Machsupport Forum
Mach Discussion => General Mach Discussion => Topic started by: jglass on August 04, 2013, 10:09:08 AM
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A friend gave me 3 XP Dell laptops that I would like to run my cnc machines with.
The laptops do not have 25 pin printer port but has a couple of USB ports and an Ethernet port.
What is the best way to connect one of these laptops to a CNC machine?.
I have heard this can all be done with wih a "Smooth Stepper" and the Ethernet port is best. Are these smooth steppers easy to set up and where should I buy one?.
I also heard Mach4 will address these issues. Should I wait for Mach4 to be released and just use it?.
Right now I'm running my CNC machines with Mach3 from desktop computers and one machine with a WIN8 computer running Turbocnc
Jim
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Mach4 will require the Smoothstepper as well, and you might be waiting another year to use it.
Although I've never used one, the Smoothstepper should be pretty easy to set up. You can either buy them direct from Warp9. or from any of the many hobby cnc suppliers out there..
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Smoothstepper was designed as a fairly painless plug n play replacement for the parallel port, in other words it mimics the basics setup you would have for the PP in respect to pin and port numbers, it does however have an extra port (6 ins on USB and full port on ESS)
I would say definitely go for the Ethernet SS (ESS) as the USB one can be susceptible to electrical noise.
Theoretically you should be able to use the same profile you are using with the PP and just opt to use the SS rather than the PP, some users however found they had issues with that and thus had to make a new profile. I never had that problem and during the Beta testing of the SS I regularly changed back and forth between PP and SS just by simply telling Mach which to use.
Hood
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Thanks for the info. Sounds like smooth stepper should work.
Will I need to change the laptop itself to run Mach3? I tried a laptop years ago and just could not get it to work. I have heard the power saving features of the laptop need to
be turned off in order to work rightl.
Thanks,
Jim
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If it is plugged into the mains it should default to a desktop type profile but best to check and also a good idea, no matter whether laptop or desktop, that you switch off screen saver and any of the screen or hard drive power features.
Hood
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I have my Warp9 smooth stepper. Does someone have instruction for setting up a computer with an XP op system. The Warp9 instructions are more for
WIN 7 op systems.
I find myself not knowing what to do. I need to setup IP address. Somehow I managed to shut off my eithernet port altogether.
Thanks Jim
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More info
The WIN7 instructions say to to "Network and Sharing" then go to "Change Adapter Settings" then to "wired network adapter" Then "properties" then
"local area connection properties" . This where I set the IP address.
Can someone convert this to XP language because I'm lost
Jim
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Start >Settings >Network Connections.
Under LAN or High Speed Internet, you should see Local Connection. Right Click and choose Properties.
There's a window with a list of items with checkboxes. Click on Internet Protocol(TCP/IP) and then click the Properties button below it. You should see a window where you can set the IP address.
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OK, that was helpful.
My Ethernet port seems dead. It was working yestday. No lights on today. Is it burned out or turned off?
Jim
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Under Start > Settings > Network Connections, what does it say under status?
If you right click on Local Area Connection, do you have an option to Disable it or Enable it? If it says Enable, then it's turned off. If it says Disable, then it should be on.
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It says disable which means it is ON But there is a big red X between what looks like "T" pipe fitting and a tiny paddle lock. If I right click to properties then click on disable the X goes
away. The area connection then says "Disabled". Click again on "Enable" the X reappears. However, the 2 computers, T and paddle lock turns from bright to dim.
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Do you have it connected to something?
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The Ethernet cable is connected at the computer and the slow stepper. I had a few green lights on at the slow stepper but not now.
HAAA, Crap???????? Wire came off the power supply. That is exactly why I solder terminals to the wires. I didn't do that this time. A temporary hook up.
Oh ya, the X is now gone and everything has lights on it.
Thanks, i'll report back on this.
Jim
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Getting very close.
When I load Mach3 a pop up window appears (as it should in this case) asks for the control device. I select "'ESS_v10fb2" Then OK.
Next screen CTfp::WakeUpClient does not reply Select YES to retry No to config. I click NO
Next window asks me "SmoothStepper Board IP Address: I have entered 10.9.9.9.0 and 255. 255. 255. 0 No space to enter both and neither one work
when entered.
