Machsupport Forum
Third party software and hardware support forums. => SmoothStepper USB => Topic started by: GEMCNC on May 25, 2011, 03:11:02 AM
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I have just found that if I load up any job in Mach3 CNC Controller Software (Version : R3.042.040), communicating through the Smooth Stepper Board (Beta2_V015ogx2), that after it has been displayed in the "Tool Path" window, if I manover the job image around with my mouse in any circular direction, i.e. side to side, up and down etc., for a certain amount of time, that as soon as I let go of the image by releasing the mouse button the Mach3 CNC Controller Software immediately gives an "Extrenal EStop Requested" Error Message, and releases it control over the SS Board ! I then have to press the "Reset Button" to regain control over the SS Board and the system !
If however I perform the same routine with the SS Board not connected, the above problem does not surface, but as soon as I reconnect the SS Board the problem is back !
I have tried this under both Windows XP and Windows 7 platforms, a well as on two different computers, being a Desktop, and Laptop, with different processors, and performances !
Anyone know of this problem, and the likely cause of the SS Board giving an "Extrenal EStop Requested" Error Message as described above, and any suggested fixs ?
With kindest regards.
GEMCNC.
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The problem is that the current version of mach does everything, including redraw the image in a single thread. If you have a largish file it can take a whole lot of processor time to redraw it and that can cause mach to fail to communicate to things like the SmoothStepper in time. Of course if you don't have the SmoothStepper hooked up than Mach can't fail to communicate with it. :)
There are a few things you can do you can decrease the SmoothSteppers controller frequency, this increases the amount of buffering it can do. You can also increase the watchdog timeout. If your PC has a built in video chipset adding an external video card may improve things as they are faster (generally) and have their own built in RAM.
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Dear Jeff,
Thanks for the reply !
The file that I referred to is the standard "Roadrunner", which by all means is not at all that large on size or complexity !
Ignoring the desktop unit as this was by no means powerful !
However the laptop it was tested on was a Toshiba Satellite with an AMD Athlon X2 Dual-Core QL-65 2.10GHz 64 Bit Processor, with 4.00GB (3.75GB usable) Ram, and incorporating an ATI Radon 3100 Graphics card !
(1) So if this is the case with the above, what do you recommend as a computer minimum requirement and specification, especially if files are going to be 3D surfaces which will be much larger than the standard "Roadrunner" file used in the above testing ? Please Advice !
(2) Do you know if the current development of the next version of Mach3 is doing anything to overcome this problem by maybe separating the processes, alleviating the current Mach3 software doing everything, including redrawing the image in a single thread. ? Please Advice !
Your feedback and comments would be greatly appreciated !
With kindest regards.
Joe.
GEMCNC.
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Also, sorry Jeff !
I forgot to mention that at the time of performing the above test the Mach3 software was performing no other functions or motion control over the systems, apart from it having engaged the three stepper motors, by the pressing of the standard reset button !
We then simply loaded up the standard "Roadrunner" file, an were quickly rotating the image, up, down, an side to side with the mouse !
Regards.
Joe.
GEMCNC.
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Dear Joe,
I unfortunately share your problem.
In my case the E-Stop appears when loading a file, or sometimes by switching the screen.
The first time i had that problem was when using plugin version 17. no difference between .bd or .d
I wrote the problem already to my german supplier, then, as i didn't get an answer, to greg. It seems he adviced my supplier to answer me, what he did.
I only wished the mail had a little content concerning my problem :-(
Loading Mach3 with plugin v15.********* does not cause any error, excepting some little bugs...
I really want to use the new plugin, as it works great. But reactivating the system after loading a file can not be the right procedure.
Hope someone can help us.
Best regards,
Matthias
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Hi guys,
Jeff hit the nail on the head. It didn't occur to me for a while but then I remembered that the watchdog timer is probably causing the problem. Here is how you can figure it out. Watch the blinking red LED when you manipulate the toolpath. If it stops blinking, that means Mach is no longer communicating with the SmoothStepper. Each time the red LED blinks, the plugin is sending a message and the board is responding. I believe Mach4 will solve this problem since it will give lower priority to the graphics and more priority to the communications with the external device. Increasing the Watchdog Timeout setting in the SmoothStepper's Config is about all you can do for now, besides letting go of the toolpath more often. I think it depends a lot upon the graphics because it doesn't do it on my computer.
