Anyone located in Colorado Springs?

[Flatline16]

I just moved the table from Florida in working condition now Im having many issues.

In Mach, the torch will fire manually once. Then the dthc button is red and cannot toggle off or on. If you fire the torch again, the icon lights red but nothing happens. If the hub is unplugged, it repeats.

If a file is loaded in Mach, the program starts, torch fires then then turns off and an error pops up saying the motors ran out of data during a move.

Would be great if someone local that has more knowledge than me could take a look at it.

IMG_8162.jpeg

[weldguy]

Does your g-code look good and at what line does it stop? Just curious to see if it is code related or hardware related.

[tcaudle]

You are not getting enough data fast enough from the computer and MACH to keep the buffers full on the ESS
imagine a bucket with a pipe at the bottom and a valve with water flowing out and the flow needs to be constant but the water is poured in at the top by the glass full . If you poor it too fast it overflows. If you pour it too slow it runs out and flow stops.
The ESS card is giving that error and is telling you that the memory buffers are getting getting starved for data. What keeps the buffers full ? The Ethernet connection from the PC to the ESS. So either the PC is having problems processing the data fast enough and the buffers are running dry OR the Ethernet link is having lots of errors and data is sluggish. The ESS operates on a delay because Windows is not real time . The motion engine in the ESS needs a constant flow of motion (trajectory) info .
There is nothing you can do in the ESS settings to increase the transfer rate . This is a Windows or the PC itself (Hardware) issue.
Start by doing the obvious: replace the CAt5 from the Computer to the Controller (ESS card) Make sure nothing else is running in Windows (like an open WIFI connection). No other applications loaded in memory. Get and run a memory and speed test on the PC.
If the Ethernet port is on the Motherboard consider adding in a new Ethernet card and making it the MACH PORT1 .

[Flatline16]

Let try to run a file later and report back with what line. Ill try to
take some videos.

[Flatline16]

I have some videos but I cant attach them.

[adbuch]

If your table was working without issue before your move, then perhaps something has come loose - assuming you moved it without disassembly. I would check all of your wiring and cables between your computer and controller. Also make sure your SmoothStepper is correct. I have Mach3 with the SmoothStepper on one of my Avid cnc router tables and it works fine.

David

[adbuch]

I have some videos but I cant attach them.

Upload your videos to Youtube or Google Drive and share the links here.
David

[tcaudle]

If the videos end with that same error message from the ESS than the answer is the same.
Its a PC or Ethernet issue: not sending the code fast enough to keep the buffer from running dry.

[Flatline16]

Here is something that is odd. When I open the utility hub it no devices detected and hub not connected. When I unplug the 4port then it will appear in devices and the read hub connected. No red status lights come on the controller.

IMG_8178.jpeg

IMG_8179.jpeg

IMG_8180.jpeg

[tcaudle]

Not odd at all. You can't run MACH AND Hub Utility at the same time. One or the other will grab the RS485 channel and lock the other out.

Every indication you have is that the hub IS working . All of the clues point to something else unless the error screen you posted was a one time occurrence and never happened again.

[Flatline16]

The torch only fires once then cuts off, whether it is manually or while running code. The 4port has to be powered off and back on for the dthc on/off and torch fire to work again within mach. Closing out mach doesnt affect it, turning the controller off/on doesnt have an affect. Only when cycling the 4 port hub am I able to click the dtch or torch fire button again. The stepper/data error code also occurs but the torch issue occurs first.



Does the 4port hub run off voltage? Meaning if the hub doesnt detect x volts the certain functions are limited.

[adbuch]

Have you tried using your plasma cutter to do some manual cutting with a hand torch?
David

[Flatline16]

I only have machine torches. When I first set up the table I had similar issue where the torch would sputter or turn off after igniting and it was a ground issue. This isnt the same issue. Changed the ground to different locations and I still get the same issue.

[tcaudle]

DO YOU GET THE ESS ERROR MESSAGE YOU POSTED or not? The 4 port hub runs on its own voltage from the wall[lug. If you have it plugged into an AC outlet that is DIRECT to the AC power then it should not turn off..conversely the only way to RESET it (restart the code) is to power cycle the unit. On later models there is a recessed RESET button and on even later models sit has auto self reset on a lockup.

You state you had the exact same issue before and "Grounding " was the fix but now its not. All grounding does is divert PLASMA NOISE to local ground and keep it out of control electronics. Typically, the noise gets into the USB port of the PC or the hub . The whole reason we have the RS485 hub is it converts a noise sensitive , short range data type (USB) into a robust , noise immune, long range data stream.

