Communications with R2E3

[rkdygert]

Everyone's been great on this forum and I wanted to thank you all for helping me get up and running! I've gotten Ez-link now and have the DOS PC connected to the machine through port B. At this point, I can't seem to get anything to load into the mill. I have the baud rates set the same and all the parameters (that I can find) set the same as tech bulletin 7, but I think i'm missing something when it comes to the communications with EZ-Link. I've tried following tech bulletin 7 but it talks about communicating directly through ez-cam II which I don't have. Can anyone give me a quick run-down on how to get the two to talk with just ez-link?

Thanks!
-Ryan

[machintek]

EZLINK is not used for editing but for uploading and downloading. This through port B only at a baud rate of 4800. EZLINK should default to 8 data bits, 2 stop bits, X on X off enabled, and no parity.
Is your cable correct? Is your com port selected correctly?

George

[rkdygert]

I'm pretty sure the cable is correct, I used the pin-outs and jumpers that were in tech-bulletin 7 and made a cable with the 8-pin AMP connector and a DB9 connector. I used the standard pin conversion between DB25 and DB9. The only thing I am uncertain about in the cable is the system ground...DB9 does not dedicate a pin to it...it just uses the shield and metallic connector on the cable end.

The only parameter I can find to set manually in ez-link is the baud rate (4800) and it is set the same as the mill. Do I need to set the other parameters (data bits, stop bits, etc.) somehow or does ez-link do it automatically?

On Ez-link, I select the filename using F1 and select the DNC-link option (i've tried using the remote transfer option as well with the same result). Next I hit F3 which puts ez-link in "ready" mode. I am uncertain if I should hit F3 before i select the file with F1 or what, but I've tried it both ways with the same result.

Next, I go to the mill and use the Load/clear/edit button to clear the programs in memory like the tech bulletin says. Then I select DNC and come to "Load DNC:_____" on the LCD. At this point, I enter the program name as 0001 (I was using a filename 0001.txt) and hit execute. The LCD changes to say "Load DNC: 0001.D" but then just sits there. Ez-link does not change...nothing seems to happen.

I read on another post that Ez-link should change to say "working" while the program is transferring, this never happens. The only button on the mill's control panel that will have any effect on it is the Load/clear/edit button which gives me an error 0040, communications error.

Does the program need some sort of start command in it to initiate transfer? Does it need a special name string or something that I am missing? I've been hunting the other posts and took a sample G-code program from somebody's Boss 8 page that supposedly works. At this point, I'm not sure where my problem lies or how to diagnose it...help PLEASE

[machintek]

There is a system ground (pin 7 on the DB25) and a chasis ground (shield) that is connected to ONLY one side of the cable (pin 1 of the DB25).

Why are you trying to DNC?
Keep it simple and try and transfer a program first.
Are you in port B?


George

[Jim Bass]

Hi Ryan,

Check your manuals, BOSS 8 uses a strange filename protocol. File name needs to be 5 numeric digits then .txt First number BOSS 8 can read is 15000. I don't recall last number usable. I seem to think is around 68000, it's listed in manuals if you need to know for certain.

Write a small program that is less than 12,000 characters. Name it 15001.txt
You should be able to load file into machine memory, after you get short program running correct, then start trying DNC.
Do not try to run program file from floppy disk.

[rkdygert]

I am in port B and have also tried to transfer a program using Ez-link and the "remote" selection. In this case, I choose the filename in Ez-link using F1, select remote transfer, and then hit F3 (again, not sure if i'm doing this in the right order). I put the filename in the machine using the load button, "from rem" option. After i press execute, the machine displays the filename now as 0001.f but again just sits there. Ez-link doesn't change, and the only button that can affect the mill is the load button which gives error 0040 when pressed.

I understand DNC is only needed for programs that exceed the machine's memory...not sure why i was stuck on trying to do that, but like I said...can't get either way to work at this point.

