Communication problem with Shimadzu Tensile Tester

[Shima488]

I´m trying to connect to a Shimadzu AGS-D Tensile Tester, with 80's  IEEE Standard488-1975.

When I try from the Interactive Control under M&A Explorer...I can control the Local/Remote State (I see it in a LCD but is only the state of one hardware line)If execute an IBN command....the result is true...so, the equipment is there, but if I try to send a command writing IBWRT "C." ...the first time an Ok is showed in the soft but nothing happened. the second time the same...the third time an ENOL is showed as error !

The protocol manua is atttached for reference 

The manual shows a set of GPIB Interface Functions:

1  SH   Source Handshake.

2  AH  Aceptor Handshake.

3  T     Talker

4  L     Listener.

5  SR  Service request

6  RL  Remote/Local

7  PP  Parallel poll (no function)

8  DC  Device Clear.

9  DT   Device Trigger.

10C     Controller (no function)

What are them ?

Could the shimadzu respond to a simply ibwrt command ?????

Regards Ernesto......my email eweisz@gmail.com

[Jason W]

Hey Ernesto,

Thank you for contacting National Instruments.  The problem with communicating with you instrument is that is was built on the old 488.1 IEE standard and our software, including Measurement and Automation Explorer is built on the current IEE standard 488.2.  Therefore we can't guarantee that you will be able to communicate with your device using our software.  I do however have one suggestion you can try.  If you are receiving a timeout error (the ENOL error you are getting) when you are using the 488.1 equivalent (i.e. ibwrt, ibrd) you could try using the new line character "\n" at the end of each write when using ibwrt.   This new line character will go at the end of your command, so it will look like ibwrt "command\n"  If this suggestion does not work then you probably will not be able communicate with your instrument using our software.

I hope this helps,
Jason W
Application Engineer
National Instruments

[Shima488]

Using  ibwrt("command\n") is the same as without the \n in this case.

I understand that we are talking about different standards and the advantages of the 488.2 is great, but, I have read too that the new standard revisions are always compatible with the first prerogatives of the 70's. Is really so?

If any can take a look to the attached pdf, and can make a sugestion about how to try comunicate using the interactive control....Is Welcome!!!   

I hope You can help me!    

Regards

[AnalogKid2DigitalMan]

Shima488-

No PDF attached

[Jason W]

Hey Ernesto,

After looking into this issue further, I came across this documentation on our website (linked below).  It talks about our 488.2 software not being compatible with 488.1 (or what used to be called 488) boards.  Therefore the Interactive Control in MAX will not accept 488.1 commands.  Since the Interactive Control is a part of the 488.2 NI software it will only accept 488.2 commands.  I don't think there is anyway around this.

http://digital.ni.com/public.nsf/allkb/EA49F8FD2152D351862562C80055FF4F

Sorry,
Jason W
Application Engineer
National Instruments

[Dennis_Knutson]

I think that link does not apply. It refers to using a current driver for an NI 488.2 controller with an older 488.1 controller. It does not say that a current controller cannot talk to an instrument designed as 488.1. I know for a fact that existing controllers can communicate with 488.1 instruments. You may have to change the default termination (not all 488.1 instruments use EOI) and you may have to change the timing, but the low level ibwrt and ibrd commands should still function. The 488.2 specification includes all of the 488.1 hardware interface capabilities.

[Shima488]

Hi guys!

The attached document I refer is on the first post (Shimadzu AGS-D GPIB1.pdf ).

In this document clearly the (EOI) is the correct delimiter and, because of the binary protocol used, there is no mention about using Carriage returns or line feeds!

The manual says that the minimun timing will be set to 2 uSec ....I did.

The real question is how to write a command.....using ibcmd o ibwrt?

Is Interactive Control the right software to debug with?

Thanks & Regards.

[Dennis_Knutson]

You should be using ibwrt. The ibcmd is used to configure the GPIB bus and not send commands to instruments.

[Shima488]

Hi,

A simple question:

Can I control the lines to make a simple comunicattion as described on page 3 of the document attached in the first post?

Or definitively the card and/or software are incompatible with my 488.1 device ?

Has anyone looked at the document I've attached ? Any ideas ?

Regards  

[Dennis_Knutson]

That appears to me as the standard 3-wire handshaking that did not change from 488.1 to 488.2. All of this will be handled by the controller's driver. What may be the problem is you trying to send the binary with the interactive control in MAX. If you right click on the instrument and select 'Communicate with Instrument', I don't think that window can be configured to send the binary commands you need. With Tools>488.2>Interactive Control, you may be able to but I haven't had to use this in many years and I am not sure how you would do this.