM Tom_L: backspace
04:43 PM lcnc-relay: <AllAboutJake@> I do admit that other UIs maybe have it easier.
04:43 PM JT-Shop: gui's that don't give you freedom can control this much better but then you don't get the flexibility
04:43 PM lcnc-relay: <AllAboutJake@> yeah doesn't help when you're muscle memory kick in and you reach for the arrows. I've done it a few times in the simulator, so I know it'll happen to me on the machine.
04:44 PM Tom_L: yes, they are commited to their widget placement
04:44 PM Tom_L: and can control the behavior better when it doesn't move
04:45 PM JT-Shop: trying to copy Axis keyboard jog can be tricky... I'm not against using a modifier for keyboard jog
04:46 PM JT-Shop: for example Ctrl + arrows or pg up/down could be jog
04:47 PM lcnc-relay: <AllAboutJake@> yeah I see what you mean that AXIS doesn't have any text editing on the manual set of controls.
04:48 PM lcnc-relay: <AllAboutJake@> you can snip out this part, which should still work when keyboard jog is disabled:
04:48 PM lcnc-relay: <AllAboutJake@> https://jauriarts.org/_heisenbridge/media/jauriarts.org/dzlxoIifplGBiSqwmCJJSUnX/WgX69TbOJGg/mdi.gif
04:48 PM lcnc-relay: <AllAboutJake@> (up arrows you can't see lol)
04:49 PM Tom_L: on a pure touch setup, you can't do that either
04:49 PM Tom_L: the keyboard pops up
04:50 PM JT-Shop: deer are up here getting some chow
04:50 PM Tom_L: cool
04:51 PM lcnc-relay: <AllAboutJake@> True. I’m coming from a non touch setup and maybe I just need to ditch the keyboard
04:51 PM JT-Shop: I'm still stumped why the 0.001 thicker shim didn't give me more end play
04:51 PM Tom_L: it is hard for me to get used to the touch gui since i've never used one
04:51 PM Tom_L: JT-Shop, that's why i was asking if something else was the cause
04:52 PM Tom_L: the bearings are seated firm wherever they go right?
04:52 PM JT-Shop: it's a pretty straight forward setup so unless there was a bit of something before
04:53 PM JT-Shop: the inner race on the setup tool is a sliding fit
04:53 PM Tom_L: ok
04:53 PM lcnc-relay: <AllAboutJake@> For reference, not that Mach3 is works kid of like the pull request. When you’re in the Textbox with cursor, keyboard arrows control the cursor. Not that mach3 is some sort of gold standard. Just that this behavior isn’t unprecedented
04:53 PM JT-Shop: once you get the end play you want you have to press the bearings on the axle
04:53 PM * JT-Shop tried mack once and deleted it right away
04:54 PM Tom_L: i also assume the setup tool dimensions match the axle
04:54 PM JT-Shop: the only dimension that matters is the length of the spacer and the shim and the length of the bearing housing
04:55 PM Tom_L: and all that goes on the tool
04:55 PM Tom_L: to set the preload
04:55 PM JT-Shop: there is no preload
04:55 PM Tom_L: or lack thereof :)
04:55 PM lcnc-relay: <alex.w#18266@> JT-Shop: This would be annoying on the "remote" Rii style keyboards like this. That is what I use on my CNC machine most of the time.
04:55 PM lcnc-relay: <alex.w#18266@> https://jauriarts.org/_heisenbridge/media/jauriarts.org/OLdexpoonVPLrCaqYdzJLfih/smg5lfcuO9s/711MbtClUXL.png
04:55 PM JT-Shop: 0.001 to 0.008 end play
04:55 PM Tom_L: saw that
04:56 PM Tom_L: and you have .0005
04:56 PM JT-Shop: yup
04:56 PM Tom_L: put it in the freezer then check it :)
04:56 PM lcnc-relay: <alex.w#18266@> I use an older Rii i8 with a slightly different layout, but it is still annoying to use modifiers
04:58 PM JT-Shop: doesn't even look possible without up/down arrow keys and pg up/down keys
04:59 PM xxcoder: one of my early pendant plan was to use snes controller
05:00 PM JT-Shop: what is that?