Here is what I did for the cable:

DB9 at PC----AMP at BPT----Description

Shield------------5----------System Ground
3----------------8----------Transmit
2----------------6----------Recieve
5----------------7----------Signal Ground

Again, I didn't use a DB25 connector as I don't have an rs232 25 pin port on the PC. Is this cable correct?

Anything else I'm doing wrong?

[Jim Bass]

Hi Ryan,

File name does not follow BOSS 8 protocol. Reread my last post. Until you use correct file protocol machine control will not run program.

Yours, Jim

[Jim Bass]

Ryan - This is a copy of an e-mail I sent to another person that was having problems getting his BOSS 8 up and running.



BAUD rates - Both computer and machine control will need to be set to 4800, setting just one will not work. Have you set both to 4800?

Directory - I suggest you make a directory on the hard drive of your computer and use it as the directory for downloading to the machine control only.

You can name it whatever you wish. I suggest you use a name eight characters or less in length. Note: Old Microsoft DOS (disk operating system) rules were directory and file names were eight characters or less. This machine and Ez-Link were written back in the days of DOS, not Windows. Note: Ez-link, Ez-load, Ez-Utils are all the same program.

In Ez-Utils click on “Settings”, in drop down menu click on “Set Directory”. Then click on the drive letter for your hard drive, usually “C”. Now it gets a little strange!!! Click “Open”, drop down will close. Click on Setting again, go to Set directory again. Now when window opens it should have a list of directory names, click on the one you want and then click on open, window will close. Reopen again and look at the line below the blue header with the word Directory in it. It will say “Directory is: C:\ and the name of the directory you set it to. When you see the directory you want listed there, just click cancel, you can open this window and cancel it as often as you wish, that will not change the directory selection.

This part of Ez-Utils could have been done better than it was by the original writers of the program, but it works. Basically once you get it set you can leave it be. Print this e-mail so you can read this as you try to set directory.

Ports - Use port B. Standing behind the machine facing towards it, port B is on the right.


Note: The BOSS 8 control will hold 12,000 characters in memory. If the program is over 12K it will not load. DNC allows you to run a program of any length by empting memory chips as program runs and reloading chips from your hard drive with new program data until end of program. I have ran programs over 300K in length with no problem.



Here are the steps I use to run a program:

1 - Turn machine on, turn computer on, open Ez-Utils. Note: Com port, BAUD rate and directory should already be set. You do not need to reset them each time you run Ez-Utils

2 - Let control go through its start up stuff. Press “Enable Drives” Note: You should now be hearing a high pitched whine from the drives, this is normal.

3 - Read message on two line display screen. Press “Execute” to home all three axis. All three axis will now home.

4 - Press “Move”, read and watch display screen as you press the buttons. Display shows X axis, press “0” then enter, now display shows Y axis, press “0” and then “Execute”, drives will move table to X 0.000 and to Y 0.000. Note: you can set the 0/0 where ever you want it to be using the move function, do you know how to set 0/0 where you want it to be?

---- Now you are ready to load a program at this point.

5 - Press “Load/Clear/Edit button” Read display.

6 - Press number 2 for Rem (remote) then “Execute” read display

7 - Press number 0 for “from remote” then press “Execute” Read display, do not enter number it this time.

8 - Go to computer and click on “To CNC”, at drop down menu click on “Ez-link”. Box will open on screen saying “Ready for data transfer”.

9 - Go to machine control and enter computer file number. Example for program I attached to this e-mail “18001” Press “Execute button. Control will pause and then respond with the following message:
Loaded: Char 1133
.N10G70G75G90

If you see a * that does not go away the file did not load.

10 - Press “Auto/Block” button. Auto lites green.

11 - Press “Start” button. Display reads “Tool number: 1 Spindle RPM: 3000
Run turns green, Program stop turns red, Tool change turns red.

