[RA-Bowtie]

G'day all,

I figured that it's about time that some body started a wish list for Path Pilot.

I'm hoping that some of the Tormach guys read these forums.

1) Would love to have instant access to a web browser, rather than the clunky method that we use now.

2) The ability to read a PDF. I find this frustrating, as a beginner. I wish I could open one of the Tormach (PDF) documents and Alt/Tab back to Path Pilot to implement what I've just read/ learned.

Anybody got any other ideas?

Michael

[jcposada]

I miss the gcode reference section that was available in one of the Mach3 screensets I first learned with. And keyboard shortcuts. And support for non-shuttle pendants.

[compunerdy]

1. Enter shortcut for MDI
2. Better support for touchscreens
3. Better graphical display.. mine always seems to be off the viewable screen.. maybe there needs to be a refresh option?


Is there a way to bring the ATC tray in without the spindle in the way? There used to be but the only button I see for that now lowers the spindle which does not work when the machine thinks the tray is at a empty slot when it is not.

[kstrauss]

1) Support for pendants such as VistaCNC
2) Touch screen support

Other than those deficiencies I'm pretty pleased!

[shred]

1. Enter shortcut for MDI
2. Better support for touchscreens
3. Better graphical display.. mine always seems to be off the viewable screen.. maybe there needs to be a refresh option?

I right-click and pick one of the views (usually Top View) and it redraws on the page. The screens are better setup for touch than Mach, but it's annoying not all screens work well in Ubuntu.

Is there a way to bring the ATC tray in without the spindle in the way? There used to be but the only button I see for that now lowers the spindle which does not work when the machine thinks the tray is at a empty slot when it is not.

'Go to tray load position' won't drop the spindle down if the ATC thinks there's nothing in the spindle that needs to be put away. If you somehow got tools in the tray that the ATC doesn't know about, you can manually insert them on the ATC screen (or sometimes I'll carefully pop them out from the retract position by hand)

[compunerdy]

Might just be something with my programs but no matter which view I select I cannot get a decent view to show up. They showed up perfect every time in Mach.. same programs.

I was not aware of the trick to enter tool 0 to get it to work like that. The machine got confused during a tool change due to air pressure. It thought the tool was in the spindle even though it was in the tray. I hit go to tray load position and crash.. I got past it and I know how to do it now if I run into it again.

[C*H*U*D]

I'd like to see the splash screen for shutdown fixed. I can't read what it says with the Tormach logo there.

I know this is a very minor issue, and I almost didn't write this, but I think it makes for an unprofessional impression.

[jcposada]

Also, ability to import/export the tool offsets table.

[David C. Allen]

I hope you guys have forwarded your requests/ideas to the PathPilot Support Team.

I would also like to see a way to import/export the tool offsets table, like the Tormach Tool Assistant and have sent that request to the PathPilot Support Team.

David

[RA-Bowtie]

I hope you guys have forwarded your requests/ideas to the PathPilot Support Team.

I would also like to see a way to import/export the tool offsets table, like the Tormach Tool Assistant and have sent that request to the PathPilot Support Team.

David

G'day David,

I'm really not trying to sound apathetic about this, but I figured that the P/P team have enough on their collective plate.

I'm sure that some of the Tormach guys have a look on here and see what's going on ... hopefully!

Michael

[David C. Allen]

G'day David,

I'm really not trying to sound apathetic about this, but I figured that the P/P team have enough on their collective plate.

I'm sure that some of the Tormach guys have a look on here and see what's going on ... hopefully!

Michael

Michael, I send the PathPilot Support Team everything! !

Hello PathPilot Support Team:
When you click "EXIT" in the "Manual Control Group" you get a prompt screen "E-Stop the Machine Tool before proceeding" So my question is why, when PathPilot knows if the E-Stop has been pushed. The Prompt should only show up if the machine has "Not" been E-Stopped.

With a E-Stopped machine prompt "Click ok to shut down the control computer"

Or if the machine is not E-Stopped prompt "Click Ok to return to PathPilot then E-Stop the Machine Tool"

I am sure there are more important things the team is working on, but wanted to express my thoughts on the exiting PathPilot.Beta release

Just my $0.02

David
PCNC 1100 Series 3

[RA-Bowtie]

Michael, I send the PathPilot Support Team everything! !

Hello PathPilot Support Team:
When you click "EXIT" in the "Manual Control Group" you get a prompt screen "E-Stop the Machine Tool before proceeding" So my question is why, when PathPilot knows if the E-Stop has been pushed. The Prompt should only show up if the machine has "Not" been E-Stopped.

With a E-Stopped machine prompt "Click ok to shut down the control computer"

Or if the machine is not E-Stopped prompt "Click Ok to return to PathPilot then E-Stop the Machine Tool"

I am sure there are more important things the team is working on, but wanted to express my thoughts on the exiting PathPilot.Beta release

Just my $0.02

David
PCNC 1100 Series 3

G'day David,

I'm pretty sure that minor idiosyncrasies of the program will be addressed, due to (what I call) a by-product of progress. As the updates roll out, I'm sure there will be lots of things that will be addressed .... I'm guessing their scanner would be slightly more important

Michael

[GLCarlson]

...

I'm sure that some of the Tormach guys have a look on here and see what's going on ... hopefully!

