SB 3.8.2 Old Slowdown problem is back

[andyb]

Just intalled the new SB 3.8.2 and the old slowdown problem is back. Running an PRTAlpha with the 7.2 upgrade. At random spots in the cut file the cutting slows to a crawl. I'm cutting at 5 ips and it is slowing down to .02 ips. Didn't have the problem in the beta versions. The file I'm cutting has been cut several time using the beta version without a problem. In the release version the problem is making the file uncutable at that speed. The probelms in happening on the profile of the part with is 10"x36". It moved at a crawl halfway around it before I had to stop it. See the video of the problem.
http://youtu.be/--Fxhh1-Uhw

I started taping as it was cutting slow. Halfway though the video is starts cutting normal speed.

Re-installed the beta version sb3_8_1beta25 again and the machine is cutting normal again.

Anybody else having the problem?

Andy B.

[myxpykalix]

I have had that same issue happen to me but mine happens when i am cutting a circle and both axis' are moving at the same time around a part of the circle it goes to a crawl then speeds up around the last half.

[andyb]

This would be a question for Ted or whomever is programming the control software to answer but could the problem be in the firmware update for the version? Did anything change in the firmware between the beta and the RC? Can I use the firmware for the 3.8.1 beta to test with 3.8.2?

Andy B.

[adrianm]

I'm the other way around. I got slowdown issues all the time with the Beta but the release version seems to be working perfectly so far whereas the Beta had issues at least twice a day. Never did track down what caused it though.

[jTr]

Andy,
Have experienced this as well, though I was not using beta. Fought this issue with my new machine last year.Conversed with tech support and went through all kinds of analysis, including sending part file for them to test at shopbot factory, where the file ran perfectly.

After several conversations regarding this, Frank recalled an issue that they believed was eliminated in all current versions of control software:
Earlier versions of control software had a bug - if you ran a Z plunge rate less than .50 ips, it would occasionally hold that as the cut speed for the first leg of a cut, such as the first side of a square. Once completed with that straight line, it would snap back to normal rate of speed.

Solutions to try:
Change plunge rate to .60 ips or higher.
If you have a slowdown on a current file and want to snap out of it,
press ">" while holding down the "control" key on your keyboard. This is a way to increase (or"<" decrease) cut speed without stopping to re-write your part file. It changes by .10 inches per second - after tapping the rate up a few points, your machine should snap out of it and complete cutting at proper rate.

Have discussed this issue in past threads, much to the dismay of other users, as the plunge rate may be a bit excessive for many operations, but if you're having the same issue my relatively new machine has, what else to do?

Hope this helps by saving you the weeks of frustration that I experienced if it is indeed the same issue.

Good luck!

jeff

[jerry_stanek]

I just ran 8 files and one slowed down at 8 and one half minutes in RC02

[myxpykalix]

Jeff your solution of tapping the > key as i recall did not work for me when trying to cut a circle.

[andyb]

Adrian,
I loved the beta latest beta version it took care of a lot of problems for me. Mainly the slowdown issue. It is weird that it fixed the problem for me and caused it for you.

Jeff,
This is a problem that several of us Shopbotters have been fighting for a while. I has been working for me in all the beta version of 3.8.X that I have been using until I installed the release version. Tapping the ">" does not work for the problem. Thank you for reminding me about the plunge rate. I will have to check that in the cut file. Now that you mentioned it I think it is at .5.

The interesting thing here is that in previous SB versions it would speed back up to normal when it hit the next node. In this version it doesn't or didn't. The part is 10"x36" and it took over 5 minutes to cut 1/2 the part profile before I stopped it.

Jerry,
I have one file that slowed down at the same spot every time. The file was for a customer that I cut the same part over and over every few weeks. It would slowdown at the same location and time into the file like clock work.

Andy B.

[jerry_stanek]

Jeff your solution of tapping the > key as i recall did not work for me when trying to cut a circle.


Jack you need to hold the shift key and then the > to speed it up.

[myxpykalix]

Yes Jerry I knew that:D, just didn't type that in...my mistake. But when i did do
"SHIFT >" that didn't make it move any faster. It was weird to see it start to cut the circle, then about 1/4 way through going around the circle it would slow to a crawl thru about half way, then finish up regular speed.
The router wouldn't bog down like it was cutting too aggressively, only taking .25 deep cut anyway.
I think if i have time i may take the camera out and take some video aircutting same file to see if it can be duplicated.

[Brady Watson]

Just to rule out the obvious, post a screenshot of your VR settings.

-B

[garyc]

To add to what Brady mentioned, in many cases these issues only appear with a "certain" combination(s) of move/jog speeds, ramp settings and/or other ShopBot settings. Without the exact settings off the machine they occur on, it is near impossible to recreate.

[andyb]

Sorry Guys, been down with a cold. Attached is the VR screen shot. The values are way off. My operator said that the machine has been running weird lately. I changed the VR setting back to the default settings this morning and the machine is running smooth with the beta.

However, the beta ran the file that I was having a problem with using the VR setting as shown and the release version won't. I will try to install the released version and test with the default setting as soon as I get caught up on jobs.

Andy B.