Spindle Control Board - Yaskawa

[jbuell]

Installed a spindle control board for a Yaskawa on a PRSalpha (running Windows XP) and once rebooted I received a Missing Comm Return error. Spindle controller board worked but machine could not travel X or Y using the keyboard without receiving the error.

First move was to eliminate all interference, I use shielded USB cables; machine and dust collector are grounded but were not running during testing. Diagnostic reported 73 using OEM USB2.

Next, I removed the USB cable for the control box and spindle from the ports, uninstalled SB3 5.3.10, (spindle controller requires 3.5.6 or higher)deleted INI file for good measure as well as all drivers.

Reinstalled SB3 3.5.10 and tested machine without spindle control and still receive Missing Comm Return.

Uninstalled 3.5.10 and reinstalled 3.5.3 which has me up and running sans spindle controller.

Before I take another shoot at reinstalling 3.5.10 to get the spindle controller operating I was wondering if anyone else has experienced this or a similar issue with 3.5.10 in conjunction with the spindle controller?

Jason

[porscheman]

Jason,

I received my spindle control board yesterday (for a Delta VFD-B, not Yaskawa) and tried to install it today. Like yourself, I had to upgrade my Bot software since I wasn't running 3.5.6 or newer. After the software install, I couldn't communicate with the control box either, though it could detect it's presence.

I called Frank at tech support and he indicated that I should update the control box firmware after installing 3.5.10. I'm not sure if you did this or not - if not, start the software, and execute the [U]tilities [I]nstall Controlbox Firmware. As Frank reminded me, pay close attention to the instructions during this process because you have to shut the control box down for 30 seconds and restart it at the correct time in order for the firmware upgrade to occur properly.

I'm a novice at this stuff as well, but this procedure did get the PC and control box talking properly after the 3.5.10 upgrade. Unfortunately for me, the system is still not able to find the device drivers for the spindle control board, so while I can use the Bot ok, none of the RPM control functions are working. I've contacted tech support again, but they are short-handed this week due to IWF, so I don't know when I'll hear back from them.

Anyone else successfully installed a spindle control board that cares to chime in????

Regards.

John

[jbuell]

Hi John,

Thanks for your reply. I attempted to update the firmware when 3.5.10 was installed but the firmware window remained blank, so I could not tell if it installed or not. I will try a firmware upgrade with 3.5.3.

My hunch is it has something to do with the driver install or the driver itself for the spindle. My control box was on comm 4 and the spindle installed on comm 3. The device manager was reading both ports as shopbot controler. Although the driver IDs under the advanced tab we very different.

I tried to reach Frank today, it must have been you on the phone with him. I'll keep you posted on my progress. I am looking forward to getting it working.

[porscheman]

Jason,

Two quick comments:

1) When I installed the firmware upgrade, I defintely got a message that it completed successfully. So if you didn't see that indicator, then it probably didn't happen. I don't know enough to advise how to complete it properly.

2) I'm pretty certain that the firmware upgrades are tied/coupled to each specific version number of the software. So even if you could do a firmware upgrade for 3.5.3, I don't think it would be relevant for 3.5.10. I could be VERY wrong on that speculation.....

Good luck and let me know if you uncover any details on the driver installation, file locations, etc.

John