visa panel test for smc 100

[Pen]

Hi,

I am trying to test SMC 100(a serial port device) using visa test panel.The

problem

is that i am unable to send commands to SMC. It works fine with the

software

they

provided. I checked the RS 232 cable, the port settings of my COM and my

device. But i

am unable to figure out the solution.

When i send commands the SMC (Stepper motor)  doesnt move but the return

status

is 0.

Also when i try Viread, it always shows a error BFFF0015(timeout error). I

am

also

using appropriate termination characters.

Please help

[Albert.Geven]

how did you check the cable?

[Pen]

yes i did........its fine

[Albert.Geven]

HOW did you test, and is it a NUL modem or straight connection?

[Dennis_Knutson]

Use portmon to see what the vendor's program is sending and compare it to what you are sending.

You have not actually said what command you are sending, what termination character you are using, how you are specifying the termination character. You have not provided the instrument manual or a link to it.

[Pen]

sorry for the late reply....its a straight connection

[Pen]

I have encountered something interesting when i tested using portmon, there difference in the queue sizes. timeouts and handflow Xon and Xoff limits.(I have underlined them in my log file). And also when i execute the command using VISA test panel, it doesnt get executed but when i close VISA and open the user's software the command that i gave earlier using VISA test panel gets executed.

I am attching the user's manual, please checkout programming section for commands and syntax. As far as i know i am using the correct syntax 

Please help.

Thanks 

[Pen]

I am sorry i couldnt upload the log file due to some error.

The following notable differences i noticed,when i send commands using VISA test panel: 

354857  0.00000000  nimxs.exe  IOCTL_SERIAL_SET_HANDFLOW  Serial0  Shake:1 Replace:43 XonLimit:64 XoffLimit:64

354857  0.00000283  SUCCESS  

354862  0.00000000  nimxs.exe  IOCTL_SERIAL_SET_QUEUE_SIZE  Serial0  InSize: 640 OutSize: 640

354862  0.00000074  SUCCESS  

354863  0.00000000  nimxs.exe  IOCTL_SERIAL_SET_TIMEOUTS  Serial0  RI:-1 RM:0 RC:0 WM:0 WC:500

354863  0.00000098  SUCCESS  

When i send commands using SMC  software:

354873  0.00000000  SMC100.exe  IOCTL_SERIAL_SET_TIMEOUTS  Serial0  RI:-1 RM:-1 RC:55 WM:0 WC:500

354873  0.00000199  SUCCESS

354887  0.00000000  SMC100.exe  IOCTL_SERIAL_SET_HANDFLOW  Serial0  Shake:1 Replace:43 XonLimit:1024 XoffLimit:1024

354887  0.00000278  SUCCESS  

354888  0.00000000  SMC100.exe  IOCTL_SERIAL_SET_QUEUE_SIZE  Serial0  InSize: 4096 OutSize: 2048

354888  0.00000069  SUCCESS  

The link to user manual for SMC 100 PP:

http://www.newport.com/images/webDocuments-EN/images/14444.pdf

please check out the commands and their syntax in programming section.

Thanks 

[Albert.Geven]

I now understand that the vendor program works with the serial cable. So the cable is correct. And I  know now how you tested it.

Attach your vi so we can look at wire or other problems.

I don't believe that the initialisation is a real problem. Smaller buffers are OK in a parallel programming environment.

But the endcharacters have to be the same.