PathPilot on Novakon

[brianbonedoc]

In case anyone is interested - I was able to get PathPilot running (sort of) on the Pulsar.

Heres a link to the thread over in the tormach section.

http://www.cnczone.com/forums/tormac...=1#post1742954

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[kvom]

I did a read through of that thread, and it looks as if you're pretty close to full operability. Nice work.

[SCzEngrgGroup]

That's something I'd like to try on my Pulsar at some point, if you come up with step-by-step instructions. I don't have the time for a major project, at least until the ATC is in production...

Regards,
Ray L.

[brianbonedoc]

Ray I would start by buying the install cd from tormach - I will keep chipping away at the Hal and Ini files

[SCzEngrgGroup]

Ray I would start by buying the install cd from tormach - I will keep chipping away at the Hal and Ini files

I can't even find it on the website....

Regards,
Ray L.

[brianbonedoc]

Ray - 35246 - PathPilot

Trying to get homing right is driving me nuts!
Sorry just had to rant. . .

[brianbonedoc]

Getting closer ... Dang homing .....

[brianbonedoc]

OK, figured it out finally.

Heres a teaser of some conversational tapping.



Here are the files I modded if anyone is interested.
There may still be some tweaking to do - gotta test out the accuracy and such.

[kvom]

Are you running this on a separate PC box with separate cable runs to the motors?

[brianbonedoc]

Just separate old computer because it wouldn't load on the novakon - it's too new! I put the Mesa card in the old comp and a parallel cable runs to the novakon bob. I will change the novakon motherboard out with this one once I'm confident everything is working.

[engnerdan]

I wish there was a way to make this work with the KFLOP. It would be so nice to have a better GUI. But last I checked there was not a way to make LinuxCNC work with the KFLOP.

-Dan

[brianbonedoc]

Dan - I don't know about the KFLOP but with the above - you just plug the mesa card into the novakon bob and the rest is software.

Is the KFLOP instead of a computer? OR does it run on windows/Linux?

[engnerdan]

Dan - I don't know about the KFLOP but with the above - you just plug the mesa card into the novakon bob and the rest is software.

Is the KFLOP instead of a computer? OR does it run on windows/Linux?

The KFLOP card is a dedicated motion controller. It is kind of a combination of bob, parallel port, and half of the function the computer does. I still have a computer connected that feeds blocks of data to the KFLOP card, but the KFLOP card does all the processing of that data and turns it into signals for the drives. It unloads the real time processing burden from the computer. and ensures a better level of control than can be done with a parallel port.

LinuxCNC and PathPilot are designed to take the G-cdoe and process it to generate the required signal outputs. Which is one step too many for KFLOP card, it wants the basic move information which it will process its self.

-Dan

[brianbonedoc]

Gotcha - yeah not sure how you'd interface that w/ pathpilot/linuxcnc

[kvom]

It sounds as if someone could decide to supply a prepackaged computer with Linux, Mesa Card, and PP, along with instructions on integrating to the Novakon electronics. Could be a nice little sideline for someone. And Novakon might be willing to sell their mills without the Windows/Mach/computer portion.

I'm guessing you'd need more work to integrate the ATC and possibly probing. ??

An issue to consider is how to get bug fixes from Tormach.

[brianbonedoc]

I have a day job so I'm not going to be that guy.

I think probing will work out of the box- will try that this pm

[MBViklund]

This is wonderful news. I'd love to use pathpilot with my torus pro servo. Will definitely follow how you are progressing with this.

[brianbonedoc]

OK - so I tested the axis movements, which seem accurate.

The passive (wildhorse) probe works perfectly - super excited.

I tried the conversational engraving on a piece of wood --> perfect.

I don't think they have a tool touch plate like I used to use w/ MachStdMill? That seems like a big oversight, unless i'm missing something.
I loved having Mach auto measure drills and non-repeatable tools.

Here is my wiki page so you guys can try it yourself: PathPilot on Non-Tormach Wikia

[CROSSHATCH]

Nice job, I finally learned how to use MACH3 since coming from EMC2 but I never used all the features, just enough to get me by. Now with Mach3, I'm just happy to run parts and thus far, it hasn't really messed up on me.

This is a nice addition though and something to explore one day, as a project if time allows. Or maybe, it will be the new way once all the bugs are worked out.

Good job.

-Jason

[kvom]

I too am happy with Mach3 for what I do, and might upgrade to Mach4 for turning on the mill if the lathe canned procedures (e.g., G70, G71) are implemented. PP apparently does not.