Com port problems...again

[richard_saylor]

Ok, it's been 6 years since I've had com port problems.
Now I've been out of business for 2 weeks.
EVERYTHING is grounded just like it has been for 6 years.
Running Buddy on Windows XP...for 6 years...ok, you get the idea.
Now I have the intermittent connection loss problem.
I've tried two other computers, both Windows 10, but they can't find the Buddy. Assuming that's a Windows 10 problem?
Back to the XP machine. Reinstalled control software and drivers. Wiggled everything internally. Blown any dust out. Replaced memory.
I can get anywhere from a full day of cutting to 1 minute before the dreaded yellow screen appears.
Please don't suggest I contact tech help. They gave me the typical set of instructions I've had for 6 years.
Any ideas?

[Tim Lucas]

Install a new usb hub?

[Chuck Keysor]

Hello Richard, I feel your pain. I have similar, intermittent Com Error problems. I have gotten lots of suggestions over the years, and think my problem is solved, and then it locks up again. I frankly don't trust my machine to run long jobs.

As it has been explained/or as I understand it, packets of data are transferred from you old XP machine over the USB cable to your machine. And those packets/transmissions get corrupted by ESD events, creating the Com Errors and all of your/our woes.

What I don't understand, is with all of the low cost, tiny PCs, why on earth isn't there a simple retrofit of a little PC into the Shopbot's control box. Then once the file gets loaded into the control box, it can run without being corrupted by ESD.

Well, no doubt that is simplistic. But at this rate, I feel like you and I are stuck............. Chuck

[richard_saylor]

Hello Richard, I feel your pain. I have similar, intermittent Com Error problems. I have gotten lots of suggestions over the years, and think my problem is solved, and then it locks up again. I frankly don't trust my machine to run long jobs.

As it has been explained/or as I understand it, packets of data are transferred from you old XP machine over the USB cable to your machine. And those packets/transmissions get corrupted by ESD events, creating the Com Errors and all of your/our woes.

What I don't understand, is with all of the low cost, tiny PCs, why on earth isn't there a simple retrofit of a little PC into the Shopbot's control box. Then once the file gets loaded into the control box, it can run without being corrupted by ESD.

Well, no doubt that is simplistic. But at this rate, I feel like you and I are stuck............. Chuck

A computer within the control box seems like a simple fix. I like it.
As far as the Windows 10 problems, it seems that I had the wrong driver installed. I have a first generation Acer Aspire One running things now and am back in business....for the time being.
All the the grounding being the same over 6 years leads me to believe that the problem must have been with the XP machine.
I am still using the original USB cable.

[scottp55]

Glad your running again
Cables DO go bad, and the only way to know is with a multitester, or swap out the cables to check.
Stinks chasing gremlins around.
Sure we'll see more of this, as static season is almost here.
scott

[Gary Campbell]

From above: "They gave me the typical set of instructions I've had for 6 years."

I'm going to guess that the solution was in those instructions.

[Tim Lucas]

Since your packet speed is VERY LOW (should be in 70's) I believe you may have answered your problem.

[richard_saylor]

i was under the impression that faster packet speed is better.

[srwtlc]

Tim is thinking of the old transfer efficiency %, which was 70% or better. SB3.8.XX no longer uses that test and it is now the packet-et value that is looked at. This value is to be referenced after a single move command of 4" with a MX,4 or MY,4 and then UD to see what the value is. 20ms or less is preferred, though usually any value under 40ms indicates that you should not have any problems running your tool.

Have you done any updating to windows lately? Check to see if USB selective suspend is enabled in advanced power settings. If it's a laptop, make sure that any processor throttling is disabled as well and any turning off of the hard drive. In other words, if it's a laptop, make sure that everything in the power scheme is powered up all the time, no power saving settings at all.

Gotta love the 5th season, static season.