PathPilot Plugins for Tormach Mills

Useful add-ons I've developed and tested on my 1100M. They should work on all Tormach mills (770M, 1100M, 15L, etc.). Lathe users may need minor edits—feel free to email me for help.

Available Plugins

Installation

Simply copy the plugin files into:

/home/operator/gcode/python/

Also required: ui_hooks.py (MD5: 33b0fc42b2d23884e8086c3e33eaacdd) must be present in the same folder.

After copying, restart PathPilot—the plugins will load automatically.

Additional Plugins

Dave Loomes also shares some excellent plugins at:

http://xoomspeed.com/CNC/pathpilot/plugins.htm

His original ProbeGuard is highly recommended. The version listed above is a lightly modified variant he kindly adapted for me.

Happy machining!
Let me know if you run into issues or have feature requests.

This plugin creates your own custom tab right on the PathPilot main page. It sits to the left of the Status tab.

It features a few buttons I slapped together, though you can edit this with a bit of python savvy. The big feature, though, is the WCS array, which features all X, Y and Z coordinates for G53 through G59. These update in real time as you move the machine.

Also features buttons that switch to G53-G59, buttons to Zero each of those WCS and a Zero All button that does exactly that.

The plugin is lightly invasive in that it modifies one OEM file (but backs it up before it does). I include an uninstall script to go back to stock settings (or, you can just rename the file yourself if you know how). The uninstall script ONLY uninstalls the plugin. It doesn't touch anything else on your machine, including your g code files.

For the geeks, the script modifies /home/operator/<your version>/python/images/tormach_mill_ui.glade (it makes a backup to tormach_mill_ui.glade.bak). Everything else is handled within the _plugin.py.

Patched Message

Uninstalled Message

This plugin survives PathPilot updates in that it will simply reinstall itself if it notices you have upgraded.

Copy ALL files (except the reversion script) into /gcode/python. Load PathPilot. It will install, then you will have to reload PathPilot to see the actual tab take effect. In other words, two reboots.

HOWEVER, if you are going from an older version to v2.10 or newer, Tormach significantly changed the UI, so I have two versions of this script (before approx 2.10 and after).

If you download it and it doesn't work, try the other version.

Install progress, errors, uninstall progress are all displayed in the Status Window.

Tested on 2.8.3, 2.9.1, 2.13.0, 2.14.0.

To uninstall, simply copy glade_and_tabs_reversion_plugin.py into /gcode/python and reboot.

If you want the midpoint and reboot scripts to work, copy them into /gcode/scripts (you may have to make the scripts directory). The reboot script DOES ask you if you're sure.

This plugin may be suitable for those reverse engineering or otherwise building code from hand.

You can move your machine to position and quickly log that position to file.

It'd be useful like if you had to write a drilling cycle program and didn't want to hande type a bunch of positions in.

Uses the active WCS and supports G20 and G21.

Logs to logger.txt and you can change the format of what's logged (G1 F50 before the coords, G0, nothing at all, etc) with minor python editing.

Position Logger v0.96

This plugin adds additional ADMIN commands to the PathPilot MDI line, similar to built-in commands like 'ADMIN CALC' and 'ADMIN DISPLAY'.

You can easily add your own, too.

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 ADDED COMMANDS:
 ADMIN GEDIT → Opens the Gedit text editor
 ADMIN CAJA → Opens the Caja file manager
 ADMIN TERM → Opens a Mate terminal window

Custom Admin Commands From MDI Line v1.00
MD5 Hash: e0dae34623beb0ed9434106722826b90

PathPilot normally uses the F1 key as a shortcut to show the Status Window.
However, this view is *temporary* — the moment you release F1, the UI snaps
back to the previous screen. This plugin disables that automatic return,
letting the Status Window stay visible until you choose to leave it.

 HOW IT WORKS:
 • This plugin locates the active version of PathPilot's main UI script:
 /home/operator/vX.X.X/python/tormach_mill_ui.py
 • It searches for the line that performs the "F1 snap-back" behavior.
 • If found and not already patched, it:
 → Backs up the original file as tormach_mill_ui.py.bak
 → Comments out the F1 line safely
 → Writes the patched file back in place
 • A confirmation popup will appear, and log messages will be printed to
 the Status Window to confirm the patch was applied.

