I was tasked with bringing this Rottler F-65 running an Actek PC back to life. The software is no longer available and the Actek PC is super old. The hard drive went out along with the PSU and bad memory. I was able to fix the Actek computer but the hard drive was shot.
What I ended up doing was writing some custom software to pull data off of the original 3.5″ floppy disks. I was able to pull off the “Rottler” install and the “FlexCAM/FlexCNC” install. The “Shutdown” software I wasnt able to fully recover but from what I saw, it wasnt needed.
In addition to software recovery I built a small industrial PC, installed Windows 10 and a USB to Serial cable. Had to make sure the settings were correct on the Rottler software side and the PC side. Worked out well!
I’m an IT guy by profession. I’ve taken on standard jobs like network configuration, server builds, website builds, securing servers and websites, software support, written custom software for SuperFlo machines, fixed engine dynos etc.
Well a buddy of mine works at a speed shop which does pretty much everything from turbos to high-end engine builds. Their Rottler F-65 CNC had taken a turn for the worst. Not sure how long it had been down, weeks, months, not sure. The problem with the machine wasn’t that it was time to replace it but that it was running an old PC with Windows 98 along with Rottler’s software. They had installation software but they were on floppy disks and in bad shape. The hard drive was bad, couldnt recover any data from it. Rottler MFG did not have a copy of the install software, so pucker factor was high since I had to recover data. I decided to take a crack at it. 🙂
I was able to repair the Actek computer it comes with. Power supply was bad, memory was bad, along with being very dirty. The problem here is that I’d have to Frankenstein it. Power supply no longer available, so it would need to be external. Hard drive is IDE, I could swap it to Compact Flash but then I’d still end up with a machine that runs Windows 98 and if I’m lucky, it’ll keep running for a few years. If it goes bad? Cant find parts.
I wrote some software to help me pull data off of the floppy disks. I was able to recover the Rottler and FlexCAM floppys and about 50-60% of Shutdown. Shutdown doesnt look like its needed so I didnt care.
Next test was run it on a VM in VirtualBox in Windows 98. Works fine. Ok, lets test on my spare laptop running Windows 7. Worked! Took it to the client’s shop, hooked up my laptop with a USB to Serial adapter cable and here we go! Pic of it not working below, the internals of the Actek computer and then of it communicating with the F-65 and working on my spare laptop.
I’ll build an industrial mini-pc and transfer Windows 7 along with the Rottler software on it. Then we’ll run a block thru.
Its been a few months since I had any PiDash update. Car has been down for some maintenance during that timeframe so I havent had a chance to mess with PiDash *in the car*. I did make a change. Bought a new Pi4 and updated it to boot off of USB. I now have two Pi4’s. One has the standard SD boot and the other, USB. I will copy over my configuration and test to see which is faster. Updates soon!
This will probably be the last version of PiDash I put out since I think it does what its supposed to do.
The purpose of my PiDash is to allow users of EFI Source Gold Box/Megasquirt EFI boxes a PiDash you can put in your car to monitor/tune your vehicle for FREE (other than buying TunerStudio from EFI Analytics). The previous versions require some sort of Linux knowledge and the willingness to tinker in Linux. The problem is when people want a simpler turn-key solution, it might put off someone from using this and they’ll end up paying for something that isnt worth the price they paid.
This version of my PiDash includes the latest BETA version of TunerStudio. You can use your registration code if you already have one to register this copy. PiDash v04272020 has the following: 1. Fast boot like previous versions 2. WiFi hotspot for direct connections to your PiDash 3. SAMBA for transferring data to/from your PiDash 4. WiFi networking to transfer files to/from you PiDash via a network
Late Bug Fix: 1. When running Enable Network, doesnt display IP address. Fixed it in “enablenet.sh”.
There is only ONE IMAGE available which covers both Longrunner 7″ Touchscreens and then stock displays. 1. DOWNLOAD FROM THE PiDash Wiki page
HOW TO CONFIGURE LONGRUNNER and YOUR DISPLAY: If you have a display other than Longrunner you may have to put in the correct settings in the config.txt file. If so, write the image to a 16GB microSD card (in Windows use Etcher) and edit the config.txt file with Notepad. Scroll to the bottom of config.txt and remove the “#” sign as stated in the pics below starting with “max_usb_current=1”. Then save the file, remove the microSD card, insert it in the Pi4 and boot it up.
If you have different settings, you can put them in the config.txt file at the end INSTEAD OF uncommenting as stated above.
04/30/2020 PLEASE SEE THE PiDash WIKI. THIS IS OUTDATED in VERSION 1.5.2. NETWORKING CONFIGURATION NOTE: You only use Config-WiFi *once* to configure your wireless settings. If you mess up, run it again and it will recreate the template for you to edit.
04/30/2020 THIS IS OUTDATED SINCE V1.5.2. NEW VIDEO WILL COME OUT SOON. The video below shows the features and how to enable WiFi Direct and WiFi via network access. Any issues, just comment and I’ll review.
