December 2019 - Woody's Workshop

December 25, 2019December 25, 2019

Tormach PathPilot G37 Update

I have my Tormach PCNC440 wired into the workshop network and as a result if a new version of PathPilot is issued my PathPilot controller warns me. This is quite nice as there is no formal emailing warnings of new issues by Tormach. Anyone whose machine is not Internet connected would need to check periodically with the Tormach site to see if an update was needed.

To continue the story … last week I got a warning of a new version of PathPilot (2.4.0) was available and I duly downloaded. One of the immediately obvious changes in the new firmware was a G37 tool measurement routine which works in conjunction with a simple Normally Closed tool setter. From my previous ramblings you will see that I had done a combiner box to allow both probing and toolsetting to share a common input to the Tormach. In theory I was therefore ready to go ….

From my many years in industry I should know that all that glitters etc … the new routine did not work. I thought it must be me but in the end I logged a support call with Tormach and sent them my log file. I also logged the problem on the NYC CNC forum to see if anyone else was having the same issue. I did get one response saying that he was not having an issue. The plot thickened and nothing back from Tormach.

A couple of days later the same responder said there was a fix update available from the Tormach site. It seems the software worked well in G20 Imperial mode but not in G21 Metric mode. He was running Imperial and I was trying to run in Metric Software update downloaded and all is well. It is rather nice. You tell PathPilot where the tool setter is located and then to run the auto tool measurement you put a G37 command in the GCode after a tool change. Away the spindle goes to the tool setter location, dunks the tool and updates the Tool Table. Magic.

Still waiting for Tormach to close off my enquiry and let me know they had fixed the problem and as a result there was a new firmware available. But it is Christmas and maybe they had other pressing matters.

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December 7, 2019December 7, 2019

New Microscope

Technology Upgrade

Quite some time ago I mentioned a really low cost simple microscope that I think John Saunders had recommended from Amazon. The device has served me well even though it was quite basic.

I recently had a job to do where I needed to see and measure a very small part I was making. The simple microscope was struggling to cope or at least I was struggling to cope with it. Looking on the net to see what the current technology could offer I spotted a device on Amazon that looked interesting.

KKMoon Microscope from Amazon

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B07VL44TJT/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

It was a bit more expensive but nowhere near a ‘proper’ professional optical product. Having taken delivery it is very impressive.

It can act as a simple standalone viewer using the built in screen or can be externally connected via HDMI to a monitor or (and this is the impressive bit) it can be connected to a PC via a superb application that has so many bells and whistles it will take me ages to understand all the functions. The sensor is a 16 Megapixel Sony CMOS 1/2.3″ HD device and video output can be 4K/2k/1080P. Magnification is up to x300.

So I am well pleased with the investment and it will certainly earn its keep.

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December 7, 2019

New Zealand trip

Springtime in New Zealand

Sorry that things have been quiet but we have been on a 6 week trip to New Zealand. It was the only country that my wife and I both had heard so much about and both agreed we wanted to see. So I had to bid farewell to the workshop for longer than I really wanted but you can’t go round to the other side of the world for just the weekend.

We flew Emirates from London to Dubai, Dubai to Melbourne and Melbourne to Wellington with a few hours stop over at each. If we must fly long haul we like Emirates or Virgin whenever possible and Emirates once again was brilliant.

We had considered doing a golfing holiday through a package deal but it ended up like some sort of crazy route march with tee times booked months in advance. Not really a holiday. We chose instead a camper-van do your own thing style tour. We were both a bit apprehensive about being in close confines for 6 weeks (instead of our normal me in the workshop and my wife playing golf). It took a few days to get into the swing of things and work out a routine but once we were sorted it went well.

We covered over 5,000 kms wandering around North and then South Island. We usually booked one night’s camp site ahead. We used the Top10 sites most of the time but also some independent ones. Some sites were very good, some not so good. We had one where we felt like cleaning our shoes when we came out of the toilet block …

We covered a significant part of both islands and were blown away by the scenery. We struck lucky with the weather with the sun following us around on our journey. We did get to play golf but rather than pay NZD200 for a round we played small town courses for NZD30 tops. The courses were beautifully manicured, most were deserted with an honesty box for green fees and we met some interesting people.

I didn’t get to see much mechanical tech but there were a few heritage steam railways and museums that I couldn’t resist visiting.

It is a great destination and despite my reservations, the camper-van was a great way to see things and the 6 weeks flew by. Highlight for both of us was a front seat helicopter flight from Queenstown to Milford Sound via a glacier landing and with blue skies all day. Not many people see Milford Sound in sunshine. We were very very lucky.

The workshop awaits and my newly installed heater will ensure a cosy winter activity session.

Great to be back and it will be even better when we have shaken off the jet lag.

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