584,802 active members*
4,941 visitors online*
Register for free
Login
IndustryArena Forum > MetalWorking Machines > Tormach Personal CNC Mill > PP 2.0.0 working great as is my $109.00 ETS.
Page 1 of 3 123
Results 1 to 20 of 43
  1. #1
    Join Date
    Mar 2013
    Posts
    344

    PP 2.0.0 working great as is my $109.00 ETS.

    While I was waiting for my PP 2.0.0 to arrive, my hard drive crashed so I ordered a new one. Well the PP 2.0.0 arrived before the new hard drive so thought I'd try and make it work on the bad drive. I had to load linix then the original PP followed by v. 1.9.13, then finally 2.0.0. It worked like a charm until a few days ago when it refused to boot. Just to see what would happen,I inserted the USB device with PP 2.0.0 on it and the thing booted and runs fine. I know it's just a matter of time before I'll have to change out the flakey hard drive. For now it's doing ok.

    I also have that low price probe by Wild Horse. I removed it's shank and probe tip then set it up as an ETS. Works great. Beats $1,000 plus by about $900

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Jun 2014
    Posts
    1777

    Re: PP 2.0.0 working great as is my $109.00 ETS.

    Congrats John on the PP upgrade! I cant tell any difference in the way it operates, just a few more features is what I have noticed.
    I am having a glitch with PP.1.6, the "copy from usb" button at times doesnt show on the screen and I am wondering if it could be my harddrive as its been in the machine for over 7 years now.
    mike sr

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Mar 2013
    Posts
    344

    Re: PP 2.0.0 working great as is my $109.00 ETS.

    I can tell no functional difference between PP1.9.13 and PP 2.0.0. Probably I'm just haven't discovered it's advanced features. I am, however, super happy with my poor man's ETS. Works great and the price was right.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Aug 2014
    Posts
    257

    Re: PP 2.0.0 working great as is my $109.00 ETS.

    Quote Originally Posted by jttoner View Post
    I know it's just a matter of time before I'll have to change out the flakey hard drive.
    Get yourself an SSD instead of hard drive.

    Quote Originally Posted by jttoner View Post
    I also have that low price probe by Wild Horse. I removed it's shank and probe tip then set it up as an ETS. Works great. Beats $1,000 plus by about $900
    I'm pretty happy with the ETS I got from Amazon described here: $100 China Made ETS's on Ebay ??

    It comes with more features than the Wild Horse & is even cheaper.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Apr 2011
    Posts
    720

    Re: PP 2.0.0 working great as is my $109.00 ETS.

    Sorry to be a bit off topic, but :

    RDSI, the probe you bought off Amazon is listed as NO, did you find that to be true? I've seen a number of post on line lately saying that people have purchased ETS's on eBay listed as NO that turned out to be NC.

    Terry

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Aug 2014
    Posts
    257

    Re: PP 2.0.0 working great as is my $109.00 ETS.

    I bought the one listed on Amazon here & it was NO on the brown & orange leads. There is another contact that is NC on the green & blue leads but this opens on over travel & can be used to e-stop the machine.

    Note: the NO contacts (the brown & orange leads) are really connected to an internal FET that is either a very high resistance, NO, or when activated a very low resistance when NC. This works just fine using the Tormach accessory input connected as I described in the link.

    In the settings menu on PP v2.x you must select the active probe radio button - Digitizing Probe (PN 31858), Tool Setter (PN 31875), otherwise the logic will be reversed.

  7. #7

    Re: PP 2.0.0 working great as is my $109.00 ETS.

    I use my WIld Horse probe as a tool setter too (I'm on Mach3). It's pretty damn repeatable and it does well with flood coolant unlike other methods, not sure I'd leave it in there full time though. I will say that packing the thing to about half full with dielectric grease makes sure it stays dry and prevents corrosion on the contacts while also lubing the action and really takes it to the next level.

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Apr 2011
    Posts
    720

    Re: PP 2.0.0 working great as is my $109.00 ETS.

    Thanks for the quick reply, and the answer was what I was hoping, for since I use the Tormach Digitizing Probe now, and wanted to avoid having to switch back and forth on the settings page.

    I ordered the probe on Amazon (supposedly last one in stock), so we'll see if it's the same one you received. I am sort of a pessimist at heart, and sometimes Amazon and eBay suppliers buy from different sources and don\t always change their ads.

    Thanks again for the response and also the details on the wiring!

    Terry

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Nov 2007
    Posts
    19

    Re: PP 2.0.0 working great as is my $109.00 ETS.

    PathPilot v2.0.0 is over a year old. Grab the latest release v2.1.6 from the Tormach website.

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Aug 2014
    Posts
    257

    Re: PP 2.0.0 working great as is my $109.00 ETS.

