Firmware

[Tom Mazz]

A while back I tried running my ShopBot on a computer running XP because my old 486 died. I see now that it was a mistake because I have an older control box. I have since got my hands on an older computer running Windows98 to replace my old 486 that died. I now want to revert back to running the ShopBot software v2.38. My question is how can I re-install the firmware from this earlier version of the ShopBot software. Thanks for any help.

[Brady Watson]

Yes, you can - although I don't know why you would want to do that. SB3 is way better than SB2, and you don't need an archaic computer to run it.

-B

[kartracer63]

I actually have a working 486 on windows 3.1 if you need one.

[frank]

Tom,

You can reload the firmware by running the Loadxx.exe program in your SB200 folder. A PR tool does have to run the DOS software unless you upgrade your control box.

[donchandler]

Tom,
Just load DOS on the computer and load your SB software. Don't load windows at all.
I have a old PR machine running DOS and a PRT Alpha running Win XP.
I prefer the PR machine for most things. I am not making cabinets or such. I do a lot of programing with the SB commands. If I give my workers a program, they will almost always go to the PR machine, beause it is easier to use and doesn't do funny things. There are a couple of things that I like in the Windows software, but there are a bunch of things I don't like.

[dhunt]

Yes, you can - although I don't know why you would want to do that.
SB3 is way better than SB2, and you don't need an archaic computer to run it.I strongly second that emotion!

In mid-May we got away from (a corrupted version of) Win.98
by installing Mini-XP and then SB3 control software.


Can you say Different Machine
-or more accurately vastly-improved reliability and behaviour!


That was one of the best day's work I've ever done! ;)
Now, the only thing I can blame screw-ups on is ID-10T Errors all the way.....me!

.

[Gary Campbell]

David...
I have experienced a good number of those ID10T errors myself. Tech support explained it to me as an electrical anomoly more commonly known as "A dead short between the keyboard and seat"

[Tom Mazz]

Thank you all for you replies. This morning it was back to the drawing board. I decided to give it another go. Control box firmware had already been upgraded to software 3.4.27. After some experimentation, I drew up a simple circle with a square cut out of the middle of the circle. I tried a number of times, changing the unit values each time. I ended up getting what I believe to be a proper cut out using values of 509.296 for x and y and 916.7324 for Z. The numbers are way different than the values I used in the old software. Z did not cut all the way through birch plywood but I'm not really sure how accurately I zeroed the Z axis (it left about 1/32"). I will spend additional time checking Z. I am running the software with Windows XP. I will do a bit more experimenting before I'm convinced that the measurements are exactly correct. So, it seems to be working. Why? I dont really have a clue, especially since I shouldn't be running XP at all. I would like to hear additional thoughts on this. Thank you all again.

[zeykr]

The unit values used for the dos and windows versions are different - forget the formula, been too long. Call shopbot and they can get you the correct values for your machine on windows software.

[Brady Watson]

I didn't see that you were running a PR...For others reading with PRTs, SB3 will work fine.

Unit Values in SB2 should be 1/4 what they are in SB3.

XY = 127.3240
Z = 229.1831

-B

[jimmya]

I owned a PR and the attached text file was the setup.
Jimmy

13166

[Tom Mazz]

Thank you all again. Thanks to Eric for offering a computer but not needed. Thank you to Frank. If I have problem that seems unfixable it's good to know that I can reload 2.38 firmware.

[gerryv]

Some interesting arithmetic. Comparing the numbers you provided, the ratio between your XY and your Z is exactly the same as the ratio between the higher numbers that Brady provided (that being 1.79999**). Also your numbers are exactly 1/4 of Brady's. Just an observation that may already be obvious.