NWSignworks
New Member
Hello,
For basic run down, our CNC router ran fine, received jobs from the computer fine, then out of no where one day it didn't. There is a communication error/loss/disconnect somewhere between the PC and the Routers Controller.
We run an old Windows XP 32bit pc, using ArtPath32 for our program to tell the router what to run. The CNC Router is a Gerber Sabre 404.
We tried contacting a few people like who bought out Gerber, but they do not want to help, they sent us to someone that may be able to help but they never responded to the 3 messages we left (over a month ago). There are no local technicians that deal with our issue or with our equipment, so we don't have anyone to come figure out the problem for us.
FULL DETAILS of my testings and findings:
- Firstly it worked fine, then it didn't. Our PC shows that the job file was sent to the Sabre with no error messages. But our Sabre's controller does not indicate that it received the job file.
- We us ArtPath32 for our program for setting up the file for the Router to run. We have the Gerber Mgr 4.0 (job que) showing all correct ports (com 1) and settings are all correct, there are no errors when there is a job sitting in que, sent to the sabre.
- When I started looking at why the Sabre's Controller isn't receiving the job, I started to look at the Windows XP computer's Port in Device Manager. There was a Yellow Exclamation mark (!). I did a driver update on it (reinstalled drivers) did a HyperTermincal communication test by jumping the RX and TX pins on the port it's self, for a while it was not working at all. So I assumed the port went bad. I tried several things that were supposed to fix it, to it still not working.
- So since that port appeared to be broken, I did some research and bought a PCI Card that "should work" got it plugged into the computer, downloaded the drivers, ensured the Port settings and properties where set up to what the router requires for communication... The Sabre's Controller lights lit up! I had the test job i sent waiting to be run. But we didn't have the material ready and it was the end of the day anyways. I shut it down the same way i do every other time. The next morning started it up, sent the real job i needed... No lights on the Controller... I double checked the ports, the cable from the pc to the router, i made sure every setting was correct. Made sure the port was working still... Nothing.
- Did more fiddling setting changes on this port. Nothing. Went through everything i found online on fixes. I tried everything ChatGPT tried to have fix it... Nothing.
- I got a new cable in today, got everything up and running, I hit send job, as soon as the job hit the que manager i got an error message. Did some searching Cable wasn't the right configuration (error was "Spooling: <job name> (5)"). For giggles I unplugged the cable and hit send again, and the error message was slightly different "Spooling: <job name> (40)" which told me that the original cable we already had been using was working, as it gave me no errors.
- After re-ensuring properties and settings where all correct I gave my PC a reset, i checked the device manager and saw that the Original Serial port that came default on the PC (the one we've used 100's of times before) is back on line with no errors. I checked the settings, did a Jump and did the HyperTerminal Communication test on it... This time the port indicates it's working again.
- I tried the original everything, settings, ports, frequencies EVERYTHING... No lights on the controller still...
- I did continuity testing with a volt meter on everything from the PC to the Routers Controller. The ONLY i can't get is a signal between one end of the small circuit board to the other end of it. I know nothing about circuit boards and if i even tested it right or not. But I followed every cable and got continuity everywhere.
--- The circuit boards sits here in order of hardware and cables in the whole system: PC -> COM Port -> BD9 to DB25 Cable -> Male Port on CNC Router Computer Box for the DB25 -> Small cable between the port and the Circuit Board -> THE CIRCUIT BOARD -> Plugs into the large circuit/motherboard -> output cable from main board to outer port of the CNC Electrical box -> Cable to the CNC Controller.
- The circuit board didn't have any continuity readings from where the cable goes into, to the pins that are at the bottom of the small circuit board that plugs into the larger board. There is a small fogging/Hazing on one of the pins and a slight miss coloring on that pins path. There are no burn marks or bubbling or visible disconnects. But again, i could very easily be not reading the circuit board correctly as i don't know jack about those.
I'm at a complete loss on what to do or where to look, or who we can find to help us out. We have looked into retrofitting but we haven't seen any retrofit's for this exact router before, and we don't know what new router softwares we can use that would fit our needs. Also retro fitting according to similar fit's we have seen cost almost as much as buying a new CNC Router all together we new programs anyways. And i to my knowledge my boss isn't ready to spend that much (I dont blame him).
Any help or suggestions or advise or even contact to someone that might be able to help would all be appreciated.