    Quote Originally Posted by MFchief View Post
    I am sort of a pessimist at heart, and sometimes Amazon and eBay suppliers buy from different sources and don\t always change their ads.
    I definitely know what you mean. So far I've had good luck with them.

    I made a dual T-Nut for mounting to the table.
    I also hooked up a solenoid/air line to it that works good - operates using a M1xx code.
    As mentioned in the above link the cable sheath is very tough stuff. Practice stripping it before you commit to a length. Unbelievably they claim it's a special 3M product, but whatever, it's gorilla tough.

    Also note; the ETS is designed to work up to 24VDC. It works fine using the Tormach 12VDC on the accessory plug but the ETS LED is a little on the dim side but is certainly observable.

    Let us know how it goes ...

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Apr 2011
    Posts
    720

    Re: PP 2.0.0 working great as is my $109.00 ETS.

    Thanks for more info, I'll let everyone know when I try it out.

    Terry

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Mar 2009
    Posts
    1863

    Re: PP 2.0.0 working great as is my $109.00 ETS.

    I’ll stay with my Mach III. It does everything I need it to do.
    You can buy GOOD PARTS or you can buy CHEAP PARTS, but you can't buy GOOD CHEAP PARTS.

  13. #13
    Join Date
    Apr 2011
    Posts
    720

    Re: PP 2.0.0 working great as is my $109.00 ETS.

    Hey everyone, and especially RDSI. I recieved the ETS I ordered from Amazon, and it appears to be identical to the one RDSI has.

    First, you were sure right about that plastic sheath on the cable! that is some tuff stuff. I experimented with various cable tools to cut it, but never was able to get a good cut without damaging the covers of the interior wires. I ended up cutting it long then splitting the outer sheath lengthwise with a hobby knife, got a little damage at the start, then was able to stay in the small gap between the wires to get it finished.

    Wired it up the same as RDSI did, and it works fine on my machine.

    Now a couple of questions for RDSI. and really all the folks who use ETS's.
    Do you leave them on the table all the time, or only get them out when needed? My current plan is to mount it to a small AL block with embedded magnets to hold it to the table. Can't think of a reason for side forces that would cause a problem with the magnets. I am with RDSI on the reason to have the ETS, I use a nearly identical Hi Speed spindle and it would simplify tool length setting a great deal.

    Last question, are these things supposed to be coolant proof? That would only be an issue if you left it mounted all the time.

    OK really last question, has anyone played with setting up a G code block to check tool length on every tool change

    Terry

  14. #14
    Join Date
    Apr 2013
    Posts
    1788

    Re: PP 2.0.0 working great as is my $109.00 ETS.

    Quote Originally Posted by MFchief View Post
    Hey everyone, and especially RDSI. Wired it up the same as RDSI did, and it works fine on my machine.
    Mine looks exactly like the RDSI one but my contacts are NC rather than NO ones on his. Mine has an overtravel NO contact. The point being that items that look alike are not always the same and never believe the adverts.

    Now a couple of questions for RDSI. and really all the folks who use ETS's.
    Do you leave them on the table all the time, or only get them out when needed? My current plan is to mount it to a small AL block with embedded magnets to hold it to the table. Can't think of a reason for side forces that would cause a problem with the magnets.
    I secure mine to the table with a cheap Chinese magnetic indicator base. The magnet release lever makes it easy to position exactly where I want it and then remove. It is important to have the top surface parallel to the table so I put two small aluminum disks with setscrews between the ETS and the magnetic base to allow me to adjust for parallelism.

    Last question, are these things supposed to be coolant proof?
    The top shroud is not really sealed to the base so I would worry about splashy coolant getting inside. I use mist and that has not been a problem.

  15. #15
    Join Date
    Apr 2011
    Posts
    720

    Re: PP 2.0.0 working great as is my $109.00 ETS.

    I agree, with you about the advertising, as I mentioned earlier in the thread, I was concerned about that, so that's the main reason I ordered from Amazon, if you like nothing else about them, they are great about returns.

    Mine was setup as RSDI's, main contact NO, overtravel NC, this is what I wanted since that is how my probe is setup.

    I suspect you are correct about the coolant being a potential problem, that's why I intend to do the magnetic base thing like you did.

    Did yours come with the little pneumatic puffer (it least that's what I think it is) like RSDI's, guess that could be useful in some setup's with constant mounting, but since I intend to remove after use, I just took that bit off to keep chips and stuff away from it and keep it out of the way of tools.

    Thanks
    Terry

  16. #16
    Join Date
    Apr 2013
    Posts
    1788

    Re: PP 2.0.0 working great as is my $109.00 ETS.

    Quote Originally Posted by MFchief View Post
    Mine was setup as RSDI's, main contact NO, overtravel NC, this is what I wanted since that is how my probe is setup.

