I had to go down the rabbit hole on Dupont 2.54mm pin assembly and crimping. I had always just ordered pre-made single pin wires and soldered. Needing to add the two wires to the z-limit 8 pin plug took some research but it’s always great to learn a new skill.
Thanks everyone for the information.
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After some cutting yesterday that ended up going haywire (completely my fault) I now understand why this is so important.
So from a parts list perspective, it looks like I need to buy
- F pin connector (that has two holes) https://www.digikey.com/en/products/detail/molex/0022012027/171991
- Momentary Switch https://www.amazon.com/dp/B075Q9QSX4/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_fabc_WZKGPCMN4489BK1JK4FC
- Longer strands of wire
Questions (I realise these seem ridiculously naive, but I am completely new to the world of electronics and wiring):
a) The momentary switch has 5 wires, my assumption is that I just need to use the black and red.
b) Does it matter with this switch which wire goes in which pin? I wouldn’t think so, but asking anyway.
c) The switch would be “press once for pause” and then “press again to restart”. Can you confirm that I wouldn’t need to hold my finger down on it?
e) any special tools needed to connect the F pin to the wire? If there is already a premade pin with wires hanging out that would be easier for a dummy like me? If so, can you send the link?
g) what gauge wire do you use?
@SLCJedi I’m not in favour of adding this to the actual frame as it wouldn’t be easily accessible if you had an enclosure.
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a) The momentary switch has 5 wires, my assumption is that I just need to use the black and red.
b) Does it matter with this switch which wire goes in which pin? I wouldn’t think so, but asking anyway.
Black and red are used to power the light in the pushbutton… using DC with black=- and red=+… so I would suggest an independent 12V power source (wall wart) if you want to light it up
To wire the pause function, you use the white and blue wire to the controller. Probably doesn’t matter but I would connect the white on the PB to the ground on the controller, and blue to the FH pin.
c) The switch would be “press once for pause” and then “press again to restart”. Can you confirm that I wouldn’t need to hold my finger down on it?
press once to pause, wait for the z to complete it’s upward movement, press again to enable the resume button on the screen and use the mouse and screen button to resume
the PB will not function as a resume button if it’s the same as all previous controller designs
If you link here, you can see the button, enclosure and location I used… location works perfectly for me
https://www.facebook.com/groups/unofficialshapeoko/permalink/865079260566701
Note: the separate connector on previous controllers makes it easier to create a “plug and play” kit. I’m going to see if I can create a kit for the Pro eventually, but I don’t have a Pro (yet) to experiment with.
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Just a little more info - at least the way mine works (non-pro) - This behavior depends on what’s going on when you press the pause button:
If it’s cutting, then yes, press the momentary (no need to hold) and it immediately pauses - the screen does not change … when you press the button a second time, the RESUME button will light up on your screen and you have to click that in order to restart.
However: If you press the Feed Hold during a Bitsetter or Initialization sequence, the shapeoko will immediately hold. When you press again, it will RESUME the sequence where it left off - there is no button on the screen to click.
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Can confirm this is the behavior on my non-pro as well. I only had experience feed holding during those initial movements at first, so my first feed hold during a cut scared me because the head starts moving down into the part before it turns on the router. Now that I’m used to it it doesn’t phase me, but it is a pretty big difference in operation.
From what I can tell, moving to a rapid position shortcut also stays permanently stopped, so you can feed hold if something is in the way but then you will have to tell it to move again in CM.
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Which machine do you have?
The momentary switch doesn’t need an LED. These would be easier to wire.
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I have the Shapeoko Pro.
Just an opinion…but not unlike a panic paddle, you want this thing to be easy to find and hit. These little buttons might look sweet in the front of the Shapeoko Pro, but in a semi-panic situation - will you hit them?
Mine is a big button…can’t miss it…even with gloves on
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This small red button has served its purpose well since I made it a while back. Others I have made these for have nothing but positive comments.
Much of the time, the button isn’t hit to prevent total thermonuclear destruction… often it’s just to stop for a thinking moment, or to check collet tightness, a move in the wrong direction, etc.
Brandon, the connector you describe is not what you need, it’s the pins that go in it!
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Based on the size of the panel, this looks to be almost the same sized diameter as mine - but since there is no shroud around it, it’s effectively a bigger press area than mine. I like it! Whatever you choose needs to stand out and be easy easy to press.
My last press was to stop a spinning bit from plunging into my BitSetter button (my brain seized)…it wasn’t thermonuclear destruction, but I saw the life of my bitsetter (and $120) flying by my eyes! I also have a panic paddle, but I’m glad I was able to hit the pause, let the bit spin down and then complete the job…Feed Hold rules.
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I have done that in casino slot machines…
but, one of these days…
Different pins on the pro. They are different connectors.
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Thanks!
Understand that C3D don’t want to publish wiring diagrams unless there are products sold by C3D due to responsibility…
That said, a simple standalone switch in a plastic box would have been a VERY valuable extra feature to be included in all future Pro shipments. With a breakout extension connector to enable future BitZero connection though.
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Is it common knowledge that the free hold button installation will do the following:
Pause the intialisation process, then restart it next time the free hold button is pressed.
After initialisation completes and it’s waiting for a bit to be installed, accidentally pressing the free hold button - not having done so up until this point - will start the BitSetter process going?
Thanks
Slight addendum:
While machining…
Feed Hold pauses.
Feed Hold again brings up the resume button on screen.
Hit on screen resume to continue.
Thanks, @SLCJedi
I knew about the ones you’ve mentioned and expected that to happen, but I wasn’t expecting the things I mentioned 
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Thanks Mr mingle for bringing up this subject 
Multimeter says that the F signal is present on all X, Y, Z sensor input connectors. All signals seems to be mirrored on all connector and the individual wiring from each limit switch are using different pins except the Probe signal marked “P”. This is used both by the BitZero and the BitSetter.
This gave me a hint that if I ever, in the last minute, saw that I’ve forgot to attach grounding clip to the mill and probing sequence had started, then I could always interrupt the sequence by pushing the Bitsetter button. Especially as first pass is for Z-axis. This knowledge has saved me a few times lately.
This connection scheme indicate that magnetic limit switches might be wired as open collector and that it´s possible to add limit switches in both ends in the future. I am actually a bit surprised that there is no checkbox in carbide motion to make a kind of feed_stop during run if the CNC is trying to move outside the physical workspace.
FEED_HOLD is a “must” - and this is now tested on my Pro. It works I haven´t had time to test it throughly yet, but I think there might be some minor bugs if being used during in some stages of initialization procedure or in Probe mode. Need to check more.
Anyone having a clue about the Y2 signal?
My notes attached as I would really prefered to have this information first day myself. Board version 3.0b
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As you have it wired, it’ll work as intended by the grbl firmware. There’s not much to it, you just need to connect that pin to ground as you are.
While interrupted in probe made for (Z, Y, X) it switched direction in the search for X after “continue” (second push on feed HOLD).
Anything interesting on the bitrunner connector?