FYI: PathPilot ADMIN commands
Here are list of the ADMIN commands from the Python v1.6 code:
Code:
Available ADMIN commands: DATE, TIME, KEYBOARD, NETWORK, TOUCHSCREEN, HALMETER, HALSCOPE, HALCMD
It looks like the only commands that take arguments are:
Code:
- ADMIN HALCMD [pin] [sig] [param] (looks to be optional from the command parser)
- ADMIN HALMETER [pin] [sig] [param] (looks to be optional from the command parser)
There is also another "unadvertised" (in the error message) command I would be comfortable sharing with the community. Please be advised this was not acknowledged by Tormach, so it may void your warranty or turn your machine into a autonomous killing robot =)
Code:
ADMIN BUGREPORT - Open Firefox and direct to https://bitbucket.org (you can browse away)
Hopefully this is helpful!
Re: FYI: PathPilot ADMIN commands
Quote:
Originally Posted by
wtopace
Here are list of the ADMIN commands from the Python v1.6 code:
Code:
Available ADMIN commands: DATE, TIME, KEYBOARD, NETWORK, TOUCHSCREEN, HALMETER, HALSCOPE, HALCMD
It looks like the only commands that take arguments are:
Code:
- ADMIN HALCMD [pin] [sig] [param] (looks to be optional from the command parser)
- ADMIN HALMETER [pin] [sig] [param] (looks to be optional from the command parser)
There is also another "unadvertised" (in the error message) command I would be comfortable sharing with the community. Please be advised this was not acknowledged by Tormach, so it may void your warranty or turn your machine into a autonomous killing robot =)
Code:
ADMIN BUGREPORT - Open Firefox and direct to https://bitbucket.org (you can browse away)
Hopefully this is helpful!
G'day WTO,
As (I suspect) most of here were using Mach 3 and then jumped in the deep end with P/Pilot, It's still a mystery how the Linux stuff works.
I would be really happy if I could simply boot up to the desktop and then run/start Path Pilot. That would allow me the option to minimise
the program and be free to do other things ..... read a PDF or looking at stuff on the Internet.
This (as most of us know) is pretty much standard in Windows .... but with Ubuntu/Linux, I've got absolutely NO idea.
Any constructive suggestions would be really appreciated.
Michael
Re: FYI: PathPilot ADMIN commands
Quote:
Originally Posted by
RA-Bowtie
G'day WTO,
As (I suspect) most of here were using Mach 3 and then jumped in the deep end with P/Pilot, It's still a mystery how the Linux stuff works.
I would be really happy if I could simply boot up to the desktop and then run/start Path Pilot. That would allow me the option to minimise
the program and be free to do other things ..... read a PDF or looking at stuff on the Internet.
This (as most of us know) is pretty much standard in Windows .... but with Ubuntu/Linux, I've got absolutely NO idea.
Any constructive suggestions would be really appreciated.
Michael
The key point I think many folks are missing is that PP is a controller to run the Tormach. That's it. Do you go to your new refrigerator and expect it to go on the internet? Well there's a computer in there, why should it not go on the internet.......? My Fadal VMC15 did not have access to the internet or Windows but that was ok, I understood that it was a dedicated CPU that did nothing but run the machine.
By having PP run on a dedicated computer with nothing else you eliminate having outside interference from processes running that have nothing to do with PP. Another issue is things like viruses and bugs. Yes, even if you are using the latest and greatest anti-virus software.... it happens. So, if you want to surf the net or read a PDF while the machine is running, use a tablet computer or run a second computer - left/right/above or below your current monitor.
Just my $0.02 worth. I know there has been a ton of folks asking about this but I keep scratching my head and not understanding why folks cannot see it for what it is..... PP is a controller that runs the Tormach. Maybe it has something to do with the fact that it's in a traditional computer case. Put the guts of that CPU in the Tormach controller cabinet (like a Haas) and no one would question it.
Later,
Re: FYI: PathPilot ADMIN commands
First and foremost - I agree with Smokediver, the PathPilot install should be treated as an appliance and not tinkered with too much if you want to your equipment to always work.
