pci-7340 initialization problem

[mechanical Engineer]

when i try to initialize my pci-7340, an error message appear said the following:

-70095(nimc_spcommunication timeouterror)

Internal error. There was an internal timeout while sending commands to the dsp.

Message Edited by ni-motion with labview on 05-26-2007 07:11 AM

[VuD]

Hello NI-Motion with LabVIEW,

If you do a search on our website http://www.ni.com with the keyword "70095",  the first result is titled:

Error -70095 (NIMC_DSPCommunicationsTimeoutError) and Error -70052 (NIMC_FPGAProgramError)

I would suggest looking through this document as it recommends updating the firmware on the motion controller.  Our most current version of the NI-Motion driver online is 7.5 which is linked from the same document that I have provided above.  I hope this helps.

Regards,

Vu

[shb]

Hello

I have got the same problem as ni-motion has. When I initialize the controller out of the application program or out of MAX, the error -70095 occurs. I have updated the motion control software to the newest Version, but the error remains. A lot of tests have been done already, no one was successful.

First some technical data of the system.

The original computers run Windows 2000. The application Program is written in LabVIEW 8.2.1. The Version of MAX is 4.3 and the one of the motion control driver is 7.6. There are three cards PCI-7344 with the same behavior.

The cards do not work on a Computer with differen Hardware, nor when the operating system is Windows XP. But one card works on a Computer from NI.

There is no success when I try to load different settings.

In the beginning, the error did sometimes not occure after the computer has been switched off for several hours. But this does not help any more.

I do not have an idea any more what I could do. Any help is most welcome.

Greetings

shb

[GiGe]

Hi shb,

What type of computer did you get from NI?  Also what type are the other computers?  If I understand correctly you are able to see the cards in MAX but then once you have selected your settings the boards won't initilize.  Or are you getting the 70095 error? 
Where the cards working before you upgraded your version of Motion?  Or were they working at any time? 
Also if you click on the 7340 in MAX what lights are on under the status tab?  Also if you click on the firmware tab is there an option to update the firmware?  If the option to up date the firmware is there then go ahead and do that.  Often this error occurs if the firmware hasn't been updated.  Keep me posted.

Regards,
GG

[shb]

Hi GG,

 

One of the cards was sent to NI. I do not know what kind of computer they used. Those used here are personal computers from IBM (IBM Think Centre). As mentioned in the last post, some different types were tried too.

Yes, the card is shown in MAX. When I try to initialize the card, I get the error -70095. The firmware is up to date, the problem must be somewhere else. I can not answer your question about the lights right now. I have to check this first.

The cards have an age of several years and have a long history. They worked once. The old computers they were in were replaced about a year ago. Motion control software was updated by me. The version was probably 7.3. The cards worked in the beginning. They started to fail initializing sometimes. A power cycle did not help. After the computer was switched off for several hours, everything was ok.

Time passed and the error occurred more often and did not disappear sometimes. For several weeks no one of the cards managed to initialize.

Thanks for your help. I'm looking forward to the next answer.

Greetings,

shb

[mechanical Engineer]

I try every thing, and I update every thing, and the update tab of the firmware was not working after updating which means that the last version is downloaded, I update the NI motion version to 7.5. I try other computers with higher configuration, and no response, Knowing that the controller was working good before the problem. I think that that the problem in the DSP chip found on the controller card.

[GiGe]

Hi shb,

Just another question.  Did you send the board to NI to get repaired?  If so did they repair anything, or did they find anything wrong with the board?  Do you have the board back or is it currently at NI with the RMA department?  If the board is still at NI I may be able to track it down if you have your service request number. 

Also have you tried resetting the device?  That is one other thing that I forgot to mention in my last post that we should try.  When you are resetting the device check the status lights.  Which of the status lights are on before and after the reset? 

Like Ni-Motion mentioned there may be something wrong with the DSP, but reseting the device will help us to see if that is the problem. 

Regards,
GG

[shb]

Hello GiGe,

I have never thought that the problem could have something to do with the external wiring. When the cable is unplugged while initializing the card, no error occurs. Do you or does anybody else know why this happens? The customer won't be verry happy when he has to unplug the cable once after every reboot.

Some details and some answers to your questions:

Reinitializing the card with the connected cable works. It only must be disconnected for the first initialization after power up and for the first after reset.

The cable is connected to an UMI-7764.

The board I have sent to NI is back now. They have not found an error. I will ask if they checked the board with an UMI-7764. If they did, the problem must be in the external wiring in the machine here.

After reset the state in MAX is the same as after power up. (The lights Ready to receive, Power up error and Modal error message are on, the Move Complete Status is 0x80.)

After a failed initialization the state is the same as afer a successful one. (The light Ready to receive is on, the Move Complete Status is 0x1E.)

Disconnecting the 5V power supply of the UMI does not help.

Greetings,

shb

[GiGe]

shb,
That is very interesting that the card initalizes when it is disconnected.  The next thing to check would be to try initializing when the UMI is connected to the controller and nothing else.  This will help us see if the external wiring is causing the problem or the UMI. 

Regards,
GG

[shb]

Hy GG,

It is the external wiring. More exactly, it is the wiring of the limit and home switches.

Because the voltage of the proximity switch is to high I use a bleeder. The voltage now is 0.2 volts for a low signal and 3.6 volts for a high level signal. These is compatible with TTL levels. The switches work properly. But this wiring prevents initializing. When I disconnect the supply to the switches, initializing passes.

Do you have an idea why this happens? What is checked when initializing which does not matter any more thereafter?

Greetings,

shb