PathPilot Simulator & USB I/O Interface Kit

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Thread: PathPilot Simulator & USB I/O Interface Kit

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    Default PathPilot Simulator & USB I/O Interface Kit

    Anyone know if the Tormach USB M-Code I/O Interface Kit can be used when running PathPilot in Simulator mode under Virtual Box?

    Steve

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    Default Re: PathPilot Simulator & USB I/O Interface Kit

    Quote Originally Posted by rdsi View Post
    I know that VB will allow you to assign a USB device to PathPilot for it’s use. Probably the easiest way to find out would be hook one up & give it a try. From a VB standpoint there is no reason for it not to work, but we really don’t know what PP will do while in this mode.

    So in your machine settings make sure the USB controller is enabled. Then while running the machine use the Devices > USB drop down menu & select the USB device to attach. You should see a list of all the USB devices attached to your desktop including the interface kit.

    A light just went on - I got my ShuttleXpress & plug it in to see if it would work. Low & behold windows/VirtualBox loaded some drivers and it showed-up in the Devices > USB list as selected. Works like a charm.

    So this makes me think there is a good chance it will work.
    Thanks for the update. I was thinking that usb devices should work fine in simulation. When in simulation I see in the PathPilot Terminal Window that PP looks for the USB I/O when I activate the USB I/O in the setting notebook. I am going to order the USB I/O kit today.

    Steve



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    Default Re: PathPilot Simulator & USB I/O Interface Kit

    I've been playing around with usb/serial converter that is similar to the one used on the usb i/o board from tormach. It uses the same drivers. Anyhow, you may have to giver Operator permission to use it. In a terminal window

    sudo usermod -a -G dialout Operator

    Tormach PCNC 1100 Series 3 w/ Rapid Turn, Fusion 360


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    Default Re: PathPilot Simulator & USB I/O Interface Kit

    WOW, I've never thought of the USB I/O interface being as usb/serial converter with four relays. After a quick check online I can see there are quite a few different ones out there. Which one are you using that uses the same drivers as Tormach's?



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    Default Re: PathPilot Simulator & USB I/O Interface Kit

    The serial converter that tormach uses is CP2102. I have a CP2104 (specifically the CP2104 Friend from Adafruit) that I use to program their trinket boards. I plugged it in, selected it from Devices->Usb and was able to get VB to load it. I couldnt connect to it via gtkterm until I gave Operator permissions. That's as far as I got today.

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    Default Re: PathPilot Simulator & USB I/O Interface Kit

    I have one of those USB to Serial cables at home. I'll have to give it a try when I get home. Thanks for the info.



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    Default Re: PathPilot Simulator & USB I/O Interface Kit

    Is the code to add the special M-codes part of the standard PP distribution or something that is added when you install the relay board? $197.50 seems rather a lot for the board alone...



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    Default Re: PathPilot Simulator & USB I/O Interface Kit

    Its part of the standard distro. Same with smartcool and the ATC.

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    Default Re: PathPilot Simulator & USB I/O Interface Kit

    There are lots of very low cost USB relay boards on eBay but no details on which chip they use. Has anyone tried one as a substitute for the Tormach offering?



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    Default Re: PathPilot Simulator & USB I/O Interface Kit

    I agree that there are inexpensive alternatives. However, if you dont know how to write/edit the code to make it work, then its useless.

    Tormach PCNC 1100 Series 3 w/ Rapid Turn, Fusion 360


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    Default Re: PathPilot Simulator & USB I/O Interface Kit

    outputs are easy to manage, I wonder how their board deals with the inputs....



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    Default Re: PathPilot Simulator & USB I/O Interface Kit

    Quote Originally Posted by sharmstr View Post
    The serial converter that tormach uses is CP2102. I have a CP2104 (specifically the CP2104 Friend from Adafruit) that I use to program their trinket boards. I plugged it in, selected it from Devices->Usb and was able to get VB to load it. I couldnt connect to it via gtkterm until I gave Operator permissions. That's as far as I got today.
    Sharmstr, have you tried the CP2104 from Adrafruit with PathPilot 2.0? Wondering if the newer OS that PP 2.0 installed on will allow the use of other serial converters?



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    Default Re: PathPilot Simulator & USB I/O Interface Kit

    Yeah, I'm pretty sure that's what I was using when I made that comment.

    Tormach PCNC 1100 Series 3 w/ Rapid Turn, Fusion 360


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    Default Re: PathPilot Simulator & USB I/O Interface Kit

    Just wanted to say the USB I/O Interface Kit works with PathPilot 2.0 in simulation mode. The relays will turn on (M64 Px) or off (M65 Px) along with the inputs.

    Steve



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    Default Re: PathPilot Simulator & USB I/O Interface Kit

    Very cool

    Tormach PCNC 1100 Series 3 w/ Rapid Turn, Fusion 360


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    Default Re: PathPilot Simulator & USB I/O Interface Kit

    Somewhere around here I've got a couple of USB relay boards and some USB to Serial cards. I should scare them up and see if I can't get it to work. The output would be handy for some things (l always though having an airblast to help clear chips at certain times or a warning type light to get your attention before a specific finishing cut or something.... )

    Has anyone actually wired up a DIY output? Care to share?
    M



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    Default Re: PathPilot Simulator & USB I/O Interface Kit

    I havent.

    The airblast is handy. Its standard with the multicool addon to smartcool. Keyboard shortcut Alt-M. I programmed a button on my custom control panel for it.

    Tormach PCNC 1100 Series 3 w/ Rapid Turn, Fusion 360


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    Default Re: PathPilot Simulator & USB I/O Interface Kit

    Sarmstr, I'd be interested in learning more about your custom control panel.

    Steve



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    Default Re: PathPilot Simulator & USB I/O Interface Kit

    Its a work in progress at the moment. I was waiting for PP 2.0 to be out of beta. Now that it is I can focus on it again. But basically I have a swinging vertically mounted control panel that hangs off my enclosure. It has knobs similar to Pete's NinjaKnobs to control feed, rpm and velocity, but I have also added the ability to press them and have them go back to 100%. I've also programmed a 4x4 matrix keypad for things like start, stop, pause, coolant, airblast , some custom probing routines and a few other things. I've added a liquid level sensor to my custom coolant tank and pressure sensors before and after my coolant filter. These sensors are hooked up to status LEDs. Here's a mockup of what it will eventually look like



    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails PathPilot Simulator & USB I/O Interface Kit-22637105_447910285604567_22505740300189696_n-jpg  
    Tormach PCNC 1100 Series 3 w/ Rapid Turn, Fusion 360


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    Default Re: PathPilot Simulator & USB I/O Interface Kit

    Very nice!! I am trying to understand how the knobs and such actually talk to PP. Does info pass through an USB port then to an Arduino?

    Steve



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