Configure PlasmaCam after Software Install

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blender2
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Configure PlasmaCam after Software Install

Post by blender2 »

Is there a video or a post that gives you step by step setup to configure the computer to see the controller.
N2 Welding
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Re: After Software Install

Post by N2 Welding »

It might help to be more specific as to what software you have in mind. It'll make it easier to make suggestions.
adbuch
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Re: After Software Install

Post by adbuch »

blender2 wrote: Fri Feb 03, 2023 2:09 pm Is there a video or a post that gives you step by step setup to configure the computer to see the controller.
Which software are you using - Design Edge or the older 3.11? For Design Edge, I have always just gone to Settings, System Setup, and checked the box for "Automatically configure port" followed by clicking on "Detect Machine".
detect machine.jpg
The Video Manual, Chapter 8 discusses what to do if it won't automatically configure port to detect machine.
video manual.jpg
Here is a printout of the pertinent section.


David

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Last edited by adbuch on Sat Feb 04, 2023 5:28 am, edited 1 time in total.
adbuch
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Re: After Software Install

Post by adbuch »

Computer does not connect to machine
If the unable to connect error ("unable to connect to machine. check power, parallel ports and cables. if the pause light
is not flashing, turn off controller and disconnect cable for 1 minute. then turn controller back on, reconnect cable, and
try again.") appears:
Use detect machine (not initialize or diagnostics) to try connecting to the machine and to get the port settings as you
follow each step in this topic.
Make sure the "pause" light on the controller is flashing before you try to connect.
Verify that the machine is correctly powered, especially that the voltage switch is correct for the voltage being used.
If the parallel port is on the computer motherboard, verify that it has been correctly configured. Try the different
available modes and addresses.
Normally, the machine is easiest to detect with "automatically configure port" checked. But if an unable to find or read
port error ("unable to read port addresses from computer.", "unable to read any port information from computer." or
"no port found on computer. please enter (or verify) the port addresses manually from the device manager.") appears,
uncheck this option and set the port addresses manually.
First, verify that the correct addresses are shown in the settings. Open the Device Manager from the Hardware and
Sound section of the Windows Control Panel and select the parallel port you are trying to use from the Ports group.
Open the properties of the port, click the resources tab, and note the addresses shown. Then open System Setup from
the Settings. Enter the first address as the "base address", and the second address (if any) as the "ECP address2".
After you enter the addresses, check "automatically configure port" again, before you click "detect machine". (This
automatically detects the other settings while trying the addresses you specify.) If the machine is not detected, try
swapping the addresses. Try other combinations of addresses if three or more are listed in the port resources.
You can also leave "automatically configure port" unchecked to specify exactly what you want to use for every port
setting. This may help you to try every possible combination of settings in order to find out what really works best. The
"set mode in ECP control" setting is needed to put some ECP ports into EPP or PS/2 mode. (The address of the port's
extended control register must be entered for the "ECP address 2".) Set the mode according to what works best with
the port. The EPP modes are the fastest, but PS/2 mode can also be used.
Check "low-voltage port" if the port outputs only about 3.3V signals rather than the standard 5V signals. For example, if
the machine intermittently connects and disconnects with communication errors and the "low-voltage port" box is not
checked, try checking it and saving the settings. Only keep this setting if a noticeable improvement results. Low-voltage
ports may lead to malfunctions due to their weak signals.
Once detect machine has been successful, click "ok" to save the settings.
You can keep trying other combinations of modes if the machine not found error ("machine not found on any port." or
"machine not found on specified port and configuration settings. try other mode combinations or automatically
configure the port.") appears.
If the computer still fails to connect to the machine, try a different parallel port or computer.
If the computer connects but has communication errors, continue troubleshooting by following the steps in the next
topic.
adbuch
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Re: After Software Install

Post by adbuch »

Let us know if you have any specific questions about this and we will try to help you.
David
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