Here are some pics of the latest 80 mile round trip to the parts store for some NGK BR7EF spark plugs. Had someone take pics of the engine compartment, crusin with Federales (LOL) and of course, the PiDash showing my 19MPG. 🙂
What I’m trying to do is make it super easy to get your PiDash on your network so you can download logs, upload a new tune, upload a new dash you bought/designed etc. Here is a demo of it working in my Turbo Camaro.
One thing to note is, TunerStudio saves the date/time in the filename. Since the date/time is not correct on my PiDash or yours unless you have a Real Time Clock installed, it shows the wrong date in the filename. This can be confusing. I recommend copying your logs off of the PiDash and deleting them off of the PiDash once you finish copying.
Changes: 1. Installation of DietPi with only LXDE and Java. 2. LXDE does NOT autoload. 3. Runs TunerStudio Beta demo version using X11. 4. On exit of the beta version, PiDash will automatically shut down*
If your display doesnt work when booting, its because the config.txt on your image needs to have the correct settings in there for your display. Comment below and I’ll walk you thru it or build an image that will work. Please provide which display you’re using or the settings your display needs.
You can change this if you want from the command line.
*If you exit TunerStudio, it will automatically shut down your PiDash. If you register TunerStudio ULTRA you can create a button that will exit, assuming you have a touch screen or a mouse hooked up. Its better/easier/less hassle if you use a touch screen. Here is the one I am using which is on AMAZON.
REGISTRATION/ENABLING TunerStudio: If you already have TunerStudio registered, you will need to enable it.
Pre-requisitesfor NON-ULTRA USERS: 1. Tuner Studio shuts down on exit. If you want that feature, skip step 2. 2. If you DO NOT want your NON-ULTRA version of TunerStudio to shut down automatically on exit go to the TunerStudio ULTRA users portion. That part explains how to remove the auto shutdown on exit. 3. Need to enable networking, skip to the Enabling networking section.
TunerStudio ULTRA users, I will ASSUME you will create a button or something that you can click or touch to shut down your PiDash: **IF YOU PURCHASE TS Ultra, I believe only the BETA version has this shutdown feature. If so, you will need to log in and do the following to disable my shutdown after exit since you will be using a button or similar to shutdown:
cd /var/lib/dietpi/dietpi-autostart nano custom.sh
This will bring up an editor. Remove the line at the bottom that says the below. That is a shutdown command. init 0
CTRL X to save. Press Y to save and then RETURN when it gives you the filename, do not change that name.
Once out of the editor, reboot by typing this: init 6
Do not forget to create a button or similar in Dashboard Designer and assign the “single click” to shut down. Enabling networking for all TS Users:
Plug in your network cable. Power on the PiDash. TunerStudio autostarts. You will need to jump to a terminal session. Get your keyboard out and press and hold CTRL-ALT-F1 keys. The screen will turn black with a bunch of text. Hit return once. Default username is: root Default password is: dietpi
Once at a prompt type the following: systemctl start systemd-timesyncd systemctl enable systemd-timesycd systemctl daemon-reload
Once complete, type:
dietpi-config
Select option #7 Select Ethernet and hit return
You will see a message stating Ethernet must be enabled. Select OK and hit return.
Next prompt states “would you like to purge all wifi …” Select OK
Stuff starts happening. Select “Apply: Save all changes….” and hit RETURN
Do you wish to apply settings and reconnect. Select OK to that prompt and the next wifi prompt.
Once you are back to the Dietpi Config screen: Tab to “Back” and hit return. You will do this twice. At the Main options screen select EXIT.At “Exit Dietpi-Config?” select OK.
You have now successfully enabled networking and timesyncd. Next command, restart the PiDash by typing: init 6
After reboot, TunerStudio will load. Enter your registration info. Once complete, disable timesyncd and networking that way the system starts up quick again.
DISABLING networking for all TS Users:
Plug in your network cable. Power on the PiDash. TunerStudio autostarts. You will need to jump to a terminal session. Get your keyboard out and press and hold CTRL-ALT-F1 keys. The screen will turn black with a bunch of text. Hit return once. Default username is: root Default password is: dietpi
Once at a prompt type the following: systemctl stop systemd-timesyncd systemctl disable systemd-timesycd systemctl daemon-reload
Once complete, type:
dietpi-config
Select option #7 Select Ethernet and hit return
Select Disable: Disable Ethernet Adapter Select OK and hit return.
Next prompt states “would you like to disable ethernet …” Select OK
Stuff starts happening and “Would you like to purge all WiFi…” Select OK and hit RETURN
Once you are back to the Dietpi Config screen: Tab to “Exit” and hit return. You are now at “Exit DietPi-Config?” Select OK
You have now successfully disabled networking and timesyncd. Next command, restart the PiDash by typing: init 6
After reboot, TunerStudio will load and you will see your registered version.
Next release: 1. USB automount that way you can save your Project to a USB thumbdrive and remove it on shutdown. *May skip this because of #2 below* 2. Wifi TunerStudio log/tune access via a Windows/Linux/Mac. 3. Better notes on stuff and things or if I get suggestions.