[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

[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.

[LeeWay]

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

I have the install CD that came with my lathe. Will that work for the mill as well?

[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

[Blakea1790]

Is Path Pilot Locked? Can you modify Rapids? If this was mentioned in the post and I missed it I apologize. I've seen videos of Tormachs lathe and it's rapids are very slow.
Bake

[Novakon]

This is all true. The BOBs are functionally the same for your purpose. The largest difference between the two BOBs, are the rigid tapping switching (this will not affect you) and the spindle speed/direction control. The Pulsar uses the step/direction controls for the spindle servo motor driver, while the Toru PRO uses the PWM to control the spindle speed of the VFD. Pin assignments are the same.

The xml files for the various mill configurations are available for download on our web site http://Novakon.net in the event you may need them.

Regards,
John

[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.