Any ideas????
Thanks, Jim
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When I get to Internet Protocol TCP/IP I clicked on it and selected properties where I entered the IP address 10.9.9.2 and entered
in subnet mask; 255.255.255.0 the OK. Back to the TCP/IP screen. Not sure if this was correct but I clicked on INSTALL Then I was
asked "Client", "Service", "Protocol". I selected "Protocol" and was then told "unable to find drivers"
Again I'm up against the wall. What do I do?
Jim
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After spending more than 2 days on this project I have decided to take a new approach. My neighbor gave me 3 Dell laptop computers, made in late 2005, loaded with WIN XP. My plan is to load one computer with Windows 7 so it will match the Smooth Stepper instruction manual.
I'll get the laptop connected to wireless internet then load MACH3. Then I'll have a bare bones computer with on an operating system and MACH3.
What I have now is a used computer with countless settings made by the previous owner. Since I'm not an expert, I have know ideal which settings apply to my application.
Jim
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When I get to Internet Protocol TCP/IP I clicked on it and selected properties where I entered the IP address 10.9.9.2 and entered
in subnet mask; 255.255.255.0 the OK. Back to the TCP/IP screen. Not sure if this was correct but I clicked on INSTALL Then I was
asked "Client", "Service", "Protocol". I selected "Protocol" and was then told "unable to find drivers"
Again I'm up against the wall. What do I do?
Jim
You do not want to click the Install button. Once you set the address, it should be good to go.
The Ethernet cable is connected at the computer and the slow stepper.
Are you using a standard ethernet cable? If you have an older PC, you may need to use a crossover cable.
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I bought all the cables from Warp9.
Jim
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That doesn't mean it's the right cable.
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I think I have it working. I did a cold start this morning. I'm not near my machine right now to know for sure.
The smooth stepper has 4 green lights on, 3 of them blinking. At the Ethernet port the amber light is ON and the Green light to the right flickers. From the smooth stepper board the
upper green light stays ON. The lower light blinks briefly then off for 4 seconds.
I have notice movement of the computer or smooth stepper I loose communications. Reboot the computer to restore communications.
Jim
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Sounds like a bad connection of the ethernet cable.
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Do you power up your controller before starting Mach or after?
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Do you power up your controller before starting Mach or after?
Always before. Won't work otherwise.
I connected to one of my CNC machines. Even though the smooth stepper appears to working it does not move any part of the machine.
The Smooth Stepper has 3 DB 25 connecting ports. Seems like I need to tell the computer which one I'm using.
Jim
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Do you power up your controller before starting Mach or after?
Always before. Won't work otherwise.
I connected to one of my CNC machines. Even though the smooth stepper appears to working it does not move any part of the machine.
Mach3 is already setup with ports and pins. The DRO in Mach3 shows movement but the machine is idle.
The Smooth Stepper has 3 DB 25 connecting ports. Seems like I need to tell the computer which one I'm using.
Jim
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Attach your xml please and I will have a look.
Hood
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I connected to one of my CNC machines. Even though the smooth stepper appears to working it does not move any part of the machine.
The Smooth Stepper has 3 DB 25 connecting ports. Seems like I need to tell the computer which one I'm using.
Jim
You have to tell Mach3 that you want to use the SmoothStepper AND you have to tell Mach3 which Ports&Pins things are on. Take a look at page 9 here: http://www.soigeneris.com/Document/Warp9/Installing_and_Configuring_the_Ethernet_SmoothStepper.pdf
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OK, met with my brother who is an Electrical Engineer and this is what we figured out.
The Ethernet cable is wrong, I need a "crossover" type cable. But, he had a "network Hub" box on hand so we connected to the smooth stepper using
the network hub.
He checked the Smooth stepper IP address and it was 10.9.9.9. He could not understand why we could not enter the MAC address.
We also tried the configure.exe link. We watched some files load up but they never finished. I think my problem is with "Configure".
Loading up Mach3 I get a box that says "Motion Control hardware plugin sensed" ESS_v10tb2 is selected. Hit OK
Another box "Wakeupclient board does not reply" YES to retry; NO to config; Cancel to quit. I hit NO to config. Dialog box open with
the smooth stepper address set to 10.9.9.9 hit OK, and back to "Wakeupclient board does not reply".
