Great I have Com Troubles

[majohnson]

Reading Adams post on his com troubles, I'm stuck with something simular. Yesterday in the middle of a cut, I heard a change in cutting sound then my tapered 1/8" ball nose exploded as my z axis traveled down. Over 5/8" of my cutter was buried and broken in a piece off maple. I put in a new bit and things seemed fine.

Today I was running it for about an hour, things seemed ok. I changed bits to cut a simple v grove, it zeroed fine. Then when I went to run the cut, the car traveled about 9" on the X axis the Z went up and down maybe 1/2". Then I had a window come up saying lose of com.

To try and correct the problem I switched the usb connection on my laptop. I rezeroed the Z axis, then tried to recut a different file. The same things happened with the car traveling and the Z axis, along with the same fault message. I power cycled both computers, used canned air to blow any dust out of the connectors. Reset the z axis with the same end results. So please don't tell me I need a board as well. My bot is about 3 years old, but only has maybe 25 to 30hrs of run time.

[David White]

I have never had any luck running the bot from a lap top. You might want to first check your com speed.

Good luck Dave

[dhunt]

http://www.eusing.com/free_registry_cleaner/registry_cleaner.htm

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[myxpykalix]

I have run mine from a laptop since i got it with no problems. However the laptop has never been on the net and is stripped of a lot of update type functions. That may be an issue.

[dhunt]

I have run mine from a laptop since i got it with no problems.
However the laptop has never been on the net
and is stripped of a lot of update type functions. That may be an issue.Nothing beats a well-sorted, stand-alone Shopbot control computer
devoid of all or most other software!

No internet hookup.
Nothing else to do but run numbers to the machine.

[Gary Campbell]

Mark...
Most of the comm errors occur as a result of background processes happening in the control computer. I set up mine as a dedicated SB computer and set all of the following:

Screen saver: NONE
power settings: all to NEVER
Auto update: OFF
System restore: OFF
all task scheduler items: OFF or removed
Virus software: REMOVED from computer
Printer software: removed from computer... drivers only installed
All windows features except explorer and sound: removed
all network features:TURNED OFF
if laptop: (dont recommend) Wireless disabled
ALL software other than SB3 and PartWorks (and SB Link) REMOVED
I usually turn the network card off in BIOS so that no app even thinks it can access the internet.
Then I use a REG cleaner and defrag.

Usually a "clean install" of XP is required to do this properly, especially if computer is a "branded" economy unit. These are loaded with stuff that constantly tries to let someone sell you something. I also turn off all Window$ services as per "Black Vipers" services configurations for XP Bare bones.

THis assumes you have a computer that has a decent comm buss rate and RAM that is adequate. Also a USB 2.0 HUB MUST be installed (NOT BELKIN)and the SB control USB cable MUST be plugged into it. (nothing else) I consider minimum RAM to be 2 gigs for SB3 alone and 4 gig if the SB link is involved. Some machines (read as many Dells) require the addition of a PCI card to ensure good comm.

I also

The above usually work, but dont leave the machine as a "fun" computer. Hence the term...DEDICATED CONTROL COMPUTER.

How close is yours to the above? ;)

[dhunt]

Most of the comm errors occur as a result of background processes happening in the control computer.
I set up mine as a dedicated SB computer and set all of the following:

Screen saver: NONE
Power settings: all to NEVER
Auto update: OFF
System restore: OFF
all task scheduler items: OFF or removed
Virus software: REMOVED from computer
Printer software: removed from computer... drivers only installed
All windows features except explorer and sound: removed
all network features:TURNED OFF
if laptop: (dont recommend) Wireless disabled
ALL software other than SB3 and PartWorks (and SB Link) REMOVED
I usually turn the network card off in BIOS so that no app even thinks it can access the internet.
Then I use a REG cleaner and defrag.


How close is yours to the above? ;)How close? Ours was purty darned close! :)

I did however follow your lead and did the three things I've put in bold.

Fortunately, our version of XP is "Mini-XP"(for developers) with v.few if any frills
-just great for a dedicated control computer, if you can get ahold of it..

I don't think people pay enough attention to the workings of their Operating Systems that lies beneath the SB Control Software
but little by little we may be changing things as suggestions get passed around.

Thanks for the tips. ;)

[Gary Campbell]

David, et al...
One additional item. Do not run transferred cutting files from the thumb drive. Instead, copy to hard drive, then run from SB3.

[feinddj]

I had the same problems with my laptop. It is completely stripped down and I was tearing my hair out trying to figure the problem. I happened to be visiting family in NC so I stopped by shopbot to ask about it.

The FIX: usb hub.

I put one in line with my com and have yet to have any issues since.

David

[dhunt]

One additional item. Do not run transferred cutting files from the thumb drive.
Instead, copy to hard drive, then run from SB3.Funny you should say that because..

About 6 yrs. ago we stopped using floppy disks (remember them??)
and started using USB-keys (plugged into a 2ft.long extension wire)
and haven't noticed any probs. with that methodology, in all that time!

We now have two USB-keys which get interchanged
and are unlikely to spend the time transferring from USB-key to the C drive
unless we are to cut a very important or very BIG cut-file, in which case said transfer to C:drive makes sense, I guess
but in our everyday functions.......naah.


Just last week, I upgraded our USB channel in the SB control computer from USB 1 :cool:
to USB 2 --I bought a card for $16 and stuck it in there.
Hopefully that'll make our USB-key cut-files theoretically more reliable?

