Failed (so far) V4G control board install in old PRT ShopBot

[DonFrambach]

Very sad,

I have an old PRT ShopBot that has been inactive for the last few years. Turned it on a few weeks ago and it ran fine using an old Itronix computer and ShopBots's DOS control software. Thought I'd upgrade to the V4G control board and Windows control software.

Replacing the old board with the new V4G was easy. After some confusion about what control software to download, I downloaded and installed "ShopBot Control Software Version 3.6.46 for PRT/PRS ShopBots". AFTER installing the software and AFTER noting that USB connections were installed, I connected my Windows 7 computer to the control box with the supplied USB cable and suppled USB hub. Turned the control box on and the motors activated. However, when I ran the control software it reported that it "can not find any active ports". Tried to use the software to find a port without success. Tried to connect without the USB hup without success. Reinstalled the software without success.

Naturally it's late Friday night and no ShopBot support until Monday.

Can anyone help me figure out what I've done wrong over the weekend?

Much appreciated if you can.

Don

[jerry_stanek]

you should be able to see what port your shopbot is on in the device manager. try shutting off the shopbot control and start your sb on your win 7 computer then try to load the firmware it should search for the shopbot then turn on the shopbot and see if it will load the firmware.

[DonFrambach]

In "Device Manager", "V204 ShopBot" is listed under "Other Devices". Device Manager reports that no driver is installed. Used Device Manager to look for device drivers on my computer and the internet. Reports no drivers found, instructs me to look on manufacturer's website.

Tried to upload firmware. Message "cannot find any active ports"

Clearly I'm doing something wrong but have no idea what that can be!

[zeykr]

Go ahead and call shopbot and leave a message for support. They'll often call back even on the weekend!

[DonFrambach]

Left a message with ShopBot Support. Hope they call back!

[gc3]

re install the software and firmware

[feinddj]

Just had an issue with installing 3.8 and went back to 3.6 control software. Didn't end well. I called Frank at Shopbot and it was the VI command that was the issue. Check to see that the connection speed is right.

D

[DonFrambach]

Tried different settings on the VI command connection speed. No effect.

Got another computer also running Windows 7. Repeated installation. Exactly the same error messages.

I'm stumped.

[Brady Watson]

Uninstall ALL Windows based versions of SB3.
Unplug USB cable going to control box.
Restart Computer.
-
Re-install v3.6.46. At prompt, install USB Drivers.
Plug USB hub into USB port on computer.
Plug USB from control box into hub.
*Verify that E-stop button is properly hooked up* (Input #4 & Gnd, Black & Green OR Red & White; not both)
Start SB3.
Use SP command to set to Preview Mode.
Type in UI to install firmware.
Navigate to 'Older Shopbots' folder and choose PRT 4G with Old Stop machine config.
Type in SM to set to Move Mode
If Input #4 light flashes, go to VN command and change E-stop to Normally Open option. Make sure E-stop button isn't pressed IN first.
Run K or SK and see if you can move the tool around.

If successful, CLOSE SB3 & find the Diagnostic folder under ProgramFiles(x86)/ShopBot/ and run SpeedTest.exe - see what your communication efficiency is.

Report back anywhere in this list where you got stuck.

-B

[DonFrambach]

Found a document from ShopBot entitled "Troubleshooting USB Connections" (link: sorry, can't make link work - here's a link to search, it was first result http://www.shopbottools.com/searchresults.htm?cx=007058511302222020632%3Alxjqz ewj5j0&cof=FORID%3A11%3BNB%3A1&ie=UTF-8&q=troubleshooting+usb+connections&sa=Search&siteurl=shopbottools.com%2FmProducts%2Fstore.htm&ref=shopbottools.com%2FmSupport%2Fcontrolsoftware. htm&ss=6047j2092085j32 )

In this document I learned that "Windows 7 has a few differences compared to XP and in some cases has made installing SB3 software more difficult due to its enhanced security." As per instructions that followed, I learned that the ShopBot Controller (COM3) was not installed even though I selected that in the program setup and even though the program setup stated that the drivers were installed!

