Tormach PathPilot.

[Bob RodgersonParticipant @bobrodgerson97362]

Hi Andrew,

I have the Path Pilot upgrade but have not installed it yet.

I'm off to Tormach in 3 weeks time for one of their workshops where I will get hands on with it. When I come back I will install it and let you know what I think of it.

Bob

[MuzzerParticipant @muzzer]

John AS – interesting. Could you post a few links? I may be able to Google something but if you've done it before, you could save us a few blind alleys.

Being open source, there is an agreement to post any additional code generated (I don't know the details) but I'm sure there must be a few features, tools etc that remain proprietary and doubtless critical. I'd love to see what the reality is. A Tormach implementation of LinuxCNC could be a rather compelling option.

I get the impression that Tormach would be fine with people "repurposing" their version if it doesn't lead to all manner of distraction. Definitely something to look into next….

Murray

[Another JohnSParticipant @anotherjohns]

Murray – hopefully I've entered these links correctly:

**LINK**

and, on cnczone:

**LINK**

The first is a well written series of steps; the second a forum discussing it.

John.

[MuzzerParticipant @muzzer]

Thanks John

Wow that's really rather encouraging. Last time I looked at the PP stuff on the Tormach site it said you could only buy the install disk if you gave them a serial number to prove you had one of their machines. That's changed now – it sounds as if they are passively supporting this initiative and there are enough people involved who are Linux / HAL capable to give it a good chance of working out. It's not really my thing, as my software days are long past (by choice!).

I've been so busy in my armchair workshop that I didn't notice these developments, ironically. It's all looking rather exciting now! Tormach is a really refreshing kind of company – great to see such constructive and open encouragement.

Murray

[Anonymous]

New controller, and other parts, arrived this afternoon. Pretty darn good in my book as I only ordered on Wednesday. In practical terms it might be a few weeks before I fit everything together. I have a lot of CNC work to do in the next few weeks, and unless the present controller finally kicks the bucket, I don't want to be getting use to new interface at the same time.

Once I've got it all up and running I'll report back. I'll have a look at the conversational stuff, mostly out of curiosity. I've never used the conversational side of Mach3, as most of the CNC parts I make are too complex for the conversational functions to be of much use. Having said that I am keen to have a go with the threadmilling in PathPilot. While my CAM system nominally has threadmilling capability it is about as much use as a chocolate teapot, and I simply don't want to risk breaking an expensive cutter using it.

Bob: I'll be interested to see what you make of PathPilot. I'd also be very interested in what you think of the Tormach course. I considered going on one at the beginning but never got around to it.

Andrew

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