For basic run down, our CNC router ran fine, received jobs from the computer fine, then out of no where one day it didn't. There is a communication error/loss/disconnect somewhere between the PC and the Routers Controller.
We run an old Windows XP 32bit pc, using ArtPath32 for our program to tell the router what to run. The CNC Router is a Gerber Sabre 404.
We tried contacting a few people like who bought out Gerber, but they do not want to help, they sent us to someone that may be able to help but they never responded to the 3 messages we left (over a month ago). There are no local technicians that deal with our issue or with our equipment, so we don't have anyone to come figure out the problem for us.
FULL DETAILS of my testings and findings:
- Firstly it worked fine, then it didn't. Our PC shows that the job file was sent to the Sabre with no error messages. But our Sabre's controller does not indicate that it received the job file.
- We us ArtPath32 for our program for setting up the file for the Router to run. We have the Gerber Mgr 4.0 (job que) showing all correct ports (com 1) and settings are all correct, there are no errors when there is a job sitting in que, sent to the sabre.
- When I started looking at why the Sabre's Controller isn't receiving the job, I started to look at the Windows XP computer's Port in Device Manager. There was a Yellow Exclamation mark (!). I did a driver update on it (reinstalled drivers) did a HyperTermincal communication test by jumping the RX and TX pins on the port it's self, for a while it was not working at all. So I assumed the port went bad. I tried several things that were supposed to fix it, to it still not working.
- So since that port appeared to be broken, I did some research and bought a PCI Card that "should work" got it plugged into the computer, downloaded the drivers, ensured the Port settings and properties where set up to what the router requires for communication... The Sabre's Controller lights lit up! I had the test job i sent waiting to be run. But we didn't have the material ready and it was the end of the day anyways. I shut it down the same way i do every other time. The next morning started it up, sent the real job i needed... No lights on the Controller... I double checked the ports, the cable from the pc to the router, i made sure every setting was correct. Made sure the port was working still... Nothing.
- Did more fiddling setting changes on this port. Nothing. Went through everything i found online on fixes. I tried everything ChatGPT tried to have fix it... Nothing.
- I got a new cable in today, got everything up and running, I hit send job, as soon as the job hit the que manager i got an error message. Did some searching Cable wasn't the right configuration (error was "Spooling: <job name> (5)"). For giggles I unplugged the cable and hit send again, and the error message was slightly different "Spooling: <job name> (40)" which told me that the original cable we already had been using was working, as it gave me no errors.
- After re-ensuring properties and settings where all correct I gave my PC a reset, i checked the device manager and saw that the Original Serial port that came default on the PC (the one we've used 100's of times before) is back on line with no errors. I checked the settings, did a Jump and did the HyperTerminal Communication test on it... This time the port indicates it's working again.
- I tried the original everything, settings, ports, frequencies EVERYTHING... No lights on the controller still...
- I did continuity testing with a volt meter on everything from the PC to the Routers Controller. The ONLY i can't get is a signal between one end of the small circuit board to the other end of it. I know nothing about circuit boards and if i even tested it right or not. But I followed every cable and got continuity everywhere.
--- The circuit boards sits here in order of hardware and cables in the whole system: PC -> COM Port -> BD9 to DB25 Cable -> Male Port on CNC Router Computer Box for the DB25 -> Small cable between the port and the Circuit Board -> THE CIRCUIT BOARD -> Plugs into the large circuit/motherboard -> output cable from main board to outer port of the CNC Electrical box -> Cable to the CNC Controller.
- The circuit board didn't have any continuity readings from where the cable goes into, to the pins that are at the bottom of the small circuit board that plugs into the larger board. There is a small fogging/Hazing on one of the pins and a slight miss coloring on that pins path. There are no burn marks or bubbling or visible disconnects. But again, i could very easily be not reading the circuit board correctly as i don't know jack about those.
I'm at a complete loss on what to do or where to look, or who we can find to help us out. We have looked into retrofitting but we haven't seen any retrofit's for this exact router before, and we don't know what new router softwares we can use that would fit our needs. Also retro fitting according to similar fit's we have seen cost almost as much as buying a new CNC Router all together we new programs anyways. And i to my knowledge my boss isn't ready to spend that much (I dont blame him).
Any help or suggestions or advise or even contact to someone that might be able to help would all be appreciated.