With that said, I believe all of us that own Tormachs are tinkerers to some extent, that's the primary reason we have Tormachs in the first place! I can't help you directly with your question because rewriting their startup scripts for PathPilot is way too involved for this post, but feel free to tinker with it if you are comfortable with Python, their code is very well written, but if you do want to boot to the Gnome OS, you can boot with ctrl+alt pressed (I believe that was the combo, I have posted it quite a few times since PathPilot came out). You'll need to reboot to run your PathPilot application though.
Re: FYI: PathPilot ADMIN commands
Quote:
Originally Posted by
smokediver576
The key point I think many folks are missing is that PP is a controller to run the Tormach. That's it. Do you go to your new refrigerator and expect it to go on the internet? Well there's a computer in there, why should it not go on the internet.......? My Fadal VMC15 did not have access to the internet or Windows but that was ok, I understood that it was a dedicated CPU that did nothing but run the machine.
By having PP run on a dedicated computer with nothing else you eliminate having outside interference from processes running that have nothing to do with PP. Another issue is things like viruses and bugs. Yes, even if you are using the latest and greatest anti-virus software.... it happens. So, if you want to surf the net or read a PDF while the machine is running, use a tablet computer or run a second computer - left/right/above or below your current monitor.
Just my $0.02 worth. I know there has been a ton of folks asking about this but I keep scratching my head and not understanding why folks cannot see it for what it is..... PP is a controller that runs the Tormach. Maybe it has something to do with the fact that it's in a traditional computer case. Put the guts of that CPU in the Tormach controller cabinet (like a Haas) and no one would question it.
Later,
G'day Smokediver/Andrew ?
I'm not sure that I agree with your analogy ... about the fridge.
If you were comparing to Mach 3, then (I think) that would be a fair comparison.
As a beginner to the Tormach, I only used the Mach 3 for a few weeks, before switching over to P/Pilot.
I did a lot of homework on Mach 3 and (if my memory serves me), there was a lot of dialogue about
running programs while Mach 3 was running.
That it was a really bad idea, because of the interrupts on the printer port and that P/Pilot wouldn't
suffer from the same problems, due to the dedicated card.
There are several (software) programs that Tormach sells that aren't able to run on PP .... the scanner
is one that springs to mind.
Now, as a novice .... I'm still getting used to VCarve Pro .... so I sit in my office/study and (using V-Carve)
I create the G-Code, I then copy it (over the network) to the Tormach controller.
I setup my X,Y co-ordinates and set the Z about an inch higher than necessary, just so (as a novice) I can make sure that everything is doing what It's supposed to do ..... but I suddenly find that the bed is traveling at "light speed", because I didn't get the settings right.
Now, if I had the knowledge and experience, I would open up the G-Code editor and make the necessary
changes .... but I don't, so I have to go back into the study and modify the parameters.
Surely to goodness, common sense dictates that, being able to run a copy of V-Carve on my controller to do tweaking would be infinitely easier !
I'm not suggesting that the controller should be a "one size fits all", but I would like to be able to run G-Wizard,
so I can check my feeds and speeds, do some minor tweaking of the program that I'm about to run, reference
a PDF for technical info or watch a video on YouTube to see how something should be done.
Just some food for thought, mate.
Michael
Re: FYI: PathPilot ADMIN commands
Quote:
Originally Posted by
RA-Bowtie
I'm not suggesting that the controller should be a "one size fits all", but I would like to be able to run G-Wizard,
so I can check my feeds and speeds, do some minor tweaking of the program that I'm about to run, reference
a PDF for technical info or watch a video on YouTube to see how something should be done.
Unfortunately, a lot of your Windows applications that you were able to run alongside Mach3 probably won't work on PathPilot since it is based on Linux and cannot run windows executables (without heavy modifications). As far as speeds and feeds, there are some decent online tools that you can use from a web browser (ADMIN BUGREPORT). Although I haven't tried it from Firefox in PathPilot, OnShape CAD might also work.
Re: FYI: PathPilot ADMIN commands
For $39 anyone can get an Android tablet at WalMart, put FS-Wizard (or HSM Advisor or whatever they call it these days) and play all the Youtube videos they want.