Michael

Comments from Tormach support suggests that they do not- or only infrequently (I asked). Reason given was to encourage direct comments to/discussion with Tormach - which makes sense. Secondary issue is probably to avoid endless, repetitive, and often unproductive discussion. Tormach support is legendary- but you gotta talk to Tormach.

[tmarks11]

Secondary issue is probably to avoid endless, repetitive, and often unproductive discussion.

I would bet that is really the (unacknowledged) primary reason. Sometimes there is a lot of drama on this board, and I bet Tormach's owner (Greg Jackson) set that policy to avoid getting employees caught up in unproductive discussions.

Not to mention that there are a lot of enthusiast's here who are providing a high level of "customer support" to help out each other with troubleshooting and problems. If Tormach was always very proactive and vocal, than the enthusiasts would probably back off and let the "professionals" handle the problems. Good and bad in that, I suppose.

[popspipes]

I would like to see a default to G01 in the MDI mode. I have to specify G01 then the approprite axis to get them to work or it throws an error.

Maybe at the end of a program run it should reset to G01?

Actually its just a minor annoyance..

[tmarks11]

...instant access to a web browser,...The ability to read a PDF

I have an old Shuttle mini desktop (7 yo) that I set up next to the controller. Add $123 for a 23" dell monitor, and I can do anything I want that requires desktop support without messing around with the controller.


back OT, more keyboard shortcuts
-ability to define dedicated keys for step vs continuous jogging. Even ALT + arrows would work
-key for cycle start (annoying to have to take my hand off the keyboard to grab the mouse in single block mode or after using feedhold). Probably want to like an ALT+SPACE or something so you don't activate by accident :O

If more keys already exist (aka Linuxcnc), then DOCUMENT them in the manual! Shouldn't be an easter-egg sort of thing.

I have a very nice fully customizeable Cherry SPOS R&C keyboard that I was setting up for Mach3. Separate continuous vs step jogging control clusters. Doesn't do me much good in PP with only 7 shortcut keys.

[RA-Bowtie]

I have an old Shuttle mini desktop (7 yo) that I set up next to the controller. Add $123 for a 23" dell monitor, and I can do anything I want that requires desktop support without messing around with the controller.


back OT, more keyboard shortcuts
-ability to define dedicated keys for step vs continuous jogging. Even ALT + arrows would work
-key for cycle start (annoying to have to take my hand off the keyboard to grab the mouse in single block mode or after using feedhold). Probably want to like an ALT+SPACE or something so you don't activate by accident :O

If more keys already exist (aka Linuxcnc), then DOCUMENT them in the manual! Shouldn't be an easter-egg sort of thing.

I have a very nice fully customizeable Cherry SPOS R&C keyboard that I was setting up for Mach3. Separate continuous vs step jogging control clusters. Doesn't do me much good in PP with only 7 shortcut keys.

I think it would be fair to say that most of us find that space is at a premium, not to mention the cost (if needed) of buying another computer.

The fact that the Tormach controller is conveniently hidden away in the stand, makes life really easy. I wouldn't like the idea of having to make
room for another monitor, keyboard, etc.

Keep in mind that I have no interest in doing all the other "normal" computer stuff .... e-mail, banking, looking at porn ;-)

Michael

[tmarks11]

I think it would be fair to say that most of us find that space is at a premium, not to mention the cost (if needed) of buying another computer.
The fact that the Tormach controller is conveniently hidden away in the stand, makes life really easy

Lots of room in the stand next to the controller to hide another computer.

My spare computer is an old shuttle mini-computer that I already had, rocking an ancient E6400 core 2 duo processor (release date: 2006, wow! didn't realize it was so old!). Cost: $0. Guess it pays not to throw away obsolete equipment. Works just fine to run IE, acrobat, and GWizard. What more do you need?

The only real cost to me was buying a second monitor ($123). I mount it to the wall, so it doesn't really take up any space. An extra keyboard is a PIA, but I have a mini keyboard on it (also a relic from the past).

[RA-Bowtie]

Lots of room in the stand next to the controller to hide another computer.

My spare computer is an old shuttle mini-computer that I already had, rocking an ancient E6400 core 2 duo processor (release date: 2006, wow! didn't realize it was so old!). Cost: $0. Guess it pays not to throw away obsolete equipment. Works just fine to run IE, acrobat, and GWizard. What more do you need?

The only real cost to me was buying a second monitor ($123). I mount it to the wall, so it doesn't really take up any space. An extra keyboard is a PIA, but I have a mini keyboard on it (also a relic from the past).

G'day mate,

If you've seen the pictures of my garage, you'll see that I don't have a lot of room to play with, but using the space where the controller is, is actually a pretty good idea.

I'll have to find out if PP can handle the switching unit, that someone else suggested.

Michael

[tmarks11]

I'll have to find out if PP can handle the switching unit, that someone else suggested.

The computer it is attached to doesn't need to know anything about it or have to have any drivers. A KVM (Keyboard-Video-Mouse) switch is a switch that you plug video and USB keyboard/mouse connections from each computer, and than attach the output to one monitor/mouse/keyboard.

For the usage you described (jumping away from PP to check PDF or web resources) it would work just fine. I would not want to do that while the mill is cutting something, just because with the keyboard disconnected from PP while you were using the other computer, you couldn't execute a FEEDHOLD or other command in a hurry.