https://tormach.com/pathpilot-keyboard-shortcuts-mousepad-51208.html
Brian, thanks for bringing up the TormachTips.com. Really interesting. On my old system, there were a bunch of buttons on the pendant that could be programmed to execute a macro. I found them very helpful. I am not familiar with Python but the plugin that adds an extra tabs or the pendant he sells looks interesting.
Thanks… Richard
Its not necessarily the perfect solution. But its helpful. Like I said, I modified his plugin to add some more buttons for some canned routines I wanted to make life easier.
I’m at the point where I don’t mind learning something new but that’s it. If it is changed or broken in the next update I’m out. If you walk out to your car and the start button is hidden somewhere new every week it’s time to slap a developer.
From a safety standpoint having random keys run arbitrary macros is not a great idea, especially if there are multiple users of the machine-- accidentally hit the wrong key with body parts in the danger zone and its a bad day. We’ve all probably typed something thinking the focus is the MDI when it isn’t.
That may be a reason most of the Tormach pre-programmed hotkeys that do things (versus stop things) are key combinations like alt-this and ctl-that.
I’m at the point where I don’t mind learning something new but that’s it. If it is changed or broken in the next update I’m out.
If you depend on a screen position/mouse position click for the xdotools macro setup, you might have to reprogram that if things change in PP.
Anything is subject to change in PP but IMHO we are not likely to encounter major changes in minor versions. If we get a “version 3”, that’s the greatest chance customizations like this will break.
That’s the thing…PP is open source but ultimately, if you want to tweak, you or someone has to maintain the modifications and change revisions…pretty standard for a project of this nature…
If you walk out to your car and the start button is hidden somewhere new every week it’s time to slap a developer.
I don’t think being moved every week would happen but I could see there being major changes to the UI for a version 3 of PathPilot that you “just have to accept”.
From a safety standpoint having random keys run arbitrary macros is not a great idea, especially if there are multiple users of the machine-- accidentally hit the wrong key with body parts in the danger zone and its a bad day. We’ve all probably typed something thinking the focus is the MDI when it isn’t.
Agreed on multiple operators.
I think that the parties discussing this here are “single operators” and are okay with that burden being placed on them in lieu of the productivity gains.
I think the best option is to have a dedicated aux keyboard with labeled keys for macros and keep the main keyboard as is. That seems to approach what the “big iron CNC” does and aux keyboards don’t cost that much.
I’m looking at the pseudo “operator console” as I don’t have knobs for feed/speed/rpm overrides and those are what I could use the most right now and by the book, the operator console isn’t listed as 440 compatible…
Yeah, people disable enclosure door safety switches too, I’m just thinking some of this liability may be why Tormach isn’t in a hurry to support random keyboard macros.
I dont update PP, I run 2.13 and leave it. No need for constant updates. Find a version you are happy with & leave it. UNLESS some new feature comes out that might help you. Since these plugins reside in the gcode file they should carry over even if you did update.
I get the safety concerns with hot keys. But every cnc mill has a keypad &/or hotkeys. This is not an inherently risk free endeavor. You gotta know what you’re doing. I’ve worked in industrial environments most of my life. You can safety concern yourself right out of work if you want. And of course you can be selective on what hot keys you make & the combination of keys to minimize unintentional results.
I use a foot pedal for tool changes since I dont run atc. The push button for the pdb wears out my finger amd now i have 2 hands available. So there is always a concern for accidental stepping on the pedal at the wrong time. But careful actions & proper placement helps mitigate that concern. Same with hot keys.
When you lose your sense of proportion, you get the opposite of what you intended. If the operator is forced to close the door for super high-risk MDI commands like “G55” or “ADMIN CALC,” the door switch gets disabled pretty quickly.
I don’t seem to have those restrictions on my 440 but I do recall max spindle speed doors/open closed.
I don’t know if someone more familiar can comment but I recall something about the regulations and regulatory bodies differ by country?
They might just use the most stringent guidelines across the board so they don’t have to have multiple versions of machines/PathPilot.
Machines (with the operator console) have the key that limits what you can and can’t do, with the idea in mind that the machine is setup for a “basic operator” just to load/unload parts and predefined programs where it is in a “production only” mode. That makes sense from a background in business operations and security.
I would understand/imagine, that if the door is open and the spindle isn’t turning, you should be able to do whatever you want/need to setup work but there is still a danger if human parts could be in the machine envelope and the only way to ensure that doesn’t occur, is that the doors are closed…so, sort of a conflict in terms of what you need to do and what is 100% safe.
I took a very quick look at the current UI python code and they have a notion of a current_user where I see that a certain class of user can’t issue MDI commands doors open, can’t home axes doors open, etc. I guess however mine is setup, my user class isn’t limited to those. Having the MDI off limits sounds like a parts loader operator “user” to me. Not clear to me on how you setup a “user” aside from that operator console key.
I’m in Europe, and the restrictions are likely related to my 1100MX being a CE variant. The key is always in the Setup Mode.
The door lock is intended to protect the operator from injury and the manufacturer from liability. The doors can not be permanently locked, because the machine is useless if you can not set up stock or remove parts. How to interpret the EU regulations and drive the lock is up to the manufacturer. Common sense says that the doors should be locked for any command that causes the machine to move. Unfortunately, EU requirements often diverge significantly from common sense; however, if the implementation of the directive is “German meticulousness applied with Russian folly”, then the result may be good for ticking boxes in paperwork but completely unusable in real life. According to Tormach support, “no automatic operation should be permitted when guarding is open” and “in the case of any CNC machine, an MDI command falls into the category of ‘automatic operation’”. Well, indeed, in the case of a CNC machine, pretty much ANY operation can be considered automatic except cranking the vice handle or moving the doors. That does not change the fact that blocking the change of WCS or starting the calculator app with the doors open is just counterproductive.
For a US business OSHA fines can be high if they inspect and find machines with disabled interlocks.
From a home-shop perspective you can do whatever you want, although your insurance company (and Tormach’s) might balk at any related injury claims.
This reminds me of Top Gear and them constantly ridiculing “Health and Safety”…
All I know is that if you machine with the door open you can be hit with molten metal, ceramic shards, invisible steel razor wires and chemicals. Sounds dumb to have the door open but someone will always find a way.
All of the above have hit and stuck to my enclosure window.
I didnt have to disable the interlock on my 1100mx
In the US the lock is an option… I didnt get it
Also, the key does nothing on US machines
I wouldn’t run machining operations with the doors open. I have enough of a mess to clean up and zero interest in creating a higher risk environment of injury from flying debris. The issue seems to be the way the EU restrictions are interpreted is a little over the top in terms of implementation.
Aren’t you in the UK and subject to these? Do you only use the shuttle/pendant for setup while the doors are open and no MDI commands?
I am a one man shop so the rules don’t apply. But I need fingers and eyes so I don’t mess around. I do adjust coolant spray sometimes with the spindle running and I give the spindle a little reverse spin with my hand on tool change measure but I try to avoid using feeler gauges with the spindle running.