Greg
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Hi greg,
I am very pleased to hear from you.
This is the kind of information i hoped to get.
I'll try to change the timeout setting in a first step.
The second step would be to change the graphic device. Maybe a more powerful one will help me get the newest version running :)
Best Regards
Matthias
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Hi Matthias,
I don't know why the plugin would matter. I will give this some more thought. With respect to the graphics, I would not necessarily expect a more expensive card to be better. I will see if Brian knows what it might be.
Regards,
Greg
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Generally graphics only become a issue when you have large gcode files trying to buffer for the toolpath display. You can solve this by disabling the toolpath display on the settings page, not Ideal but it should at least help with your issue.
matthias - What are the specs for the machine you are running into the problems?
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Hello all together,
I actually tested Greg's idea and changed the timeout of the watchdog from 0.5 to 3.1 (max possible).
The problem is solved :)
I had only a few minutes to test the effect but it seems to work fine. No more e-stops, fluent motion :)
Even when loading big files the behaviour is absolutely normal.
Mach3 runs on hp d510SFF Desktop PC.
2.8 GHz 1GB RAM, onboard graphics.
The onboard graphics is the point I was aiming at when talking about a better hardware... I'm relieved it was not necessary
The machine itself is driven by ac-servos manufactured by Berger Lahr, nowadays known as Schneider Electric Motion.
Greg thank you very much for the detailed help. I only wished the so callled german support would act like you did. ::)
Best Regards
Matthias
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Glad to hear you got it working.
If it crops back up again you may want to look into a PCI video card, you would not need anything higher then 128mb and those go for cheap on places like newegg
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Hello all together,
I actually tested Greg's idea and changed the timeout of the watchdog from 0.5 to 3.1 (max possible).
The problem is solved :)
I am glad that it is working now!
Greg thank you very much for the detailed help. I only wished the so callled german support would act like you did. ::)
I am sorry that they were not able to help. I really don't expect them to know the inner details of the SmoothStepper. So please don't be hard on them! In fact, it took me a few days until it hit me what it was.
Greg
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Hello,
I think I have the same problem than above :
I have a really big G-Code to load into Mach3, but I have a External EStop Request due to Wachdog timeout, I increased the Timeout value to max in the plugin config.
This helps on a smaller version from the file, but I thinks it is to big now.
- I have to display the toolpath
- My computer is a little slow, but I can't change it for now, but it work nice for milling, only have this "loading" issue.
Could the smoostepper's watchdog not be desactivated during file load ? or be activated only during milling ?
Thanks,
Jérôme
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Hi Jérôme,
This was fixed in the latest plugins:
USB: http://warp9td.com/files/SmoothStepper_v17f.zip (http://warp9td.com/files/SmoothStepper_v17f.zip)
Ethernet: http://warp9td.com/files/ESS_v10fb2.zip (http://warp9td.com/files/ESS_v10fb2.zip)
I am confident that these plugins will fix the problem, but if it doesn't please let me know.
Thanks,
Greg
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Hi Greg,
I installed the latest Ethernet plugin (10fb2) but I still have the problem.
Exactly the same appends when I regenerate the toolpath.
If it can helps you, I could make a small film, just tell me.
Thanks,
Jerome
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Hi Jérôme,
Are you 100% positive you are running the new plugin? Please delete every other SmoothStepper plugin in the Mach3\PlugIns folder. Then when you run Mach and it won't be able to find the plugin you were using before, and it will ask you which plugin you want to use. I am guessing that you had previously checked the box that says "Don't ask me again". Alternatively you could select the pulldown menu "Function Cfg's", and then "Reset Device Sel..." and it will ask you which plugin you want to use the next time you run Mach.
Greg
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I apologies... You are absolutely right, Mach3 was still using the old one.
All is right now !!
Thanks for fast reply,
Jérôme
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Any updates or fixes for this problem?
I just got a new machine from Velox and sure enough....I have the same problem. My old machine ran fine but for some reason this one is acting up.
Everything works fine and jogs even homes properly BUT as soon as I run the G-code I get the same message....
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You need to provide more information. What version of Mach3 are you using, what version of the SS plugin? What sort of PC? What is the length of the program you are loading. Can you attach your XML file here so others can look for problems?