I bought my joystick with my 1F and having the same problem.
When I first setup the joystick the bottom two LEDs were lit and I could only control X and Y. Then after some searching on here I found out the mode has to be changed so the top two LEDs need to be on for the Z control to work. With a bit of trial and error at how long to hold the mode button down I finally got it to the correct setting, but over half the time when the joystick goes to sleep (after the 5 minute timeout) the mode reverts back and I have to set it up again.
"Awesome. So glad you got it working! This is also good for us to note in the instructions!"
Somehow that never made it into the instructions I received with my joystick from Onefinity. Oh, wait, there were no instructions with the joystick other than the simple manual from the manufacturer.
Right now I’m just getting my feet wet and used to using the machine, but this will be a PITA if it occurs every time I go to use the joystick.
So is there a way to have the joystick always startup in the mode needed to function properly with the Onefinity controller?
That is an interesting problem. It’s been over a year since I set mine up, and once the two blue lights on top were lit it has always remained that way. Not sure what would cause yours to change back.
Is yours wireless? I was wondering that has anything to do with it.
I had to reset it three times today. And I can’t always get it to the top two quadrants on the first try. So I end up spending a minute to be able to use the joystick for a couple seconds.
I will have to contact support after the holidays. I’m sure they have more important things to worry about now. But in the mean time I wonder if everyone who has experienced this is using a wireless joystick or if it occurs on both types.
I ordered one too and can’t get the Z-axis to work. Were you able to figure it out? I try to change the mode but can’t get more than one light to go on. If I plug into my laptop I can change the mode. Any suggestions?
Changing the mode is a bit of a pain. I find that mine takes holding the button for about 7 or 8 seconds, then when you release you don’t know for sure which mode it will jump to.
What happens to me is the gamepad starts up in Android mode (LEDs 3&4). To get it back to Xinput mode (LEDs 1&2) can take a couple tries but eventually I get there. That’s OK once you get to the correct mode. But I find mine will drop back to Android mode sometimes when I go to wake it up. The gamepad goes into sleep mode after about 10 minutes of inactivity. You then have to push the mode button to wake it up. Mine will sometimes come on in Xinput mode (which is the desired mode for the Onefinity), but sometimes it will start back up in Android like it does when I first power up the CNC.
I haven’t figured out a way to keep it in the correct mode yet and I have emailed the manufacturer of the gamepad but not heard back from them yet. When I know more I will pass it on in this thread.
Nothing of use came back in the two emails I received from EMS.
So I will try Onefinity after the holidays next week. It’s working just
a PITA and it shouldn’t have to be that way.
Maybe there is a way to lock it into Xinput mode. I’m thinking the controller
appears to the gamepad as a Android tablet and that is why it jumps to
Android mode when you boot up or sometimes when it wakes up.
I got my Journeyman with wireless joystick in the last couple weeks too. I’m also having the same problem with the wireless controller mode sometimes switching back to ‘android’ mode (bottom two LEDs). It seems like the longer it is left off, it’s more likely to revert to this mode. As others have said, it needs to be in Xinput mode (top two LEDs) to function properly with the Onefinity.
It would be great to be able to lock this mode in.
Alternatively, if this is now the default behaviour of the ‘official controller’, then the firmware should be updated to work in ‘android’ mode.
I too have the same issue.
Woodworker X-50 received in mid-January 2022.
Joystick controller doesn’t remember the selected mode after restarting the CNC.
Onefinity Support pointed me to Official Onefinity Joystick Controls (How to changes modes) and suggested updating the firmware in the dongle using the instructions in the link.
Unfortunately the updater doesn’t recognize the dongle when it is plugged in so I have been unable to update the firmware.
If anybody is interested in repurposing their XBOX controller, I can confirm that it just works.
I plug mine in directly with a long USB cable into the OF controller.
I do not have to change modes and all axis are controlled (including different speeds) as expected.
Technically the controller supports Bluetooth as well, but that would require a dongle for the controller and some sort of pairing, which I haven’t tried yet.
Were you ever able to figure it out? I just set mine up and the same thing is happening to me, it takes me a minute to hold the button down to get it to the top two blue lights and I don’t know how to default it to that
I was fed up with having to configure the wireless joystick controller every time I turned on the CNC so I finally bought a wired joystick controller from Amazon.
I use wired as well to avoid losing the wireless joypad all over the shop and a wired connection is always more reliable… Plus when using Wifi be aware the wireless joypads out there use the 2.4Ghz frequency spectrum which is the same as the Onefinity controller Wifi network so it could be contributory to interference issues and Wifi network stability issues. I’ve been troubleshooting Wifi in college dorm buildings with an x-box in every room for many years, it is a thing.
@Borgorl nope. not at all. @Michael_M which one did you buy? Im over it and just want a wired one now if it means i dont have to take 1 minute every time i boot up my machine.
@vozproto I purchased the “Wired Controller for Microsoft Xbox 360, Game Controller with Dual-Vibration for Xbox 360/360 Slim and PC Windows 7, 8, 10. (Black)” from Amazon.ca (I’m in Canada) for $24.99 CDN.