 SAFETY NOTES:
 • The patch is only applied once — it won’t touch the file if already patched.
 • A full backup is created before any changes are made.
 • If PathPilot is updated, the patch will reapply the next time it runs.
 • The original file can be restored at any time using the backup.

F1 Toggle Killer v1.00
MD5 Hash: 5e4f3830a856d76f21d9346967a4e9e8

 By default, PathPilot allows jogging the machine using keyboard keys:
 • Arrow keys (← ↑ ↓ →) move the X and Y axes
 • Page Up / Page Down control the Z axis

 While useful in some setups, this behavior can also be dangerous — a stray
 keystroke could unintentionally move your machine.

Keyboard Jog Killer v1.00
MD5 Hash: 2cb5682f27bf12e3f7e6891d01330ae6

Xoomspeed's ProbeGuard will refuse to turn the spindle on if T99 is selected in PathPilot. This helps prevents destroying your wired probe, cable, etc. However, it does nothing if the probe is in the spindle, but T99 isn't selected, so I wanted to go one step further. I put a limit switch in the cradle where I store the probe. Which is connected to the USB IO module. So, when the probe is safely stored in its cradle, the limit switch is CLOSED.

The modified probeguard looks for that closed circuit. If it's open, it refuses to turn the spindle on. This provides, for me, the ultimate in spindle safety.

Modified ProbeGuard v1.00
MD5 Hash: 75836e6073451e50bcfb3abb7c9eca75

##################################################
##                                              ##
##     CUSTOM 4TH AXIS SCALE MODIFIER v0.95     ##
##            www.tormachtips.com               ##
##               07 Jan 2026                    ##
##                                              ##
##################################################

# OVERVIEW:
# This plugin automatically applies custom scaling values for DIY or non-Tormach 4th axis hardware.
# Tormach-branded 4th axes (such as the MicroARC) use predefined steps-per-revolution values
# tuned for their hardware. However, when using custom-built or third-party 4th axis setups,
# these default values often result in incorrect angular rotation.
#
# SYMPTOM:
# You command a 360° rotation, but the 4th axis either under-rotates or over-rotates.
# This is caused by a mismatch in the SCALE parameter — which defines how many steps
# equal one full revolution.

# FILE MODIFIED:
# This plugin modifies the OEM configuration file:
#     /home/operator/v/configs/common/4th_axes.inc
#
# That file is updated or replaced with each PathPilot update, so manual changes will not survive.
# This plugin ensures the correct values are restored automatically.

# WHAT IT DOES:
# - On PathPilot boot, determines the installed PathPilot version and builds the correct path.
# - Scans the 4th_axes.inc file for a "# CUSTOM SCALE" marker.
# - If not present:
#     - Creates a one-time backup at 4th_axes.inc.backup
#     - Comments out the original SCALE, STEPGEN_MAX_VEL, and STEPGEN_MAXACCEL lines.
#     - Inserts new values tuned for a typical Amazon DIY 4th axis:
#           SCALE            = 166.6666666
#           STEPGEN_MAX_VEL  = 162.0
#           STEPGEN_MAXACCEL = 1000.0
#     - Marks the file as modified with "# CUSTOM SCALE" on separate lines (to avoid breaking INI parsing).
#
# INSTRUCTIONS:
# - This plugin runs automatically each time PathPilot boots.
# - If changes were required, you will be notified in the PathPilot status window
#   and prompted to reboot to apply them.
# - Once patched, the plugin will not reapply changes unless the file is replaced or you upgrae PathPilot. 
#
# SAFETY:
# These values are known to work with commonly used 4th axis assemblies (e.g. 90:1 or 100:1 worm gearboxes with common stepper motor drivers).
# However, **always verify rotation distance manually** after first applying this patch.
# Incorrect SCALE or velocity/accel values may cause inaccurate cuts, lost steps, or drive faults.
#
# For support, tuning tips, or troubleshooting:
#     Visit: https://www.tormachtips.com