Display option with Arduino portenta machine control

Official Hardware Pro Solutions Portenta Machine Control
1

Hello,
I want to use the Arduino Portenta Machine Control for data acquisition and simple system control, such as pH regulation and process control (pump, valve, etc.). What I'm not sure about is the options for having a screen for monitoring (HMI), but I'd like to avoid having an independent HMI. I want to keep my system simple. What kind of screen can I use with the Portenta Machine Control?
It coud be touch sreen but not essential.

2

Hi there,

I tried to connect a Nextion HMI but had no luck and had to settle for a workaround involving a HDMI touchscreen running off a PC which relayed the data from the PMC.

As far as native options go, there isn't much choice.

I think these are still the only viable HMI options you have with the PMC:

  • HDMI display with connected PC
  • RS485 display (Limiting GUI software)
  • CAN Bus display (Limiting GUI software)
3

Thank for you answer I was hopping for a simple solution. It would be a nice product if it have a option to include like the giga screen.

Mayble It will go with a raspberry with touch screen,

For you comm with you pc what do you use, serial com ?

1 Like
4

Yes it is a great bit of hardware but I did find it quite lacking when it came to HMI.

I used Ethernet to communicate between the PC and the PMC, that way you can have 2 way communication and it isn't as limiting as a Serial connection but you could go either way and achieve what you are setting out to do.

As for touchscreens, have a look at Waveshare, I have got on well with the 10.1" Capacitive screen. Its essentially plug and play with a Linux based OS so it would work fine with the Raspberry Pi.

5

Hi guys,

did you make any progress? How does the solution with HDMI display and raspberry works? I saw some guy on YT using the portenta h7 with a usb-c display. wouldn't that work too, as the machine control builds on the H7?

Thanks!

6

Hi @Jonesi,

That USB-C solution does look interesting. Please let us know if you make any progress with it.

As for the Pi/PC and a HDMI touchscreen solution you design a UI in whatever language you are comfortable with on the Pi and communicate data to and from the Arduino via Ethernet, USB Serial or even RS485.

I hope that helps.

7

well, trial and error I guess. I'll keep you guys updated.
Thanks for the info. Seems to be a worst case solution.