PDA

View Full Version : Missing Comm Return????



keith
08-10-2013, 11:59 PM
Hello Everyone,

I’m having some trouble with my PRT 96. I bought it around 2005 so it’s close to 10 years old. The control box is the old black one, and the software is 3.4.27PRT. I know…..she’s old. I haven’t run it in a few months and this morning I powered it on and it says “Locating Tool…” or something like that. I’ve seen that a few times in the past however normally I would tell it to try again and it would work. Input 4 is blinking, and if I recall that’s the emergency stop. The emergency stop is not pressed. When it says it can’t communicate it has the option to try a different port. If I choose a different port, it of course doesn’t work however when I put the correct port back in it tries to communicate and then says “Missing Comm Return. Hit ‘OK’ to attempt to continue.” I click OK and nothing happens. Here are some of the things I’ve tried:

- Switched keyboards (in case the spacebar was acting funny and causing it to “stop”)
- Switched computers. No success.
- Changed the value of input 4 and even disconnected the stop button, no success.

Another thing that’s interested. When I typically turn on the control box, I can hear the motors “activate” or power up. It’s just a subtle noise that I always look for. Now, I don’t hear it. When I look inside the control box, the LEDs on X1, X2, Y, and Z light up when I power it on, but within 1-2 seconds all the lights turn off. I’m not sure if they’re supposed to stay on or not. And finally, my system is connected to a GFI in my garage. I’ve never had an issue with it, however during my troubleshooting today it actually tripped the GFI twice. I’m not sure if it’s related to anything…but any comments you may have would be appreciated. Thank you!

-Keith

Mayo
08-11-2013, 12:29 AM
If you haven't run it in a few months, I would check the following
(which you may or may not have already tried)

Is there a build up of dust inside the control box and power supply?
Open it up and with everything powered OFF blow it out with compressed air. Do the same with the computer.
If you're tripping a GFI something is shorting out. Dust or metal chips, insects, mice, etc. Inspect everything plugged into that GFI to make sure the cords haven't been damaged from getting cut or chewed.

Is the control box still grounded properly?

Check that all cable connections are in the correct locations at the control box (you mentioned changing computers) and that the connections are tight.

Check that all motor connections are good at the wago connectors on the motor cables.

In what sequence are your devices powered on?
The Shopbot control box should be powered on before the Shopbot software is opened on your computer. I start my computer first, then the control box, then the Shopbot software.

Did you add any other devices since you last tried using the Shopbot?
A printer or scanner or different mouse or keyboard
If so, remove them and try connecting to the Shopbot again.

These may be obvious things to check but if you haven't used something in a long time it's easy to forget.