Followed instructions to manually install the driver and was successful doing so.

Now I'm getting a new message "ShopBot seems to be present but is not responding". I've turned both the computer and control box off and on several times and the error still appears. I've followed the options to look for connections without success.

Some progress but not there yet!

[DonFrambach]

Brady Watson

Thank you for your instructions!

I think I needed to get the driver installed which I did before I read your post. I then followed your instructions starting with running the software in Preview Mode.

I successfully installed the firmware.

Set up the run in keyboard mode and away it went!!!

Cool.

Sure wish the PRT 4g Control Board Installation Instructions from ShopBot mentioned how to install the drivers in Windows 7. Also, the instructions made no mention of uploading the firmware! (Those were the two problems I encountered that took many hours to sort out)

[Brady Watson]

Don,
Glad you got it. You must be excited!

There used to be a message box that popped up reminding you to install firmware. Regarding the Win7 thing - most of the time this is not an issue. When I setup a new tool for a customer, I tell them to make sure it is in 'vanilla' configuration and that it has Admin rights for installing software etc. As such I don't recall having the issue you mentioned...BUT - with no standardized PC shipping with tools, there can be a lot of gray area.

-B

[coryatjohn]

BUT - with no standardized PC shipping with tools, there can be a lot of gray area.
-B

This is a potential business opportunity for an enterprising individual. It wouldn't be that difficult to purpose build a ShopBot compatible, dust resistant computer that comes ready to use and has support.

[bleeth]

John:
As far as SB is concerned you are flogging a dead horse. They have decided for their own reasons, which I will not revisit, to not offer their own control computer. There have been many posts by many people on how to take a basic computer and configure it for optimal control of a SB. It's far from rocket science. On the other hand, if you would care to build a dedicated control computer that is stripped of extraneous software garbage and offer it to those who are baffled by taking a computer, applying Black Viper configurations, and selling it to those who are technologically challenged (which works perfectly) I am sure it will be applauded by some. :)
BTW: I love Radar Now and use it daily.

[Brady Watson]

This is a potential business opportunity for an enterprising individual.

John, Go for it!
ShopBotters are cheap.


What Dave said.

X2

-B

[DonFrambach]

Interesting... I installed the ShopBot control software on two Windows 7 and two Windows 8 computers. On all four computers, the USB driver was not installed automatically even though I activated the check box to install the driver. The install software reported that the USB driver was installed but it wasn't. Since I had already figured out the problem, it was easy to manually install the USB driver on all four computers and the control software worked fine.

It seems to me that ShopBot should modify their install software, or at least the install directions for computers running Windows 7 or Windows 8.

[DonFrambach]

Forgot to respond to Brady Watson...

Yes, I am excited about running the ShopBot.

But, isn't EVERYBODY excited about their ShopBots!?!

[crash5050]

You really don't want to go down that road. I have been working in the computer business for the last 25 years. Too many people want you to work on the machines and don't want to pay. Once you touch that machine you own it. For example, I cleaned a lady's computer, took off all of the viruses, toolbars and spy/adware. Charged her 45.00. 4 months later she brings it back in, saying that she had already paid me to remove that stuff and it was back. SHe didn't want to pay me to do it again, I respectfully told her to take her machine to the hack down the street. Slippery slope I tell ya.

[coryatjohn]

You really don't want to go down that road. I have been working in the computer business for the last 25 years. Too many people want you to work on the machines and don't want to pay. Once you touch that machine you own it. For example, I cleaned a lady's computer, took off all of the viruses, toolbars and spy/adware. Charged her 45.00. 4 months later she brings it back in, saying that she had already paid me to remove that stuff and it was back. SHe didn't want to pay me to do it again, I respectfully told her to take her machine to the hack down the street. Slippery slope I tell ya.

Luckily for me, I settled into the software side of IT and have been happy there. No hardware selling for me. Just thought it might be an interesting potential business opportunity.