The hub is locking up (it has a processor chip that runs code and handed the communication and a noise spike will cause it to lock up. What is the clue it not something else? Well, cycling the hub power RESETS it . If the hub locks up the WD Good signal goes away and the torch stops firing. Resetting other parts has not effect.
The hub gets no hard parameters (like voltage or current) from he DTHC. IT's ALL DATA .
So EVERY clue (even the ESS Error message you posted, then never mentioned again) appears to be noise related.

It is your time, but when it quacks like a duck.........

BTW if the Hypertherm turns the torch off from lack of air pressure or a consumables problem you WILL get an error code . usually it will refuse to re-fire until you cycle its power and resets ITS processors .

[Flatline16]

The error message still occurs. No issue with the hypertherm.


The grounding issue was years ago. Im speaking about current day.

What is the issue? The hub is bad?

[adbuch]

You could bypass the 4 port hub and run your controller directly from you pc ethernet connection. That's what I do with my Mach3 ESS cnc router table. Four port hubs are cheap - order one from Amazon and you can probably have it tomorrow. Or go to your local Best Buy and pick one up.

David

[adbuch]

https://www.amazon.com/Netgear-EN104TP- ... B00000J4M9

netgear 4 port hub.jpg

[djreiswig]

I could be wrong, but I don't think the candcnc hub is a standard network hub.

[DieselFumes]

You say you had this issue in the past and it was a grounding issue and you just moved the equipment to a new location. I could be way off here but have you checked the electrical outlets that supply the computer and controller its power to be sure they have a properly wired earth ground? I have a tool that plugs into the wall and lights up to show wiring faults that makes it easy to check and found there was no earth ground. I re-wired the outlet properly and my issues were resolved. Also if you are using extension cords to plug things in, be sure they also have a ground lug or it will have the same negative effect.

[Flatline16]

The ground issue was resolved years ago. A side from that and the dthc I didnt have many issues.

The outlets work and are grounded- doesnt hurt to double check. The garage/electrical was just put in. No extension cords.

[Flatline16]

When I turn the dthc off in mach it still says its on.

The other photo is another error code that popped up today. Also got a smooth stepper ran out of data

IMG_8215.jpeg

IMG_8216.jpeg

[tcaudle]

Since you only have a few hours of run time in 9 years its not accurate to declare anything resolved
With no answers to the ESS error message that was posted and the glaring fact that firing the torch causes it to happen and rejecting it could be a noise issue. there is not much more I can add to this thread so I will move to the sidelines.

[adbuch]

Since you only have a few hours of run time in 9 years its not accurate to declare anything resolved
With no answers to the ESS error message that was posted and the glaring fact that firing the torch causes it to happen and rejecting it could be a noise issue. there is not much more I can add to this thread so I will move to the sidelines.

[DieselFumes]

The ground issue was resolved years ago. A side from that and the dthc I didnt have many issues.

The outlets work and are grounded- doesnt hurt to double check. The garage/electrical was just put in. No extension cords.

10-4, yes always good to double check. At this point it appears Tom was waiting to hear back for an answer on this post https://www.plasmaspider.com/viewtopic. ... 97#p247897 I would get back to him on that, if anyone can help you with your equipment it is him.

[Flatline16]

The ground are fine - checked by the electrician, the code inspector, and today by me.

The ground issue was resolved when it was running and was a matter of moving the ground clamp around to the actual work piece. The table has been moved, set back up, and the stepper ran out of data error happens, the DTHC according to MACH is always on no matter if I turn it off, the torch only fires once until I unplug the hub, when cutting the torch fires for about 1 inch then looks like it lifts, shuts off and continues motion of the cut. Ill upload a video later.

Tom hasnt provided a tangible list to check at the start or in the current. Would be awesome to have an actual list!

When I first bought the electronics, I had to send the unit back twice for repairs. I eventually gave up contacting them and tried routing wiring different ways until it worked. The electrical noise was always hammered on. I always used DTHC off because it never worked properly. Its set up the same now as when it worked before I moved the table. I had a local guy come look at it after initial set up and he said everything was set correctly, and advised against DTHC until it was sorted out.

I don't think shipping a system numerous times for repair is typical especially when it was new. I'm frustrated because I feel the issues at the start were never resovled and now setting it back up is deja vu only with NEW errors.