Does the Gen-2 Elite series w/Redline Motion Controller without the HMI support external E-Stop

Gen 2 Elite Series
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I’ve got a Gen-2 Elite Foreman on the way (Batch 4), but I’m skipping the HMI in favor of an RPi5 with a touchscreen attached running the RealTime CNC software from the Raspberry Pi image. I will be using the 80mm 1.5kw (120V) spindle kit.

Does anyone know if the Redline controller/RealTime CNC software supports a physical E-Stop wired directly to the Pi’s GPIO or directly to the Redline motion controller? Which pins would be used?

I’d like to add a hardware kill-switch which mimics the HMI e-stop functionality opposed to having to rely solely on the software ‘abort’ button.

Alternatively, if connecting an external e-stop to the RPI/motion controller is not possible I guess I can always use an inline e-stop to kill the mains similar to this one which I found online: ‘Emergency Stop Push Button Switch with Piggyback Plug, IP67 Waterproof Extension Cord with Inline Power Emergency Button Switch, AC/DC 10A-125V’.

Apologies if this question had been asked/answered elsewhere. In my searches I’ve seen similar question for the BB controller but not the Redline.

Thanks in advance for your input.

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I can’t say for sure, but looking at the RL documentation:

  • The RL Screen looks to use a soft comm (via USB) to communicate the ESD status, so you might be able to do it via you GPIO.
  • There are plenty of inputs on the DB-25 Connector that could be used for an direct wired ESD button (IMO the right way to do an ESD) - reference: Inputs & Outputs - RealTime CNC Documenation Hub

I can’t locate any documentation on how you would configure either one in the motion controller or the RPI.

Maybe @Redlinecnc or @RTCNC can give some input.

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The power supply has an estop on it.

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Thank you for your input. I did see the documentation regarding the Inputs and Outputs on the documentation hub however didn’t see how to be able

do it via the connector.

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@OnefinityCNC Thank you for the information. My goal was to be able to locate the button in the most convenient/accessible position based on my layout and workflow – and possibly connecting more than one button to act as an e-stop. The footprint of the Foreman is quite large and I see advantages of having more that one easily accessible e-stop. Having to rely on being able to access the power supply wasn’t necessarily what I wanted to do.

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What I would like to know is why did redline put the estop on the HMI in such an awkward place?

It is most certainly not as quick to locate nor faster to access.

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Where would you have put it?

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same place masso put it

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Both are very accessable as it’s on the HMI. We do find with the estop in front it’s prone to accidental bumps, which is why the estop is at the top of the screen.

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Personally I do not care much where a controller Estop is, as I would always add my own in a location on/at my machine (I did this right away with my Masso G3 based Woodworker.

However, if I did have a preference it would be on top 1) for the reason Onefinity has given, but also because…2) Igt would be less likely to move the controller under a downward vs front push, and 3) It is easily reached/accessible regardless of controller’s orientation at any given time.

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tm and oneF both are good points. I am pretty short and sit low on a stool so the button being lower down on the HMI was more easily reached by me.

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