fw7344 motion controller - problems with computer, MAX, and controller compatibility

[Merovingio]

- I'm trying to make the computer, with NI-Motion 7.0 and LabVIEW 8.0

installed, to correctly "see" an FW7344 controller and communicate with it

to control a stepper motor. The controller is plugged in to the computer with

a Firewire (1394 connection). Measurement and Automation Explorer has been

used, but willing to try any other alternatives because it does not see the

controller. In other words, MAX does not see the controller.

- NI-Motion 7.0 has been installed, along with LabVIEW 8.0.

Steps taken to arrive at the problem:

1. MAX is open, and "Devices and Interfaces" does not have a "Motion"

entry, as it should.

2. I open hardware manager through the control panel, and the controller is

seen by the computer.

3. Through connections, the Firewire-1394 connection port is working

properly and a device is plugged into it (the FW7344 controller).

- I have rebooted, changed computers, installed and reinstalled drivers and

software.

- No other NI products other than labview and the controller. The system

includes: computer, controller, motors drivers, and motors.

- No error messages as there is nothing to work with. The controller is not

seen by MAX.

Is there a substitute for MAX or NI-Motion that I could try in case they

don't work on the first tries?

Thank you for your help.

[Brandon M]

Merovingio,

You should first check to see that there are no newer versions of NI-Motion installed on your computer, as the FW-7344 is obsolete as of NI-Motion 7.1 and only works with NI-Motion 7.0 and earlier.  If a newer version of NI-Motion has been installed, it will have to be fully removed before the board will work.

If you can verify that the system only has NI-Motion 7.0 or older installed and the FW-7344 is still not recognized by MAX, then the problem may lie elsewhere.  There is a slim chance that if the device is very old, it will only be compatible with Motion 6 or older.

If the 7344 is not recognized by MAX on a machine that only has NI-Motion 6 installed (and has never had a newer version installed), then the hardware is probably damaged.

Please let me know if this helps!