05:01 PM Tom_L: game controller
05:01 PM xxcoder: super nintendo controller
05:01 PM JT-Shop: ah
05:01 PM xxcoder: the 4 buttons for XY, and select/start for z
05:02 PM JT-Shop: I have a game pad on the plasma
05:02 PM xxcoder: + would not be used
05:10 PM JT-Shop: using a keyboard to control things is always a compromise
05:14 PM lcnc-relay: <alex.w#18266@> JT-Shop, the arrow keys are on the upper left, around the OK button
05:15 PM lcnc-relay: <alex.w#18266@> but that one doesn't have good pgup/pgdn like the i8
05:15 PM JT-Shop: ah I see them now
05:15 PM lcnc-relay: <alex.w#18266@> i8 layout is better, I just pasted too quickly. This is the one that I actually use:
05:15 PM lcnc-relay: <alex.w#18266@> https://jauriarts.org/_heisenbridge/media/jauriarts.org/RQCyvtvQTJOybhbKryMFDVSV/BKtpTO8WY2Y/71mGTB0JML.png
05:15 PM JT-Shop: so there are two left and right arrow keys?
05:16 PM JT-Shop: and no pg up/down keys
05:16 PM lcnc-relay: <AllAboutJake@> For refernce: QtDragon disables the MDI text box when in manual mode, and you have to enable MDI mode to use the textbox
05:16 PM lcnc-relay: <alex.w#18266@> look at the black one
05:16 PM JT-Shop: so same as unchecking the keyboard jog key
05:17 PM lcnc-relay: <AllAboutJake@> well no, because you can enter text boxes with keyboard jog enabled
05:17 PM lcnc-relay: <AllAboutJake@> if enabling keyboard jog also disabled all text-entry fields, then that would kinda be with QtDragon does
05:20 PM JT-Shop: interesting but that seems to be annoying
05:20 PM * JT-Shop calls it a night
05:20 PM lcnc-relay: <alex.w#18266@> qtdragon's setup has worked well in practice for me for a year. Most of the time I can jog. If I enter MDI input box then I can't jog anymore, but my cursor keys work. If I click back in the backplot then I can jog
05:21 PM lcnc-relay: <AllAboutJake@> alex.w#18266@: what you're describing is what I tried to enable in Flex -- when you're in a text box, the keyboard jog is temporarily disabled till you leave the textbox
05:21 PM lcnc-relay: <AllAboutJake@> but I was just playing with the QtDragon sim and I thought it just kep things completely exclusive using modes
05:22 PM lcnc-relay: <AllAboutJake@> maybe I did it wrong.
05:22 PM lcnc-relay: <AllAboutJake@> JT-Shop: g'nite @JT-Shop
05:23 PM lcnc-relay: <AllAboutJake@> I find the "temporary disable of jog when you have a text cursor" thing very natural, so I'll probablty keep it for my machine.... but I understand if other have different sensibilities
05:24 PM lcnc-relay: <AllAboutJake@> _goes back to tweaking buttons, labels, and colors :)_
06:28 PM lcnc-relay: <AllAboutJake@> Another interesting focus case is error messges seem to pull the focus into the "errors_pte" box (intentially, its in the code)
06:46 PM Tom_L: axis runs them up along the right bottom side
06:46 PM Tom_L: rather intrusive
07:18 PM lcnc-relay: <AllAboutJake@> Yeah. I mean if you jog before coming off estop is the perfect example. It triggers and error and the focus is pulled to the errors box.
07:20 PM Tom_L: there should be no motion prior to enabling estop
07:23 PM lcnc-relay: <AllAboutJake@> Yeah no motion. Just the cursor jumps to the error box