********** NOTE: Have table at least 6” below spindle to avoid any possibility of a tool crash.

12 - Turn spindle rotation switch to “High gear” while pressing “Spindle on” button. Spindle should start. Set RPM. For spindle to run you need a minimum of 80psi air supply and oil at proper level in auto lube system.

13 - Press “Start” button, machine should run program. Pressing “Hold” button at anytime stops machine motion, but not spindle rotation. Pressing “Start” will restart program.

14 - Program runs to end and machine shuts down.

Let me know how things work out.

Yours, Jim

[rkdygert]

Jim,

Thanks for all the info and instructions. Unfortunately, I went through your description step by step (correct filename, correct directory, COM port, and baud rate) and ended up with the same result: When I enter the filename (15001) on the mill's control panel, the display changes to read: "Load Rem:15001.F" It adds the ".F" and just sits there.

One thing I noticed in your post, you say that Ez-link and Ez-utils shuold be the same. My copy of Ez-link and Ez-utils (version 6.2.1) don't look anything alike and Ez-Utils says it requires Windows to open (won't open in DOS) and Ez-link requires DOS. So, i'm slightly confused there...thinking maybe I have the wrong software. At any rate, I used Ez-utils as you described with no luck.

Can someone send me a sample G-code part program that will run on a BOSS 8 so I at least know my program isn't to fault? Any other ideas would be great...this thing has me at my wit's end.

ryan.dygert@gmail.com

Thanks,
Ryan

[rkdygert]

Ok...got major progress now

Turns out the system ground connected to the shield of the DB9 connector was stopping the computer from talking to the mill. Disconnected the ground and bingo...now the EZ-util software changes from saying "Ready to transmit" to "Data transfer started" when the execute key is pressed on the mill.

However, while the two are supposedly talking, a dialog box pops up in EZ-util asking me where I want to save a file...almost as if the mill is trying to send something to the computer. BUT, I definitely did a transfer from the mill to the computer (press #2 for remote load, then #0 for "from remote"). Just to make sure, I tried going the other way (pressed #1 for "to remote") just to see what happened...and it gave me the exact same dialog box. Once again, I am confused!

[jonny]

I could send you my DOS program loader, written in Quick Basic (QB45), both the source code and compiled executable. And a short program to run. Now, I don't know about the EZxxx programs, but I think the BOSS 8 is expecting an ascii character 4 EOT (end of transmission). Maybe EZxx puts that in automatically. Jon

[Jadaan27]

I've spent countless hours reading this forum and haven't found anyone having this problem.
I have a communications question between my PC and R2E3 Boss 8. Currently I am using BobCad to send program to the control. This seems to work fine BUT ...I get the machine ready to receive-LOAD REM (I do not assign a program number) and then I send the program with BobCad. Once BobCad is done sending I go to the machine and it is just sitting there with the LCD reading LOAD REM *. The only button that will do anything at this point is the load/clear/edit button. I hit that button, I get an error 0400. Then I hit reset, then Auto, then the machine is ready to run with the program. The program runs fine, no problems. I'm just wondering why I get the error 0400 eventhough the program is loaded in the machine and it runs fine. When I do this same procedure but try to designate a file name to the program (LOAD from REM :15001.F) The control alarms out 0400 as soon as I hit the send button on BobCad and the program will not load. So I guess my main question is when I load a program without designating a program number why does it alarm out eventough the program loads and runs fine? AND why does it alarm out and not load at all when I do designate a program number?
I've also tried using EZ-Link and EZ-utls without any success. However I'm trying to run these 2 programs on a Windows '98 computer so maybe this is the problem why I can't get these 2 programs to work? I have enough old computer stuff laying around to build a Pentium 1 166MHZ and put Windows 3.1 on it. Would this work?
Ultimately I'd like to drip-feed to the machine but have had no success with that either.
Could my cable be wrong eventhough I can load a program to the machine?
The backup battery for storing programs and tool offsets is dead. Could this have anything to do with it?

Thanks to all those who contribute to this forum. I have learned very much. Hopefully I can learn to get this machine to communicate right!