Before the official launch we are inviting 10 makers to build the SmartTabUI pendant and run the dpCREATOR WebUI on their own machines, then tell us honestly what works and what doesn't. Your build, photos and report shape the product before anyone else buys it.
Meet the members. Testers get a public profile with their machine, links and build updates: see the R&D Club members. Already a member? Edit your profile.
What you get
SmartTabUI firmware licenceFree, for your pendant.
SmartTabUI case 3D filesFree for everyone. Download them and start printing.
WebUI licenceFree, for your controller.
Free R3 controllerFor the 3 best builds out of 10.
You keep the licences after the programme, with the same free updates as any customer.
What we ask
- Build the pendant and install the WebUI within 8 weeks of receiving your licences.
- Send a report using the template below, with at least 5 photos (parts, wiring, finished pendant, machine) and a short video of jogging and running a job.
- Share problems and ideas in the private tester group as you go.
- Publishing about it publicly is welcome but optional. If you do, say that you received the licences free as part of the R&D Club.
Who we are looking for
A mix of machines: CNC routers, lasers, plotters and drag knives, plasma, and retrofits of older GRBL machines. A mix of people: first-time FluidNC users as well as experienced ones. Makers who already share their builds on YouTube, Instagram or forums are especially welcome. Places are for the EU and UK.
What you need
- A free dpcreator.eu account. The licences are delivered to it.
- Your own pendant parts: the JC2432W328C display, 60 mm MPG handwheel, E-stop, rotary switches, PCF8574 module and the rest of the parts list, plus a 3D printer for PETG.
- A controller: a dpCREATOR R3 or R2, or any other ESP32 FluidNC board: an ESP32-S3 with 8 MB PSRAM, or a classic ESP32 (WROOM-32), which runs WebUI Lite. Set the pendant to WROOM-32 in its settings when you use one.
- A machine to run it on, and soldering tools. The build is demanding: plan up to four hours.
How it works
- Register an account and apply with the form below.
- We pick 10 testers and email everyone, picked or not.
- Testers get a personal code: add the SmartTabUI firmware to the cart, enter the code, and check out at €0. The firmware licence includes the WebUI; the licences appear in your account.
- Build, test, and send your report within 8 weeks.
- We pick the 3 best builds and send each one a dpCREATOR R3 controller.
How the 3 best builds are chosen: how complete and useful the report is (problems found, unclear steps in the guides, ideas), the quality of the photos and video, and the quality of the build itself. dpCREATOR decides, and the decision is final.
Report template
- You and your machine: machine type and size, drivers, spindle or laser, controller board.
- Build: how long it took, where you got stuck, anything unclear or wrong in the guide.
- Setup: flashing, config.yaml, WebUI install, connecting the pendant.
- Use: jogging, running jobs, E-stop and job recovery, Z adjust. What worked, what didn't.
- Problems: each bug with what you did, what happened, and what you expected. Logs or screenshots if you have them.
- Ideas: what would make it better.
- Verdict: a rating from 1 to 10 and an honest comment in a few sentences.
- Media: at least 5 photos and a short video (links are fine).
Terms
- Licences. The SmartTabUI firmware licence and the WebUI licence are free, personal and non-transferable, for your own build and testing. Firmware licences are tied to your device.
- No distribution. You must not share, upload, publish or resell the firmware, the licences or your code. The case files are under their own free licence (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0).
- Your part. You build and test within 8 weeks of receiving the licences and send a report with photos and a video, as described above. We may contact you with questions.
- Honest feedback. We ask for your honest opinion, good or bad. You decide whether to publish anything. If you do, you say that you received the licences free as part of the dpCREATOR R&D Club.
- Use of your photos and videos. You keep ownership of everything you send us. By sending it, you allow dpCREATOR to use your report, photos and videos, free of charge, on dpcreator.eu, in the documentation and in marketing, credited with the name or nickname you choose. You can ask us to stop using them in new material at any time.
- Pre-release software, at your own risk. The firmware and WebUI are pre-release and may contain bugs. You build and operate your machine at your own risk. Follow the build guide, wire the E-stop as described, and always keep an independent mains E-stop for the machine. To the extent the law allows, dpCREATOR is not liable for damage or injury arising from tester builds.
- Ending. If you break these terms, we may revoke your licences. If you complete the programme, you keep them, with free updates like any customer.
- The R3 controllers. 3 of the 10 testers receive a dpCREATOR R3 controller free, shipped free within the EU and UK. There is no cash alternative.
- Privacy. We use your application only to run the R&D Club and to contact you about it. Applications that are not picked are deleted within 3 months. See our privacy policy.
Apply
You need a dpcreator.eu account first: use the same email address here.
Application sent. Thank you. We'll email you when the 10 testers have been picked.