[MichaelHenry]

I used SC 10 to create a program for my 1100 mill running PathPilot 1.9.5, but the code listing window is blank when I load the program. It will run but none of the lines display almost as the characters are white on a white background. Has anybody else seen this before? I don't remember seeing it reported in the forum before and a quick scan revealed nothing relevant.

[cncbasher]

what post processor are you selecting / using ? , make sure the gcode ends in .ngc

[MichaelHenry]

I'm using the post from Tormach - Tormach L15 Slant-Pro_RevC.sppx dated 2/15/2016.

That generates a txt file, which I renamed to .ngc but still no visible text in the Main code window. I've produced several other G-code files since and none of them exhibits that problem.

[cncbasher]

I'm using the post from Tormach - Tormach L15 Slant-Pro_RevC.sppx dated 2/15/2016.

That generates a txt file, which I renamed to .ngc but still no visible text in the Main code window. I've produced several other G-code files since and none of them exhibits that problem.

i'll pm you my email , if can send me the offending file , i'll take a look

[MichaelHenry]

i'll pm you my email , if can send me the offending file , i'll take a look

Thanks - got the PM and emailed the file to you.

[aggadaway]

i got the same blank screen (v1.9.5)
i'm using Tormach mastercam post

the problem seems to be bad characters in comments (chair)

[MichaelHenry]

It's now happened to a couple more programs, but only on my 1100 mill - the SBL lathe always seems to generate a visible program display. The mill has an old Tormach controller and a Dell monitor whereas the lathe has a new controller and Tormach's Monoprice monitor, in case that matters.

I plan to install a new Tormach touchscreen on the mill system and if that doesn't fix the problem will look at a fresh PP install from the release DVD.

[GLCarlson]

i got the same blank screen (v1.9.5)
i'm using Tormach mastercam post

the problem seems to be bad characters in comments (chair)

Can you describe further? "Bad characters" as in non-printing/nonprintable (ie, first bit set=1) characters which then are interpreted as a command to set font color to white? Or bad characters as in Linux blanks the display, or something else? From the discussion, it sounds as if what's happening is that something in the post is generating a font color command setting font color to match screen background. Be nice to know what that is, as it could then be fixed with a hex editor or just deleted as a quick workaround until one could fix the post. If for example a character (say hex AA, just an arbitrary example) is a problem, easy enough to do a little bit-bashing and get rid of it by replacing with hex 20 (space). See Ascii Table - ASCII character codes and html, octal, hex and decimal chart conversion for a table.

This seems to be a more common problem with PP- there have been at least a couple of other reports of bad characters (in Stickfont file names, I think one was) causing trouble with LinuxCNC, where Mach3/Windows simply ignored.

[TurboStep]

It's now happened to a couple more programs, but only on my 1100 mill - the SBL lathe always seems to generate a visible program display. The mill has an old Tormach controller and a Dell monitor whereas the lathe has a new controller and Tormach's Monoprice monitor, in case that matters.

I plan to install a new Tormach touchscreen on the mill system and if that doesn't fix the problem will look at a fresh PP install from the release DVD.

Perhaps you could post an example?
Step

[aggadaway]

for me bad character was the ° (degree) symbol

[MichaelHenry]

Here's a simple one. All it does is chamfer around two edges on a rectangular block.

%
OBlock-Rev0.2 - End Chamfer

( POSTPROCESSOR: )
( GENERATED BY SprutCAM )
( DATE: 4/7/2016 )
( TIME: 7:03:46 PM )

(Tool) (24) (Diameter)(0.5) (1/2 Carb 4-Fl 45° Chamfer) (Operation) (2D contouring)

N10 G90 G64 G50 G54 G80 G17 G40 G49
N20 G20 (Inch)
(2D contouring)
N30 G30
N40 T24 G43 H24 M6
(1/2 Carb 4-Fl 45° Chamfer)
N50 S2500 M3 M8
N60 G0 G94 X-0.17 Y0.2055
N70 Z0.05
N80 G1 Z-0.1 F65.
N90 G3 X-0.05 Y0.0855 Z-0.1 I0.12 J0.
N100 G1 X0.
N110 X0.6299
N120 X0.6799
N130 G3 X0.7999 Y0.2055 Z-0.1 I0. J0.12
N140 G0 Z0.05
N150 Y-0.6779
N160 G1 Z-0.1
N170 G3 X0.6799 Y-0.5579 Z-0.1 I-0.12 J0.
N180 G1 X0.6299
N190 X0.
N200 X-0.05
N210 G3 X-0.17 Y-0.6779 Z-0.1 I0. J-0.12
N220 G0 Z0.05
N230 G30 Z0.05 M5 M9
N240 M30
%

[TurboStep]

I don't have access to PP at the moment but the first thing I'd try would be to simply delete all the degree characters (as aggadaway pointed out above) and try again. If that fails, deleting the comment lines one by one should point you in the right direction.
Step

[MichaelHenry]

Ah - the ° in the chamfer tool name. I missed that until just now and will see if that is the problem.

[MichaelHenry]

I don't have access to PP at the moment but the first thing I'd try would be to simply delete all the degree characters (as aggadaway pointed out above) and try again. If that fails, deleting the comment lines one by one should point you in the right direction.
Step

Bingo - that was the problem. Thanks to you and aggadaway!

[TurboStep]

Bingo - that was the problem. Thanks to you and aggadaway!

Thanks to aggadaway
Step