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THE REVERSER

May 4 2024

 
This script simply reverses the lines in your file.

G1 F50 X1
G1 F50 X2
G1 F50 X3
G1 F50 X4
G1 F50 X5
G1 F50 X6
G1 F50 X7
G1 F50 X8
G1 F50 X9
G1 F50 X10
 

Becomes:

G1 F50 X10
G1 F50 X9
G1 F50 X8
G1 F50 X7
G1 F50 X6
G1 F50 X5
G1 F50 X4
G1 F50 X3
G1 F50 X2
G1 F50 X1


THE HOG REMOVER

May 2 2024

  This script will drill a series of pilot holes, at an on-center distance of your choosing, around the outline of your project, so your end mill isn't hogging out 100% material, especially at depth...


this becomes that


BACKING UP / RESTORING PATHPILOT ON THE CHEAP

APR 21 2024

 

The following are notes on how to backup and restore Pathpilot without the $25 + shipping USB stick.

RexManning's guide, here, [screenshot 1 and 2] was critical in helping me find Pathpilot Jesus. Tormach's official guide is here.

Understand that I'm not trying tp screw Tormach out of $25 (no one reads this site anyhow), but I have bought more than TWO of these sticks, and lost them both. Also, your machine may be down RIGHT NOW, and you can't wait 2-5 days for delivery...


PROBING X BOSSES WHEN THEY DON'T CLEAR A VISE (THE X BOSS PROBING ROUTINE)

APR 18 2024

  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SQeADQI0xVM

www.tormachtips.com/xboss.htm


OPEN A WEBSITE VIA THE MDI LINE & DRILL CYCLE GENERATOR

APR 05 2024

  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GQDtVp7OWyI

Open a website via the MDI line.

Create a file with the following contents.... (click the link above)


MAKE G37 ETS MOVEMENTS MORE EFFICIENT

APR 04 2024

 

Here is the edit to save time with the factory G37 ETS subroutine. The factory routine is much safer, but if you know what you're doing, this saves a lot of time.

Step 1 will alter the initial move to the ETS so it doesn't climb to the very top of the machine, wasting time.

Step 2 will alter the ending retract after you set a tool length, which also wastes time.

You can do either or both steps. This will probably not survive PathPilot updates. Perhaps David Loomes can chime in with...(click the link above)


GO TO X0 Y0 AND PROBE Z ROUTINE

AUG 31 2023

  This script will rise 1", travel to X0 Y0, then probe Z. Useful, for example, immediately after probing bosses in X and Y.

o<riseandcenter> sub

G1 F50 Z[#<_Z>+1 ]  (RETRACT TO SAFETY HEIGHT)
G1 F50 X0 Y0

G38.2 F20 Z[#<_Z>-2 ] (FAST PROBE UP TO 2" FROM STARTING POINT)
G1 F20 Z[#<_Z>+.05] (BACK OFF BRO)
G38.2 F1 Z[#<_Z>-.1 ] (SLOW PROBE)
G10 L20 P0 Z0 (SET PROBED LOCATION TO Z0)
#1 = #<_Z> (SET A VARIABLE FOR DEBUGGING)
G1 F20 Z[+1 ] (BACK OFF)

o<riseandcenter> endsub


INJECT AUDIO INTO GCODE

AUG 25 2023

  Inject audio confirmation anywhere in your gcode ("Program done", "Op 1 done", etc), with or without user intervention.

A TORMACH 1100M RUNNING OFF A 220v UPS BATTERY BACKUP

JUN 14 2023

  I live in the city. In an American city. With presumably reliable electric service. That I pay through the nose for.

I also have not one, but two, gas generators, and because I went to the expense of putting in a bypass panel that allows me to run (most of) my house off those generators, we almost never lose power.

In 13+ years, I've lost service maybe six times at this property and only once longer than a few minutes...


TIME REMAINING AND LINES REMAINING SCRIPTS

MAY 08 2023

 

TIME REMAINING will append the time-remaining to every line in your file. It can also append the time-remaining until the next op begins.

LINES REMAINING is the same idea and will append how many lines until the next op (or end of file) to each line in your program.

 


THE Y BOSS PROBING ROUTINE

MAY 06 2023

  A simple probing routine for bosses when you want to (or can only) probe one axis. Similar to the A-axis probing routine, but faster. Can easily be edited to an X BOSS probing routine.

