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Author Topic: NoPIlot  (Read 1990 times)

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NoPIlot
« on: November 09, 2025, 07:29:44 PM »
When the Tormach XSTech came out about 5 years ago I wanted one. Tough I didn't want to pay $3500.

Did some searching and found that the machine is actually a Bravo Prodigy BE2015. They replaced the control board with one that will work with Path Pilot. Then added an estop and probe. Also came with an all in one pc, keyboard, mouse, and Shuttle Express.

After a bunch of searching I found all the parts used. Didn't find the pc used. Instead, I'm using an old Windows tablet. Got everything for about $1500.

Working on replacing the control board with a Genmtisu that runs Mach 3. Getting the brushless dc motor working was a bit of a challenge. Now it just has a little bit of wiring left and it'll be ready to start using.

Tried a few screens, but didn't find any that I really liked. There were a few that had some of what I was looking for. Probably could have used them as is.

Then I found out that it was possible to make a new screen. Did a test one to see if it would work. It was very rough, but I had most of what I wanted working. Started over again. This time trying to replicate Path Pilot.
Re: NoPIlot
« Reply #1 on: November 09, 2025, 07:34:09 PM »
Spent quite a bit of time working on the screen. Had to do a lot of searching to figure out how to do somethings. Had to use a bunch of scripts to make it work. Some parts are a bit hacky, but it was the only way I could figure out how to do it.

Made the graphics with paint.net. Not the greatest, but it works for now. Maybe I'll go through and remake them.

The main screen is about 95% working. There's supposed to be a led that lights up under the selected page. That's only partially configured.

The feed, rpm, velocity, and jog sliders aren't actually sliders. They're a 10 leds with transparent buttons on top. Clicking on it changes which led is lit up. The dro is then changed to the selected value. The leds are also lit according to the dro value.

There's a couple transparent buttons on the bottom to turn on or off the menu bar. Might change that.

The exit button is configured. Just doesn't have the graphics.

All the buttons and dros work. There's the gcode, mdi, and tool path. Next to the mdi is a button. When clicked on it goes to the 2nd page which has the gcode enlarged.

« Last Edit: November 09, 2025, 07:40:34 PM by Punisher »
Re: NoPIlot
« Reply #2 on: November 17, 2025, 06:27:16 PM »
The file page is very basic. Has a button to load and one to edit. Also displays the file name if loaded.

Mach 3 opens a file explorer to load gcode. It can't be built into the screen like PathPilot.

Thought about adding the gcode screen. Figured it really didn't pay. Previewing would be better done on the main screen. That way the tool path can also be looked at.
« Last Edit: November 17, 2025, 06:28:49 PM by Punisher »
Re: NoPIlot
« Reply #3 on: November 18, 2025, 06:32:04 PM »
There's not a whole lot on the settings page. Shows the enabled g-code settings. A led lights up if enabled.

Everything is configured and working. Just needs to be made to look a little better.

Going to split up the g-code and label. That will allow everything to line up better. Since the active work coordinate is a changing label, it has a colored background. Splitting up the text will allow all of them to have the same color background.

Used the stock led to configure everything. Will be switching to a custom one. It will be a full solid color.

One of the limitations with Mach 3 is that all text and background colors are the same for the entire screenset. Would have liked to change the text color to make it easier to read on top of the led. Could change the text to black, but that might cause problems elsewhere. Will have to experiment with some different color leds to see what works best.
Re: NoPIlot
« Reply #4 on: November 18, 2025, 08:25:44 PM »
The status page is currently very limited. It displays the latest notification. Will show an error if there is one.

Pressing F1 opens the page. That's the same as PathPilot.

The page button is actually a led. It will flash yellow. Forgot how I have it configured. It's been 4 years since I've worked on this. Believe it should activate when there's an error message.

PathPilot shows a running log of messages. Mach 3 only shows the lates. The rest are saved in a log.

Plan on adding history and clear buttons. Also limit switch leds.

PathPilot has a Machine Ok led. That's enabled when the pc is connected to the machine. Not sure if Mach 3 can detect the connection status. Will have to do some more searching on that.

PathPilot also has a led for the door. My machine does have a door switch. The control board I'm using doesn't have a input for it. Pretty sure normal boards will have that. Thinking about adding the led and partially configuring it.
Re: NoPIlot
« Reply #5 on: November 24, 2025, 08:02:52 PM »
Started the conversational page. Mostly got the facing page done.

Stated the drill page. That took a little bit of hackery to make an editable drill list. It's a set of 10 userdros. There's page up and down buttons. Those cycle the list to the set of 10.

Most of the conversational scripting is from the wizards. It is modified a bit to use the dro's from the screenset.

Was going to skip the engraving part. After looking at it again there's a chance I can make it work. That's at the very bottom of the list of things I want to implement.
Re: NoPIlot
« Reply #6 on: November 25, 2025, 08:53:46 PM »
Started the offsets page. Only started the tool list part of it. It's a series of userlabels and dros. It's read only as there isn't a way to write to the tool list.

A vertical slider will be used to switch through the pages. Haven't started that yet. Can copy what I did with the feed sliders. It will just need a little changing of the scripting and values.

Need to setup the tool setter probing. Found some scripting that I should be able to make work.

Going to add a work offset sub screen. Those dros will be editable.
Re: NoPIlot
« Reply #7 on: November 26, 2025, 08:31:59 PM »
Haven't started the probe page. Did find majority of the scripting needed to make it work. Those will need some changes to work the way I want it to.

Didn't do anything with the atc screen. Saw some screensets had it, so I was planning on adding it. Don't have a machine that as it and probably never will. Thinking about eliminating the page. Maybe if I get everything else done, I'll look into it.
Re: NoPIlot
« Reply #8 on: November 26, 2025, 08:59:00 PM »
That's where I left the project 4 years ago. Didn't have time to work on it. My router still needed work, so I didn't need the screenset. Then other things came up and I kind of forgot about it.

Now my router is ready to be used. Also have time again to work on the screenset.

Started the screenset using mach3screen. Found that very limiting. Almost gave up on the project very early.

Then I switched to machscreen. That was much easier to use.

In the last several days I watched a few videos on using machscreen. Found a bunch of information that would have been nice to know when I first started. That would have saved a lot of time aligning and configuring.