Cutting file locks up, what do I do???

[Chuck Keysor]

Hello Shopbot experts. I tried to run a simple file this morning, and it won't run. And I don't know what to do..... Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated!!!!

After loading the part file, then hitting "Start", the spindle turns on, but nothing more happens. IE, the spindle runs, but it doesn't move to execute the file.

The SB3 control window doesn't give any error message. It shows "9 Pause 2".

I assume it is stuck on line 9 of the cut file.

When I hit the "Space bar" or click on the display "Stop" button, the spindle stays running, and I get a message saying "Not responding".

The only way I could get out of SB3 was to shut down the PC, and restart. Well, I restarted two times, and the exact same thing happened.

What is happening? I haven't changed anything. Your advice is appreciated! Thanks, Chuck

Here are the opening lines of that file (I couldn't find any way to attach my SBP file) :
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
'FireFgtr Profile two speeds .125EM 10-5-16
'File created: Wednesday October 05 2016 - 07:30 PM
'SHOPBOT FILE IN INCHES
IF %(25)=1 THEN GOTO UNIT_ERROR 'check to see software is set to standard
C#,90 'Lookup offset values
'
'Turning router ON
SO,1,1
PAUSE 2
'
'
'Toolpath Name = Profile top text 1.6ips
'Tool Name = End Mill (0.125 inch)
MS,1.66,0.50
JZ,1.000000
J2,0.000000,0.000000
J3,2.177364,8.813620,0.250000
J3,2.177364,8.813620,0.050000
.
.(Lots of more of the same, which I cut out for brevity.)
.
(end of file has these lines)
M3,2.747682,1.552780,-0.060000
M3,2.747682,2.351820,-0.060000
J3,2.747682,2.351820,0.250000
JZ,1.000000
'
'Turning router OFF
SO,1,0
J2,0.000000,0.000000
END
'
UNIT_ERROR:
C#,91 'Run file explaining unit error
END

[Chuck Keysor]

More possible clues...... I tried to run the file again, same result, stuck on the Pause line.

So I rebooted the PC again, and this time it stopped a moment on "Pause", but then the spindle moved up about 1/2 inch, then stopped. The message on the screen was: "You are having difficulty communicating with Control Box....... Missing Com Return. Hit "OK" to attempt to continue." I hit OK, and then it told me to quit.

Well, I rebooted, tried to run the file again, and this time it stuck on the Pause line. Chuck

[Chuck Keysor]

Maybe my problem is gone......for the moment.

I thought I'd use a different file, and do an "air cut", allowing me to tell if there was something wrong in my important file, or it was something in the computer control of the Shopbot....

Air cutting a different file worked fine. So I re-loaded the important file (well, the one I want to cut) as an air cut, and it ran fine. So I put in a bit, and cut my file without any problem.

So, I don't know what was wrong that was making my cut file pause. I fiddled with it over a couple of hours here and there, but didn't change anything. It just started to work. (I wired the ground a few years ago they people recommended here on the forum. And in terms of humidity, my basement is really damp and cool today.

That has been the one bug-a-boo with my Shopbot, that ever since I have had it, I have had "Com errors", and random other lock-ups, where the computer can't seem to function. A while ago, someone had mentioned that Shopbot was working on a dedicated, built-in controller, that would make it so the external PC wouldn't have to sit there and hand shake back and forth with the Shopbot for the entire cutting period. Instead, the entire SBP file would be dumped from the external PC into the SB control box, at least as I understood it. That would eliminate my random, but really frustrating problems.

Thanks, Chuck

[feinddj]

Check for ground. If you have a dust collector make sure that the hose is grounded to the frame. Mine connects to the earth ground as well.
Next, and this is the one that helped my bot the most. Are you connected directly (USB) to your computer? If so, install a powered USB hub.
I know that it's counter intuitive that an extra part in the chain would make it better but I haven"t had any issues on mine since I started using one