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Author Topic: NEED HELP - Stability issue  (Read 9652 times)

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Re: NEED HELP - Stability issue
« Reply #10 on: January 21, 2011, 04:32:11 PM »
- I don't have another XML. This is the one I am using since switching from SS to PP.
- Time in Int runs from 3 to 6 or 4 7 very rapidly (it changes few times each sec).
- Frequency runs from 27588 to 27988 (not as rapidly as Time in Int but changes constantly).
- SmoothStepper never worked well and kept on crashing M3. Once I moved to Parallel all worked well.

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Re: NEED HELP - Stability issue
« Reply #11 on: January 21, 2011, 04:40:47 PM »
Ok well the xml you sent is looking for a SS as default so best thing to do is go to Function Configs menu then Reset Device Select and then restart Mach and choose PP.

Time in int is fine, frequency is not great as it is faster than the kernel and it is moving around, ideally it should be very close to the set kernel and stable.

Run the driver test with Mach shut down and see if the graph looks smooth.
Hood
Re: NEED HELP - Stability issue
« Reply #12 on: January 22, 2011, 04:11:00 AM »
Strange, yesterday I post a reply from my iPhone but it's not here. Anyways, here are the answers:

- I don't have another XML. When moved from SS to PP I kept the same file and added Parallel settings as required.

- Time in Int bounce from 3 to 6 mS or from 4 to 7 mS. It changes quite rapidly, few times per second.

- Frequency runs between ~27.5K and ~28K but not as rabidly as Time in Int.

- SmoothStepper was unstable and kept on crashing M3. We invested more than a month trying to find the reason while replacing every component including SS, PC, cables, motors, drivers, plugin... nothing solved the problem. Once moved to Parallel port all problems gone and M3 became very stable.
Re: NEED HELP - Stability issue
« Reply #13 on: January 22, 2011, 04:57:13 AM »
Oops, please ignore my previous duplicated post (I just saw my initial post and your reply).

- For some reason Reset Device Select do not show device selection on subsequent M3 start. I did see that working before but now all I am getting is the legal notice. I even created a new test XML and worked only with that multiple times but it didn't bring up the device selection dialog box.

- Please see attached Device Test in action. It shows Pulsing Too Fast until it takes over and then System Excellent. While running Pulses Per Second keep on changing.

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Re: NEED HELP - Stability issue
« Reply #14 on: January 22, 2011, 05:06:43 AM »
There is something weird with the driver test, if you look at the Pulse per sec at the top its 40K ish but your frequency is set to 25K in the lower right so the pulse per sec should be near the frequency you select.

Regards the reset device selection, it could be because you dont have any plugins in the plugins folder that it just starts as PP.

Hood
Re: NEED HELP - Stability issue
« Reply #15 on: January 22, 2011, 07:56:05 AM »
It looks like the problem has nothing to do with the PC or O/S because Time in Int is very stable as long as there are no motors settings. Once these are set and M3 takes control over the hardware Time in Int starts bouncing.

Apart from the obvious, what are the settings that may affect frequency / timing?

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Re: NEED HELP - Stability issue
« Reply #16 on: January 22, 2011, 08:28:28 AM »
I would imagine the driver is not active when you do not have any motors set so that would be why you see what you see.

Try re-downloading Mach and install again.

Also have a look on the downloads page at the optimisation steps.

Hood
Re: NEED HELP - Stability issue
« Reply #17 on: January 22, 2011, 04:49:40 PM »
Hood,

I have just finished reinstalling a clean copy of Windows 7 Professional 32 bit and Mach 3. The problem remains.

The optimization page you mentioned is outdated and intended for low performance hardware and not for a 2011 brand new multiple processors PC with top notch video card and full of memory. Nevertheless, stopping ALL services and processes except those required for minimum OS functionality didn't solve the problem either.

What am I supposed to do now? Read each and every post on the forum that describes an installation issue? Sorry, no way.

As a paying customer and with the installed base you have I am quite disappointed you guys don't have a methodical way of handling abnormalities and infrastructure issues. I am not even sure what type of Win 7 you support and couldn't find any document discussing that. I would expect some sort of debug utility that produce a log you can analyze or an application that runs on a machine and grade it for use with real time application such as Mach, highlighting problematic areas etc.

I am quite sure what I see is not unique and I am not the first client who runs Mach and get timing issues. Please collect all relevant information and return to me with relevant directions.

Thanks in advance for your support.
YK

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Re: NEED HELP - Stability issue
« Reply #18 on: January 22, 2011, 04:58:04 PM »
Very polite of you.
This is a user support forum and is manned by users of Mach who try and help others out. I  suggest you go email Mach support and tell them what your issues are.
Hood
Re: NEED HELP - Stability issue
« Reply #19 on: January 22, 2011, 05:07:39 PM »
I am very sorry Hood.
I was taking you as an Art Soft support person not realizing you are a user.
My apology and of course I emailed Mach support and expect them to solve the problem.
Again, so sorry, didn't mean it personal of course and thanks for your help.
YK