Enhanced I/O module for Tormach's PathPilot

[@ScotY808]

Excellent! I can see how helpful this will be for my 440!

[@maxcox6019]

Do you happen to know what pins are for m03 m04 and m05?

[@daleksw]

None of the pins have any hard wired function. They're all general purpose, user programmable.

[@maxcox6019]

@@daleksw so how would I wire the pwm and all of them or what do I need to change

[@daleksw]

@@maxcox6019 Not sure I understand. What are you trying to do? These boards are an add on for a PathPilot system to give some user programmable I/O. They're not system controllers for an entire CNC machine.

[@maxcox6019]

@@daleksw I want to run pathpilot on a non tormach but I'm not sure what I need to do to get the vfd working

[@daleksw]

@@maxcox6019 To get PP to run, you'd need at least a MESA 7i92 and a Leadshine MX3660 - certainly not one of my I/O cards. Visit Tormach's website and download the PCNC440 manual, there's a wiring diagram at the back that shows how to wire up those components. There must be lots of internet forums dealing with DIY CNC machines. I'd suggest joining one of them if you don't know how to do this yourself.

[@MrNicklinux]

Hi David, is there a way for PathPilot to send signal to your I/O module when tool 99 is selected? I’d like to use I/O module to trigger Renishaw optical probe when tool 99 is enabled. Thanks

[@daleksw]

There are a couple of ways to do that. If you do the p[robing from within Fusion, using my post processor, then there's a post-processor option to turn a selected output on during probing ops. Also keep your eyes on this page. xoomspeed.com/CNC/pathpilot/plugins.htm I'll add a plugin in the next few days to do what you ask.

[@MrNicklinux]

@@daleksw Hi David, I’m currently using your post and WCS from fusion, and I love it. I’m currently forced to use auto start on the optical probe to keep it on, but it drains battery very quick, so I’m trying to use original spindle probe 99 to wake it up, and when any other tool is selected, probe will be signaled to off. I will wait for an update, thanks a lot !

[@MrNicklinux]

@@daleksw thank you very much! You’re the best !

[@daleksw]

@@MrNicklinux Glad you spotted the update - it saved me trying to remember where this thread was!

[@nickbedard1623]

David, do you have any tips for putting an installation of Pathpilot onto a windows computer? I just picked up a PCNC 1100 but it was unfortunately missing the control PC.

[@daleksw]

You have to get the V2 update from Tormach. tormach.com/pathpilot-v20-upgrade-38249.html That's a bootable USB stick. You boot from that and it installs the Linux image with PathPilot. Once that runs it will auto update to the latest PathPilot. You'll also need one of the Mesa cards to do the interface. I'd suggest the 7i92M which allows an ethernet connection to the PC.

[@nickbedard1623]

@@daleksw Thanks so much!

[@keithingram8013]

Excellent video, this unit could be very useful. What are the maximum number of units that can be connected to a Tormach Path Pilot controller? If there are multiple units fitted how do the M64, M65 & M66 commands differentiate between units?

[@daleksw]

Sorry I missed this question Keith. Path Pilot supports up to 4 boards. If you only have 1 connected, then it is always treated as board ID 0 and so signals 0..3 are directed to it - that's M64 P0 .. M64 P3 and so on with M65 and M66. If you have 2 or more boards attached, then the BoardID programmed into each board (settable via the config app) comes into effect. Board 0 gets requests for P0..P3, board 1 gets P4..P7 and so on until the module with BoardId 3 gets M64 P12 up to M64 P15

[@daleksw]

I've also added a manual at xoomspeed.com/CNC/usbio/webhelp/index.html

[@sml5214]

Do you ship to the US?

[@daleksw]

Yes, of course. The web shop (see the description) will sort out the shipping costs at the checkout.

[@josephgerads9057]

2012 series 3 1100 without I/0 running Mach3, this was the first test. kzbin.info/www/bejne/f57coGt5lLiDoas

[@daleksw]

Brilliant. Way easier to do that sort of thing in Mach3. that's why I still have Mach3 on my machine too! Did you see John Saunders similar project on his 440 a few years back?

[@josephgerads9057]

@@daleksw No I did not, I tried PathPilot but lost 2 controllers so I stayed mach3, it is a lot simpler to run my right angle drive units (large and small) plus my 10" trunnion with mach3.

[@daleksw]

This was the last in a series of videos on the project kzbin.info/www/bejne/rZuqe6x9bqpmacU You can see he had to use an Arduino to do the bits the usb io couldn't cope with. An impressive result nonetheless. From the days when John did things that were actually within my reach!