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Topic: Serial com in LBB/LB4 - what is different? (Read 2284 times) |
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flotulopex
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Re: Serial com in LBB/LB4 - what is different?
« Reply #2 on: Apr 25th, 2014, 10:26am » |
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on Apr 24th, 2014, 8:27pm, Richard Russell wrote:| ....I think you've failed to take account of this comment in the Compatibility section of the LBB docs... |
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No, in fact I did use a semi-colon for some tests but I wrongly wrote my code like this (=semi-colon after the command text):
Code:#PRINTER "G1 X100 Y100 Z100"; + CHR$(13
I'll try this tonight ;-)
Meanwhile, you may have an idea how I can make the terminators caracters "visible" in an serial com software or is it simply "not possible"?
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Roger
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Richard Russell
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Re: Serial com in LBB/LB4 - what is different?
« Reply #3 on: Apr 25th, 2014, 1:11pm » |
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on Apr 25th, 2014, 10:26am, flotulopex wrote:| Meanwhile, you may have an idea how I can make the terminators caracters "visible" in an serial com software |
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In LBB characters with codes less than 32 (i.e. 'control characters') will never be visible when printed to the mainwin, since those codes have special meanings. To make the characters 'visible' you would need to convert them into something different; that can easily be done but may be rather slow. The code listed below (LBB-specific) displays the control characters in red.
Richard.
Code:string$ = "G1 X100 Y100 Z100" + CHR$(13) + CHR$(10)
print visible$(string$)
end
function visible$(s$)
for i = 1 to len(s$)
c = asc(mid$(s$,i))
if c < 32 then
visible$ = visible$ + chr$(17)+chr$(1)+chr$(64+c)+chr$(17)+chr$(0)
else
visible$ = visible$ + chr$(c)
end if
next
end function |
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flotulopex
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Re: Serial com in LBB/LB4 - what is different?
« Reply #4 on: Apr 25th, 2014, 4:27pm » |
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Well...still not working either ways.
I need to trap what serial data I'm sending to the printer via LBB or the com software.
Any idea how to do so?
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Roger
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flotulopex
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Re: Serial com in LBB/LB4 - what is different?
« Reply #6 on: Apr 25th, 2014, 5:21pm » |
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How can I modify/set the serial data flow control type in LBB (Xon/Xoff - Hardware - None)?
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Roger
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flotulopex
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Re: Serial com in LBB/LB4 - what is different?
« Reply #7 on: Apr 25th, 2014, 5:33pm » |
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The syntax for serial port parameters is slightly different. The basic options are the same, so for example this works:
open "COM1:9600,n,8,1" for random as #comm
but when specifying 'handshaking' parameters the syntax accepted by LBB is as follows:
open "COMn: [baud=b] [parity=p] [data=d] [stop=s]
[to=on|off] [xon=on|off] [odsr=on|off] [octs=on|off]
[dtr=on|off|hs] [rts=on|off|hs|tg] [idsr=on|off]"
I don't get it.
What would the correct syntax be in my case please?
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Roger
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Richard Russell
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Re: Serial com in LBB/LB4 - what is different?
« Reply #8 on: Apr 25th, 2014, 9:55pm » |
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on Apr 25th, 2014, 4:27pm, flotulopex wrote:| How can I modify/set the serial data flow control type in LBB (Xon/Xoff - Hardware - None)? |
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Code:OPEN "COM3: baud=115200 parity=n data=8 stop=1 xon=on odsr=off octs=off" FOR RANDOM AS #PRINTER
However I'm not sure whether Xon/Xoff handshaking is always available in Windows; it may depend on your serial port driver. Personally I would prefer to implement it in my own code because that way you know it will always work.
Richard.
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flotulopex
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Re: Serial com in LBB/LB4 - what is different?
« Reply #9 on: Apr 26th, 2014, 12:49pm » |
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Still won't work.
Since the beginning of this thread, when I send the data to the printer , I can see on its LCD some kind of "reset" since it will show up the "start screen" just as when I switch it on. That means, all changes I made to the data sent as in my first post don't modify anything.