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[myxpykalix]

There was one user here who had a small tutorial about what and how to disable unnecessary functions to make your computer run more efficiently to eliminate those types of problems but i don't recall who it was.:eek:

[ATX Poly Products]

The problem I am having is not the same as yours.. I have lost all pc to bot comm... Windows device manager is'nt seeing control box... I have a new board in-route...

[larry_r]

Adam,
Reboot both the SB control box and the computer.

FYI. I run my SB on a dedicated laptop (4 years) stripped off most of stuff Gary suggests. Except, i do use a wireless connection.

Larry

[majohnson]

Its been an interesting day. I pulled out the controller box, removed the covers going through each one of the connectors for the drives. Along with some general housekeeping inside the case. From there I then removed Shopbot software and reloaded. In doing so I received a call back from Shopbot, after going through thing, they recommend replacing the USB cable. I replaced the cable and ran my bot for 30 to 40 minutes and things seemed ok.

During my call with Shopbot they asked me to remove the USB hub and try things. I haven't used the hub, since both of my laptops are USB 2 and I had enough connections. My question is do many of you use the supplied hub and what if any benefit is there in using it. Whether or not if mine is fixed, I'll know more tomorrow. Thanks for the ideas.

[adrianm]

I use the supplied hub. Without it I get 56% with the speed test and with it I get 78% which is why I use it.

[Gary Campbell]

Mark...
The USB hub is required in most cases to force an "enhanced" port connection with the computers USB hub controller. For some reason the SB controller card does not force a USB 2.0 connection on its own. As stated above, some/many may work without it, but when troubleshooting you should always have one in the chain.

A USB 2.0 connection has a much higher data transfer rate than the legacy versions. On my alpha, I would have to operate at significantly lower speeds with a USB 1.0 connection. Machines that are not cutting or jogging at the speeds I do may not be affected as much as mine, but it never hurts to be sure.

BTW... the items I list above are not hard coded or documented anywhere. They are however, compiled from anecdotal evidence from persons like myself, Brady, and SB Tech Supt as items that HAVE caused problems. When changed, these soft settings have allowed many users to get back up and running.

I noted in another post that these types of user settings will fix 80% of the common comm problems. The balance are bad cables, SB controller cards, hubs or problems in the control computer. As a user, its better (and cheaper) to try all the soft settings before throwing dollars at parts that you may not need.

[cowboy1296]

@ Gary. What kind of registry cleaner do you use. Until recently I was using Dells but for what ever reason they changed over to System Mechanic. Some of these that invade your computer are viruses in them selves. Any how my renewal is coming up and am open for suggestions.

[srwtlc]

CCleaner is one of the best and it's free. http://www.piriform.com/CCLEANER

Just be careful and pay attention to what you're about to remove. You can easily cause some registry problems if just hauling off and letting it remove everything it flags. Take a little time and go through the list. If anything looks like it may be important to something that you have on the computer, uncheck it. Also, just in case, make a backup of the registry first.

[cowboy1296]

@ scott I just finished a marine corp plaque that will be precented in the not so distant future. it was sent off to a finisher and in an effort to not expose the surprise i will refrain from posting pictures until after their event. but i like it.

[dave_k]

Three years ago when I got my Alpha machine, during the couple weeks I was waiting for it, I jumped on this forum and started reading... read about comm problems and grounding problems. As an electronics tech... I know how nebulous and crazy intermittent shorts and incomplete grounding can be, and how they can literally drive you nuts. It's like chasing ghosts through a house of mirrors. I also know enough about computers to know how complicated the Windows environment actually is with all the stuff that goes on in the background even as it is just sitting there idle. Programs don’t always play well with others in the sandbox. I was determined to avoid all that when my bot showed up in my driveway. So… the first thing I did after setting it up was read the ShopBot literature and ground everything as per instructions, INCLUDING my 4 inch dust collection hose, and then run a large #10 grounding wire directly from the control box to the ground buss in my service box, which goes directly to the huge water pipe coming in from the road. Second thing I did was run to Best Buy and plunk down $20 for a good brand name USB cable… and $500 for a brand new basic but powerful enough desktop (which I also grounded btw). Third thing I did was pretty much exactly as Gary Campbell and some others did, took an evening to clean the computer of ALL software but ShopBot stuff. I mean EVERYTHING. No internet connection, no screen saver, no NOTHING. btw, that is not as easy a task as you might think. As some folks know, computers come with all manner or programs with tentacles that stretch into your operating system, registry, USB buss, hard drive, you name it. I’m convinced that even Microsoft doesn’t know exactly where all those tentacles go, so I wasn’t going to risk taking any chances. Took a while to untangle everything down to a base machine with nothing on it. This thing is now purely a dedicated machine used ONLY to control my bot. I’ve never had any control problems since then, and the only bits or work I destroyed were due to standard inevitable stupid newbie (and not so newbie) mistakes we all have made. As soon as I tweak even the smallest bit of code in a program, I take the time to air cut it with my eyes fixed on the bit and my hand on that big red stop button the entire time.

[dhunt]

CCleaner is one of the best and it's free. http://www.piriform.com/CCLEANEREt tu, Brute?

I've been using this for 3-4 yrs. --prob. since version 1 ;)



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[cowboy1296]

I dont mind paying for a product and when i open the download center it says that ccleaner is 24.95. which i will gladly pay. but will this fee cover more then one computer?

[ssflyer]

The $24.95 is for premium support. You can download it and use it, free. If you like it and and continue to use it, it would be a good thing to donate to them, but it works and is not crippled and has no limit on installs, even with the unpaid download.