How to check "heartbeat" on BTC-1 computer?

[Goslowjimbo]

I recently purchased a Brdigeport BTC-1, and have changed it over from 440 to 220 power (successfully, I think). The trouble is, I get up to where I should be zeroing and the axis drives and spindle doesn't do anything. I am trying to determine what the problem is. All I can do is turn the mist and flood functions on and off. Well - it actually is the air for mist and flood. I am hoping the coolant hasn't flowed because the tube is clogged.
Whiich leads to my opening question: How do I know the computer ( I believe a LSI-11/2) is alive?
With the execption of direct relay driven switches and lights, I haven't seen any activity.

[Kevin Taylor]

Jim in set up can you jog the X&Y in power enable try to start spindle S500M3EOB should start it reseat all the boards I had a cable lose in the keypad encloser after moving mine the floud coolant comand power's up the twist loc plug on the left side of the machine check all of the resets on the contactors look for fault light's on the VFD and servos Good luck Kevin

[Goslowjimbo]

I can't jog or zero or rotate the spindle. What I was looking for is a way to prove the computer is working. I don't have any of the numbers on the keypad display lit, only the negative sign on the 5 digit portion.

I have an oscilloscope, voltmeter, and other equipment I can use to troubleshoot. I just don't have a way of determining what to measure.

I have checked the cables, fuses and wiring, reseated all of the computer boards, taken the display apart to verify the cables are ok there., and tried the resets on all of the contactors. I don't have any fault leds turned on other than the err light on the keypad display.

[machintek]

The ERR light on the display is generated only by the ERS board on the BOSS 3 through 6 series machines. This is the board that handles external serial communications and has a large PROM that has the BOSS software on it.
Check your logic power supply first.

George

[Junkfixer]

the Boss 4 logic power supply has several test points for regulated and non-regulated voltages, the regulated measurements should be close to their rating (+/-5%)? And there are couple of transformers in that control, I believe, that the taps would have to be changed on for 220vac.
good luck, Tony

[Goslowjimbo]

I have checked the processor voltages on the supply panel. Everything is as I would expect it to be. The unregulated seemed a little high, but if transformer settings were the problem, the voltages would be low (like half).
Since this is a Boss 7, I will check to see if there is a ERS board. I know there is a program board which has several rows of UV EPROMs.
Does anyone know whether the boards in the Boss 7 (BTC-1) follow the Q-bus convention, or a Bridgeport proprietary convention?

[Goslowjimbo]

I did some checking around. The limit switches that go into the computer that are at 0 volts are:
Gnd Plane Engaged
Primary Diaphram
Secondary Diaphram
Spindle Orientation Complete
carousel Index Step Complete
Insert Tool
Tool Arm Out
Relaease Tool
Pre-Orient
Wire #290
Wire #291
Solenoid Pwr En ( Wire #266)
Wire #265

The ones that have 24 volts going to the computer are:
Gnd Plane Released
Spindle Orientation Reset
Gear Latched
High Gear
Low Gear
Tool Arm Home
Wire #289

I don't know what these values should be, but thought someone else would know.

I also found a document describing the LSI-11 Q Bus (I believe this is what the processor has). I looked at BDAL 1L ( essentially the second address and data bit multiplexed together), and it showed an unvarying waveform. BDIN L showed a unvarying waveform, but BDOUT L seemed to be always high. This would leave me to believe that the processor is in some sort of loop waiting for something to change before it goes on.
Also, all of the solenoids appear to be disabled because Solenoid Pwr Enable coming from the computer is at 0 volts.
It still doesn't zero or jog, and the spindle doesn't turn, and the numbers don't display,but I feel more confident about the processor itself.

[Goslowjimbo]

I just received the installation manual. Section 5.4 says a CRC check will be performed, then the displays will read 888 and 0000. If the CRC fails, the display will be blank, and the Err light will be on. SO - evidently I am failing the CRC check. The interesting thing is that sometimes the "T" light will be on when I finish the check, and sometimes it will be off. I am assuming this means a different failure is recognized by the processor - ?.
The X lamp never comes on, the N lamp doesn't come on, and the F and S lamps are always on.
Does anyone know who to talk to about this?