    Did yours come with the little pneumatic puffer (it least that's what I think it is) like RSDI's, guess that could be useful in some setup's with constant mounting, but since I intend to remove after use, I just took that bit off to keep chips and stuff away from it and keep it out of the way of tools.

    Thanks
    Terry
    Both my probe and my ETS are NC so I'm happy. I currently have no connection to the overtravel contacts but have considered wiring it into my eStop chain. That requires converting it to a NC.

    Yes, mine also has the puffer but that feature is currently unused. I plan to puff with a solenoid operated pneumatic valve as soon as I get time to make a proper enclosure for my clone of the Tormach USB relay I/O board.

  17. #17
    Join Date
    Apr 2011
    Posts
    720

    Re: PP 2.0.0 working great as is my $109.00 ETS.

    Sounds good, If you figure out how to get into the E stop loop without having to leave it plugged in all the time, please be sure to post it.

    Terry

  18. #18
    Join Date
    Aug 2014
    Posts
    257

    Re: PP 2.0.0 working great as is my $109.00 ETS.

    The unit is coolant proof to IP67 & according to that spec it's good for 1 meter immersion. The top piece is screwed onto the plunger shaft and there is a set screw to keep it tight. I took mine apart to determine the best way to regrind the carbide surface to be parallel with the base. While I had it apart you can see there is a rubber bellows sealing the plunger shaft to body. Looks pretty good & I'm not concerned about any coolant getting in there. It's probably a good idea to back-off this set screw & make sure the cap is screwed on tight as some other people found theirs loose and the cap would wobble.

    So I am working on a method to allow tool changes during a program but have gotten side tracked. I have figured out a way to key into the PP spindle type selected such that when you select the high speed spindle M6 gets remapped to a new custom routine. So while working on this I decided I really needed a way to run PP on my desktop live such that it thinks there is a machine connected to it. So now instead of the MESA card connected to a machine I connect it to a microcomputer that simulates a real machine & PP is never the wiser. It makes writing probing routines & other things much easier. This is what my interface looks like:



    Finally this is working pretty good now and I'm ready to get back to my custom M6 for the high speed spindle. In the meantime I'm just limiting my high speed spindle programs to 1 tool at at a time.

    Note: I have thought about using the ETS over-travel contacts to E-Stop the machine but have the following concerns:


    1. If you bump or push the ETS with your fingers or whatever you you're gonna have to re-reference all the axis - so is it worth it to have this level of protection?
    2. If Z is running at a high feedrate E-stop will probably not be fast enough to stop it in time before damage occurs.
    3. The contacts are not rated to be used inline with the E-stop circuit. There are spare pins on the DIN connector to bring the contact wires into the electrical cabinet, but you would need some additional circuitry (relay) to make it work. Also, this circuitry needs to allow the machine to work when the ETS is not plugged in.

  19. #19
    Join Date
    Apr 2013
    Posts
    1788

    Re: PP 2.0.0 working great as is my $109.00 ETS.

    All good reasons to not bother with eStop on the ETS. And perhaps worst the overtravel switch would only protect against an essentially vertical collision with the ETS with no protection from X/Y moves. It might be better to eStop if the ETS is unplugged!

  20. #20
    Join Date
    Apr 2011
    Posts
    720

    Re: PP 2.0.0 working great as is my $109.00 ETS.

    RDSI, do you happen to have a Rapid Turn? If you do, you would know part of it is a sort of junction box where you unplug the normal spindle and plug in the rapid turn motor.

    Since I have that already, one of my long range projects is to change out the connector on my hi speed spindle, plug it in the same way as the rapid turn or Tormach high speed spindle, then use the normal VFD of the 1100 to run my spindle.

    This will require the VFD to be programmed for the high speed motor, but using the smartstick currently provided for rapid turn does this now (for rapid turn, not hi speed), then you reprogram back to standard with another smartstick, these were provided as part of the rapid turn kit.

    I have purchased a blank smartstick and plan to program it for my hi speed spindle in the same way.

    Of course using the hi speed spindle this way doesn't require rapid turn at all, it was just the source of the junction box.

    Terry

Page 1 of 3 123

Similar Threads

  1. Switch view between machine working enveloppe and job not working?
    By skillalot in forum Screen Layouts, Post Processors & Misc
    Replies: 0
    Last Post: 08-10-2015, 03:55 PM
  2. Replies: 1
    Last Post: 10-02-2010, 12:07 AM
  3. Great Carbide Milling & Turning Inserts Great Pricing
    By CDTooling in forum News Announcements
    Replies: 0
    Last Post: 09-27-2010, 01:19 PM
  4. my new toy aint working so great can any one help me please
    By jstav in forum Laser Engraving / Cutting Machine General Topics
    Replies: 5
    Last Post: 06-17-2009, 01:20 AM

Tags for this Thread

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •