Coms? Computer?

[scottp55]

I'd been cutting over an hour(very light cuts), and had just done a bit change. Radio buttoned to my Z-Zero point and about 3,3 she started making a stuttering/grinding noise while in the same position (similar to a hard stop, but different). Did not respond to spacebar/mouse tap(twice each)and had to E-stop.
Shut down SB3/computer and turned off UPS. Checked rails and screws/SLOWLY moved Z carriage an inch every way(fine)/checked bolts and for any slop(fine)/removed,cleaned all prox contacts. Started computer and SB3 and did a few keypad moves with no problem. Did an MX move and packet ET was 18.1(usually 16.7). Did a C3 and Xprox was good, but at about Y,3 she froze up again(just stopped, no noise) and again SB3 didn't respond to keypad/mouse(mouse stayed "Boxed" until I pressed Esc and then got(forget exactly what- think it was "Failed to find") Fault.
Did the shut down routine and hit breaker for a few, then started back up. Keypadded to all 4 prox's and all fine--then went to Y,0 prox and hit hard stop?
VN'd and Switch's were "Off" ? Have not added changed anything since 3.8.26 and firmware about 2 weeks ago, but have been cutting steady-no problems.
Spent an hour going over all electronic connections(this time doing all computer/UPS) and just C3'd and drove around all limits and presets and no problems.
70F and 53% humidity-no surges or "flickers"(although with UPS that has never even interrupted a cut). No DC on at any time. All grounds tight and clean.
Wondering what MAY have caused limits to turn OFF, and anything else you can think of that I might check. Black Vipered/never seen Internet/no USB plugged in/no NOTHING that I'm aware of that changed.
Only thing I can think of is vibration from shelf caused HDMI connection at monitor to loosen? It's taped securely now, but would that do it? Can't swap out HDMI-no spare.
Very puzzled!
Ideas? Theories?
Thanks in advance,
scott

[gc3]

the dreaded comms issue...one of the main reason I went with another system

[bob_dodd]

Scott

after I blackviper mine about 3 weeks later the com port setting changed to manual , had to go back in there to change setting ,

Bob

[scottp55]

Be Nice Gene:)
Besides your machine as big as my heated shop almost:) Be a little difficult to deal with from the wheelchair too.
scott

[scottp55]

Thanks Bob, just noticed post. Will check in morning.
Ran a 45 minute program with no glitches. Also suspect is the original Z-prox female connection as when I did the Z-Mod it worked so never bothered rewiring with the new--seems a tad looser now than when I did the Mod. Maybe the extra travel has been working at it.

[David Iannone]

Any long run I put my substrate at least x,y both +1 of the corner of my table corner 0,0. I then put any scrap to fill in the blank space. After I zero zero on the corner of substrate I do a m2 -1,-1 Then turn on router and manually move my z down and make a hole in that spot. If anything happens and I lose position of everything I just start from the beginning......rezzero, go over to the hole. Drilled, line it up exactly in the hole, then re zero your x and y, lift z up, then restart file from correct line number. I know this sounds funny to some, but it's really simple. Had my 2001 prt 4x8 with 4 g upgrade since 2001. I don't do too much fancy stuff, but I still have comm issues every once in a while, but (knock on wood) been a long time since i ruined a project cause of it. Just think it through.

Dave

[scottp55]

Thanks David, With 2 Desktops separated by 300 mile and sharing files ready to run on the same spoilboard(X,Y fences in place) we've found it much easier to simply C3 and reference most files to 0,0.
scott

[Kyle Stapleton]

Go back to a older version of sb3 if you keep having problems.

[scottp55]

Running like a champ since 3am Kyle. Been playing with long files and Tiny $4 30 degree bits trying to get it to do it again before I swap back to $76 tapered 1/6'th BN.
Fairly sure it was HDMI connection, what with vibration and me swinging that shelf around. Got an elastic tape holding connection relatively steady, If she keeps going strong, I'll try to make it more permanent or go to old style plug which seats firmer. Zero glitches(knock on wood) since I went 3.8.26.
Thanks
scott

[jerry_stanek]

the dreaded comms issue...one of the main reason I went with another system

I run a Bessie and we get com errors every now and then/

[gc3]

I run a Bessie and we get com errors every now and then/


...never once a comms issue with chinese machine running ncstudio from pci card

runs of over 30 hrs per file...have run back to back files with machine running 24/7...never a issue...DC running/not running...humid or dry shop condition...multiple tools running all 220V

it's sb3...control software bugs

[scottp55]

Been cutting since 3am. Just now cut past the 3hour/million lines of code mark. 20% complete.
No problems at all since I used a used 30 cents of elastic tape to hold the Chinese HDMI cord securely into the Chinese monitor. Monitor now on a swing shelf and cable needed more slack taped near monitor.
NO glitches since 3.8.26 installed except yesterday.
Only 9 more hours on this file:)
If those go like the last 15, I would say it was the HDMI connection.
scott

[Kyle Stapleton]

What are you cutting for that long?

[David Iannone]

Impressive stuff Gene, the no comm issues and the detail and design in your work as usual.

[gc3]

What are you cutting for that long?

not sure of scott cuts for extended time...

but here is render of mine...8 panels for a ceiling, each panel 1220mm x 2240mm x 100mm

counting rough pass and finish pass just over 32 hrs per panel...

[scottp55]

Kyle, Actually a comedy of errors playing on my "day off".
Squashed a 3D Owl down to 1/3 its proportioned/correct scale Z, and shrunk it down to 1.5"square. With .0625"BN I lost most detail.
Due to loose plug, scared of using expensive bits, so called drillman1's .125"30degree engraving bit a .1"20degree on a 1.75" "Button".
Decent cut, but still not the detail as the 4"Owl.
Soo, went wild and called it out as a .005"12degree so program thought it could get into EVERY nook and cranny, but so new to this 3D I didn't know stepover maximum was 99%(also totally spaced checking cut time) :)
WAS going to call it quits, but then someone asked me "Never used Hard Maple--Does it hold detail?"
And Bradys "Desktop Deliciousness" always made me wonder"How tight can I go?"
My question to myself was "Is it fixed"
and "What happens when I REALLY lie to my machine:) "
so I let it run---total silliness on my part, BUT if I ever wanted to do wicked intricate gold investment casting----It's looking as if the Desktop can do it:)
Just passed 1,500,000 line of code.
I'll post pics on other thread whenever I wake up tomorrow.
Nowhere near as practical or as good as Gene. :)
Anybody want to buy a $600 button?
scott

[scottp55]

13:07:32
So 3 times longer than I've ever done.
Loose HDMI connection I would say.
May have been a frivolous cut--BUT--a lot more comfortable, and I won't be keeping my finger hovering over the Spacebar today:)
Great panel Gene--Don't know how you guys do it!
scott

[joe]

Scott,

So what does the end product that's taken all those hours and a million steps look like?

[scottp55]

Kind of amazing actually.
Distorted because of the "squashed" Z perspective, and deepest ends of cut have a 30degree angle on them because the software though it was a straight .005" bit.
But details that had been removed/flattened by the Z distortion and size reduction re-emerged and if anything better than the 4"Owl with the 1/16"Tapered BN.
Wish I had Macro lens, but after I finish .17"font will try to get decent pic.
So concept works, but overshot size reduction by a factor of 4.
Was cutting .01" waste at 1.4,1.4 because it was Hard Maple and wasn't sure what would happen---Reduce allowance to .05"/increase tool size to .02"/ and going to try 2,2 MS(quite possibly 3,3 is in the air)/ play with stepover until cut time is about an hour.
will post side by side pic with a 1.75" done with same bit called out different with 1 hour cut time.

[scottp55]

Quick pics.
No way I'll ever use those seeing again. :)
Can probably get better than the 1 hour one though.

[steve_g]

Scott…
The 13 hour one looks really nice! Use that one to make a mold and cast buttons from it…
SG

[scottp55]

Yep, at times she resembled a psychotic wood pecker---because of Saturdays comm problems, every time she paused to load code(for the first 4 hours) I almost freaked because I'd never seen that before. Think I could double/triple Diameter of "Imaginary" bit and reap 90% of the benefit and gain the increased stepover and definitely go 2,2 for MS.
Need to watch tutorials again and research database import again.
Molds good idea if I can find my Hard Wax, don't think a cuttlefish steam mold would do it justice.
stepover was something close to 20 seconds for .001" movement :)
Wonder how it would have come out in Bloodwood instead of Hard Maple:)

[jTr]

Hey Scott,
Thanks for the extensive posting. Been encountering some issues with the control software, so just loaded SB3.8.26 as part of my tune up session this weekend. Thought the machine was developing new issues on my first 3D carvings, as I too am just dipping my toe into the waters of 3D after 2 years of ownership. (Look who's just catching on!)

Anyhow, your comment:

every time she paused to load code(for the first 4 hours) I almost freaked because I'd never seen that before.

Thought I'd found a new problem, as the bot was "pondering" before cutting at times. Sounds like it is to be expected with the dramatic increase of data required to execute these 3D files, is that what you were referring to?

Only other issue I've had so far is with a large Elk set of antlers. Even plugging in a 1/16" ball nose to render in Partworks 3D on an 11"x18" carving, it keeps whittling way too much off that poor animal's beautiful rack on the finishing pass with a 10% step-over. Easier said than done, I guess...:o

Jeff

[srwtlc]

When running 3D files (or any very high line count file), you will see that the tool/software will pause to load/buffer another another large movement block of code. This is normal. If you look at the command console, you will see a progress bar loading at the bottom of the screen. If you are using 'Easy' mode, I don't think you'll see this (hands tied behind my back mode is what I call it ;)).

[Joe Porter]

Jeff, I see that you are new to 3D carving, and that you are losing some detail on the finish pass. Are you allowing for clearance of your ball nose? This is usually an offset of the radius of the tool. Also for a roughing tool. I hope this is of some help to you...joe