Right then. Progress is being made. Been a bit busy on other stuff.
After tweaking around, and basically trying to work out what I would like it to do, I am starting to make headway.
Slightly redesigned the pages to allow for the icons I need (pretty easy to change them).
The lighting icon glows yellow when switched on, and the motor (spindle) and vacuum icons have animated spinning arrow on them when active.
This screen is 4.3" (about 100mmx60mm I would think), and plenty big enough.
However fitting it onto the larger 5" or 7" touchscreens would not be that difficult.
These 4.3" screens are about £35 and I happened to have one.
Probably going to use a Lipo and a small RF module and make this a fully wireless mini tablet.
Only needs a Pro Mini on board, so the whole handset should be something like 130mm x 80mm x 22mm. That might vary slightly.
Will design and 3d print a case later.
Managed to get Marlin Serial1 up and running reliably, so this tablet talk to the Rambo with Repetier and the LCD still connected and working alongside (never use the LCD anyway).
The RF module receiver could just connect to the Rambo. Not sure yet. Or I might add another Pro Mini at the receiving end, then I can use the outputs on that to control the spindle, vacuum, lights etc (rather than the Rambo outputs).
Page 1 shows RPM (using my optical sensor). And the X,Y,Z co-ords AS SET BY THIS HANDSET.
Shortcuts on the right are for:
G code shortcuts page (press a button and the complete command is sent for you)
Manual G code entry
Settings
The G Code shortcuts has all the usual ones you would need.
The manual G code page works by pressing the prefix button (left of the top text slot).
This cycles through the first letter (G,M,F etc).
Then simply enter your required code and press GO.
Settings has Piezo on/off, limit switch facilities, bed levelling etc. I will probably fill this out as I discover new features I would like.
Currently have voltages on this page.
I may add the facility to have a speed slider (Feedrate) or something. Who knows!
My biggest ‘to do’ (as mentioned in a different post), is to possibly try and find a way of ‘aligning’ the Repetier and my controllers co-ords.
Currently, my controller tracks its own position, as does the Rambo and Repetier.
Not so worried about Repetier, but it would be nice to retrieve the position from the Rambo and use that.
I have managed to obtain a whole pile of serial data upon each move from the Rambo. I have yet to determine (or even look at) the pile of bytes it spits out.