If there is no difference in the data itself, no obvious flow control issue, what is still to be investigated?
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Roger
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Richard Russell
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Re: Serial com in LBB/LB4 - what is different?
« Reply #10 on: Apr 26th, 2014, 5:04pm » |
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on Apr 26th, 2014, 12:49pm, flotulopex wrote:| If there is no difference in the data itself, no obvious flow control issue, what is still to be investigated? |
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You say the data is correct, but what about the baud rate, parity bit (if any) and number of stop bits? If any of those are wrong it is entirely likely that the receiving device will not respond correctly. An oscilloscope is an invaluable tool to investigate those issues.
There are not that many ways in which the serial signal could be wrong, so if you have appropriate monitoring facilities it should be relatively simple to debug the problem. You are far better placed to do that than I am!
Richard.
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flotulopex
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Re: Serial com in LBB/LB4 - what is different?
« Reply #11 on: Apr 28th, 2014, 10:01am » |
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...yup!
The oscillo is on my table already but I can't still point the problem.
I'll check some more....
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Roger
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Rod
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Re: Serial com in LBB/LB4 - what is different?
« Reply #12 on: Apr 28th, 2014, 3:25pm » |
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If you say that you can issue the commands via HyperTerminal like software then it can be achieved with LBB.
Couple of guesses, COM3 does not sound right. If you are using a USB based serial module its likely to be a higher number.
Use the Control Panel to double check what Com number and parameters the HyperTerminal like software is using.
Are you sure it just terminates with a CR? Some of these modules use a check digit routine appending a character to the end of the message.
Is the printer home made? who makes the HyperTerminal like software and can you post a link to their support pages?
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flotulopex
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Re: Serial com in LBB/LB4 - what is different?
« Reply #13 on: Apr 30th, 2014, 05:50am » |
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Thanks Rod,
I checked these points already: COM ports, speed and other parameters all are fine.
The com tool lets me choose between different terminators; I just needed to test them one by one to find the correct one, the only one that works is "CR".
The printer is this one http://www.bqreaders.com/gb/products/witbox.html.
I use the "Serial Communicator" software utility coming with this editor http://www.mecanique.co.uk/shop/index.php?route=product/category&path=20_62.
Until now, I sniffed the com port with this tool http://www.eltima.com/products/serial-port-monitor/. But it doesn't shows up any kind of special control er checking character.
I need to look into the transmitted data packet with my oscillo and maybe find if there is a difference.
But I don't have any protocol analyzing tool so if there is a difference, I'll still need to find out what exactly it is.
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Roger
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Richard Russell
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Re: Serial com in LBB/LB4 - what is different?
« Reply #14 on: Apr 30th, 2014, 08:33am » |
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on Apr 30th, 2014, 05:50am, flotulopex wrote:| The com tool lets me choose between different terminators; I just needed to test them one by one to find the correct one, the only one that works is "CR". |
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Evidently you don't have a detailed specification of the data format accepted by the printer, otherwise you would not have needed to perform that experiment. Can you not obtain such a specification from the printer manufacturer?
Richard.
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flotulopex
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Re: Serial com in LBB/LB4 - what is different?
« Reply #15 on: Apr 30th, 2014, 08:40am » |
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I did open a ticket at their support center.
Wait and see 
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Roger
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Rod
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Re: Serial com in LBB/LB4 - what is different?
« Reply #16 on: Apr 30th, 2014, 10:34am » |
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Having had a browse and I search I find very little on line help or discussion. Everyone seems to use the bundled software.
What I do see is that the software uses parameter files which would suggest that you just cant start printing to the printer you have to give it the setup info first.
I also see that DTR is part of the serial setup so you will need to take note of that. It seems to be used to force a reset. So it is one handshaking line that you may need to manage.
I don't understand why you are using this microprocessor serial tool. I would have thought that you just open the g code file in LBB and print it to the serial com port.
When you look at how the working software works, look at how it opens the port, what it does with the handshaking lines and what preliminary data it sends to the printer.
Of course proper technical help or documentation would ease the journey.
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