 


STEPPER / SERVO AND CABINET FANS FOR BUSINESS AND PLEASURE

APR 18 2023

  Temperature-controlled and RPM-adjustable fans for your steppers / servos and a big ol' desk fan for the cabinet. Quieter when running, silent when e-stopped and longer lasting components.

 


KEYBOARD SHORTCUTS FOR EVERYTHING - FOR FREE (OR CHEAP)

ORIG, APR 08 2023 | CHANGELOG

  One button Cycle Start? YES.

Now that I have your attention:

Are you ready to increase your workflow by an exponential amount? Are you ready to throw your mouse and touchscreen in the trash? Are you prepared to perform a mod so useful that you'll never be able to use your machine without it ever again???

In this article, I teach you how to write and bind hotkeys for every action imaginable. One-click zeroing? Yes. One-click probing? Yes. One-click whatever you want.

 


EMAIL AND SMS TXT NOTIFICATIONS IN GCODE - FOR FREE

REV 3, MAR 28 2023 | ORIG, MAR 25 2023 | CHANGELOG

 

Everyone wants to receive notifications via gcode, but no one has written a clear, concise guide. Until now.

This is is a multi step process, but none of it is too difficult, nor is it harmful to the controller. But, you will be digging behind the scenes of the Pathpilot user interface.
You know what G0, M3, G54 do. Now, you're going to be using a new command called M101...

 

Upcoming articles:

QUIT CRASHING YOUR MACHINE FROM ARROW KEY NONSENSE

 
  Historically, the arrow keys move your cursor when editing text. Well, on a Tormach, they can also jog your machine. This is both awesome and absolutely horrible.

On the MDI line? Want to change G0 to G1? You might use your arrow keys to move the cursor over a letter or two.

Woops! The MDI line wasn't actually highlighted, so instead you jogged your machine. If your endmill happened to be next to your vise, oh well, it was only a $30 carbide bit. No biggie.

Here's how to fix that. [ coming soon ]

 

POWER DRAWBAR FOOT PEDAL

 
  So, someone correct me if I'm wrong, but Tormach used to offer a foot pedal for the PDB and possibly still does if you have an ATC.

Well, I don't have an ATC, but I do have two feet and twenty tools to swap out. [ coming soon ]

 

LOCATING HOLES FOR ACCURATE PART FLIPPING OPERATIONS

 
  By far, the hardest thing for me, and many other aspiring prosumer machinists, to grasp, is how the HELL do you accurately flip two-sided parts.

There are a lot of videos and guides out there. Some work, some don't. Some are intuitive, some aren't.

Here's what I came up with that makes the most sense, and is simplest, for me. [ coming soon ]

 

WD40 ALL THE THINGS

 
  My (probably wrong) opinion on why WD40 is an excellent choice for an excellent surface finish on both your work and your tools. [ coming soon ]

 

REMOTE MONITORING AND VNC

 
  A couple ideas on monitoring your machine when you're dumb enough to walk away from it.

And how to log into the machine (and control it!) from another computer, or even your phone. [ coming soon ]

 

USB Hubs  
   

 

Wired Internet

 
   

 

Spindle Belt Improvements

 
   

 

An enclosure when you don't have room for an enclosure or the time to do it right

 
   

 

Toolbox liner way guards

 
   

 

the harbor freight rapidturn

 
   

 

software use  /  workflow

 
   

 

remote e-stops when you don't have arduino experience

 
   

 

Of Indexing probes and cheap collet holders

 
   

 

Keyboard pan tray

 
   

 

vacuum holder and carts

 
   

 

probe halo

 
   

 

Starting mid program bullshittery

 
   

 

Z axis oil sprayer

 
   

 

embossed Y-axis shuttle button

 
   

 

Facing your spindle because you bought a chinese mill

 
   

 

Enjoy Assonance with Excellent Amazon Endmills

 
   

 

Cheap Ring Lights

 
   

 

Probe proximity sensor integrated into spindle lockout relay.

 
   

 

POP UP messages

 
   

 

hide wires in monitor arm

 
   

 

how to write your M101 subroutines

 
   

 

wine rack ATC

 
   

 

Mr. Mister Don't You See

 
   

 

 

 

 

Tormachtips.com is an independent venture and not affiliated or funded by Tormach Inc in any way.