The "smooth stepper plugin" has been installed.
This is what I have.
Jim
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Jim, let's back up and think about this situation in more familiar terms. Lets say you want to make a phone call, what do you do? You pick up your phone and you dial the other persons number. If your calling someone in the same area code you don't even need to type in the area code, just the phone number.
Computer networking is similar the IP address is like a phone number, every Ethernet device has its own phone number (IP Address). If you want to talk to another Ethernet device in the same area code (sub net) you don't need to type the area code in. In the context of the SmoothStepper you set up your PC with a fixed (static) IP address that is in the same subnet (area code) as the SmoothStepper. The SmoothStepper board comes preprogrammed with the IP address of 10.9.9.9 so you want to set your PC up with a static IP address that is in the same subnet (area code) so 10.9.9.1 is a good choice.
When you are changing the network adapter settings on your PC you want to set the IP address to 10.9.9.1, the SmoothStepper is already programmed so just leave it alone. When you start up Mach3 you have to tell Mach the IP address (phone number) of the SmoothStepper board which is 10.9.9.9.
If you have an older computer you may need a cross over cable. Any computer made in the last five years or so most likely has 'Gigabit' network adapter which will do an 'auto change over' so a special cross over cable is not needed.
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When I get time I'm going to start over on this and recheck everything.
Someone needs to write an instruction manual so a machinist can set up this Smooth Stepper board as well as a computer geek.
If I ever get this thing working, I'll write a manual myself. I'm not a computer geek but at the same time I hold my own working with
computers. I network programmable controllers all the time.
Hood; Your asking about an XML file. I have no idea what that is.
I really think it is important to get the Smooth Stepper working not only for me but others as well since newer computers fail to have
the old printer port most of us are familiar with.
Appreciate your patience
Jim
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Part of the problem is that you can't write a 20 page manual that will turn a machinist into a computer geek any more than you can write a 20 page manual that will turn a computer geek into a machinist. Each has years of experience to draw on.
Configuring things to work with Mach3 requires a breadth of knowledge you have to know some about machining, electronics, computers, software etc., etc., and you can't distill all of this into a small manual and cover every situation. Just getting an Ethernet device to work can be a challenge as there are so many variables: does your companies PC policy prevent you from making the needed changes on the PC, is the firewall or AV program your using going to interfere, does your network adapter require a cross over cable or not, does your PC have some sort of other software on it that will cause problems? Not to mention that folks start this journey at all different places, some folks struggle to turn the PC or unzip a file and others are a whiz.
I know it is frustrating when your just trying to make something work and I'm certain there are things that can be done to improve manuals and set up procedures. I'm also certain that no matter what sort of manual gets written it will never cover every scenario or makes sense to every reader.
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Thanks for people like Jeff who spend the time and effort trying to make the blind see.
This has been a fun journey. Being a hobbyist,
means my income is not dependent upon it. In fact it drains most of that. The constant challenges demand thought, reading and research. Then it will all change again.
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I got the Smooth Stepper working!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I had a somewhat short telephone conversation with Greg Cary, the Warp9 tech support guy. We emailed a few times until we decided to just talk on the telephone. As it turns out most of my problems wasn't the Smooth Stepper at all, it was my settings in Mach3 in Port & Pins. It was my own fault for not seeing my own errors in Ports & Pins. All I could think about was the network. I couldn't see the forest for the trees.
One problem with the Smooth stepper is there are (3) 25 pin ports and I plugged into the very end port. Wrong, need to be plugged in the middle port
or the port located in the corner.
Setting up the Smooth Stepper was difficult because I made it that.
Thanks again for all the support and encouragement here. I was beginning to think at 63 I was to old to play with these things.
Jim
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Congratulations! Have fun.
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"I was beginning to think at 63 I was to old to play with these things."
jimglass, you may be - someday, but you've got a ways to go yet.
Enjoy,
John Champlain (73)
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Glad to hear you got it sorted Jim. We all kind of g3t myopic from string t a problem too long, I would be embarrassed to tell you how many hours I spent one day trying to get a network attached device to talk to the server; after breaking down and running Wireshark on both the server and device ends I realized I had transposed two numbers when I typed the IP address into the device. D'oh!