Seems like cheap insurance for a $10K+ CNC machine to me, but whatever.
Re: FYI: PathPilot ADMIN commands
wtopace is absolutely correct. I don't believe that there is a Linux version of G-Wizard or of any Vectric product so running these programs on the PP machine is not going to happen.
I have a 8 year old XP system (retired by my wife) near my Tormach. I use this machine to run a remote console session to my Win7 machine which hosts my CAD, CAM, email, web browser, etc. I can sit a few feet from my Tormach, update a drawing and then transfer the changed Gcode to the Samba share on my PP machine. Things work very nicely.
If you cannot find room for another computer/monitor near the Tormach you may want to consider running VNC (https://www.realvnc.com/ ) on the PP machine. Alternatively, you should be able to access your Windows machine via a web browser running on the PP machine (https://www.realvnc.com/products/vnc.../Chapter4.html ). No, I haven't tried it!
Re: FYI: PathPilot ADMIN commands
Quote:
Originally Posted by
kstrauss
wtopace is absolutely correct. I don't believe that there is a Linux version of G-Wizard or of any Vectric product so running these programs on the PP machine is not going to happen.
I have a 8 year old XP system (retired by my wife) near my Tormach. I use this machine to run a remote console session to my Win7 machine which hosts my CAD, CAM, email, web browser, etc. I can sit a few feet from my Tormach, update a drawing and then transfer the changed Gcode to the Samba share on my PP machine. Things work very nicely.
If you cannot find room for another computer/monitor near the Tormach you may want to consider running VNC (
https://www.realvnc.com/ ) on the PP machine. Alternatively, you should be able to access your Windows machine via a web browser running on the PP machine (
https://www.realvnc.com/products/vnc.../Chapter4.html ). No, I haven't tried it!
G'day Ken,
Yeah I know ... I was just having a bit of a rant .... and I didn't even hold my breath or stamp my feet ;)
I've already ordered a switching unit .... and to be honest It's quite clever.
You can hide everything away in the cupboard (under the mill) and they supply a lead that has a button on it, to switch between the 2 pootas!
Michael
Re: FYI: PathPilot ADMIN commands
Quote:
Originally Posted by
RA-Bowtie
G'day Ken,
Yeah I know ... I was just having a bit of a rant .... and I didn't even hold my breath or stamp my feet ;)
I've already ordered a switching unit .... and to be honest It's quite clever.
You can hide everything away in the cupboard (under the mill) and they supply a lead that has a button on it, to switch between the 2 pootas!
Michael
I guess the concern is that anytime you have "other" processes or factors (even the monitor/mouse/keyboard sharing switch which I have on my main office system - works great!) that the computer running the Tormach can receive some sort of minor spike or resource jump that can cause the system to hiccup a little while the machine is running code. I could see no problem jumping back and forth if the Tormach is just sitting there idle. However, if I was in the middle of a part run I would not do anything that could cause a hiccup. Even things like the monitor going into sleep mode has caused issues on our fabric CNC cutting machines.
Dedicated CPU doing one task (running the Tormach) = less issues to troubleshoot if something goes wrong.
For me, surfing the net, reading a PDF, checking G-Codes can all be done from a tablet. And hey, I can even take that into the toilet with me while the Tormach is running a part :-)
Later,
Awall
Re: FYI: PathPilot ADMIN commands
Valid points - I can see where tormach is coming from. That being said - if the realtime kernel is setup/tested correctly - there is nothing you can do to effect the machine motion.
This is an old screen shot running linuxcnc - I was testing to make sure going into swap didn't cause issues.
http://electronicsam.com/images/Kand...nt4-26ghz1.png
(notice the task bar...)
Re: FYI: PathPilot ADMIN commands
Quote:
Originally Posted by
shred
For $39 anyone can get an Android tablet at WalMart, put FS-Wizard (or HSM Advisor or whatever they call it these days) and play all the Youtube videos they want.
Seems like cheap insurance for a $10K+ CNC machine to me, but whatever.
Gee, I really wish we (in Australia) could buy them for around that price.
We would pay around $250-$300 for something like that.
Michael