Communication Issue for AXBB-E Ethernet Controller

[JohnnyCimino]

Hi Fellow CNC Enthusiasts,

I am in need of assistance.

I am using UCCNC Software to communicate to a AXBB-E Ethernet Motion Controller / Breakout Board.

My CNC Machine runs fine both motion and spindle, however, from time to time the machine stops and I get the following message:

Communication error:
The application lost the connection with the motion controller device. Check the connection. The application is closing now! Save Offsets?

On exiting from this message the CNC software shuts down. Sometimes I can restart the software right away. Sometime I need to power off and on the AXBB-E to get the software to start again (as it will want to start in Demo Mode). In some cases I've had to reboot the computer before it would start again.

The Controller and Software were loaded recently so should have latest versions. I connect the controller directly to my laptop ethernet port with a cross-over cable (CAT6). I set a static IP address 10.10.10.10 with a submask of 255.255.255.0. I can ping the AXBB-E without issue.

My notebook is as follows:

Toshiba Notebook running Windows 7 Home Premium with Service Pack 1, Intel Core5 2430M CPU @ 2.4 GHz, 6 GB RAM
The Graphics card shows Intel HD Graphics Family

I've tried the following (one at a time) but the issue did not resolve

1. changed the cross over cable
2. added a ferrite to the cable (to attenuate possible EM noise)
3. de-energized the VFD and ran motion commands only
4. played with the Ethernet port properties. Disabled Energy Efficient Mode and Enabled "Wake on Magic Packet"
5. checked that DC power supply V0 is distinct from AC GRND.
6. on loss of communication I checked the voltage on the AXBB-E and all is as expected at 24V and 5V.

Any suggestions would be appreciated as I've consumed a lot of hours in trying to resolve this myself.

[ZASto]

So, it looks that you have a network controller in the note book going to sleep.
I guess that you should find somewhere in the network controller properties option to disable powering off.

[JohnnyCimino]

When you say "network controller" what are you referring to? Is this the actual AXBB-E device?

The loss of communication can occur while the machine is in motion so not sure why it would be going to sleep.

[JAZZCNC]

I suspect it's a PC Ethernet card issue rather than the controller. We fit AXBB-E and UC300 controllers to all the machines we build and they are 100% rock-solid stable and never had one Ethernet issue which was down to the controller. Can you try another PC.?

[A_Camera]

When you say "network controller" what are you referring to? Is this the actual AXBB-E device?

The loss of communication can occur while the machine is in motion so not sure why it would be going to sleep.

The network controller in your laptop. ... but it can also be the energy saving alternatives of the PC itself. I don't know what is that "wake on magic packet" means but if your network controller is not allowed to be switched off at all then you should not need any wakeup. It sounds very much like the others said, a PC problem, not the AXBB-E.

[m_c]

I can ping the AXBB-E without issue.

Just to clarify, can you still ping the AXBB-E after the problem happens?



5. checked that DC power supply V0 is distinct from AC GRND.


Which DC power supply?
The control DC power 0V should be tied to GND to avoid floating voltages, although most control boxes will usually have some component that ties it to GND anyway.

Regardless, ethernet itself is fully isolated, so voltage mismatches shouldn't directly affect it.

Have you tried power cycling the AXBB-E, instead of the computer?

As has been suggested, I'd try a different computer, as that will at least eliminate one possibility.
If you've not got access to another computer, try creating a new power profile, with all power saving options turned off. On laptops, some power saving features can appear to do strange things.



For reference, Wake on Magic Packet, is just Wake On LAN. Shouldn't make any difference to how the ethernet port functions with the computer on.

[Kitwn]

Have a look at post #4 in the following thread which directs you to the event viewer in Windows. You might find something similar in the records.

I thought I'd fixed it by changing the USB port my pendant was plugged into but then it happened again and I gave up trying to fix the problem on the laptop and reverted to using an old W7 desktop machine which has been rock solid ever since. You could also have a look at the UCCNC forum.

http://www.mycncuk.com/threads/14698-UCCNC-shuts-down-unexpectedly

[JohnnyCimino]

Hello Forum Members,

Thank-you for all the feedback to date. I wanted to add one more piece of information that may help with resolving.

I opened the UCxxx Utility (Version 1.8) and completed a scan. The Scan found the AXBB board (see attached picture). I highlighted the row and then "Test Connection" and got an error indicating the IP range or netmask setting is wrong. See attached picture for screen shot of erro.

I will wait for feedback based on this new information before proceeding to the next step which is to take my notebook to the computer store to check and possibly replace the ethernet port and card (unfortunately I do not have a second computer that I can try).

Yesterday I was able to ping 10.10.10.10 successfully. Today for unknow reasons I cannot. The UCCNC Software is only coming up in Demo mode.30758

[A_Camera]

Did you try to contact CNC Drive? Perhaps they know something we don't.

[JohnnyCimino]

The issue is now resolved and my connection with the AXBB-E is stable. Here is what I did to resolve the issue:

1. I was sharing the 5V DC Power Supply with several devices. I installed a dedicated power supply that feeds just the AXBB-E board. I believe the AXBB-E is sensitive to any fluctuation in voltage.

2. I updated the configuration as follows (please note that on my system I have the AXXBB-E board connected via a cross-over cable directly to my notebook's ethernet card): My ethernet port IP address was changed from a dynamically set IP to a static IP. This is exactly as per the manual. The static IP is 10.10.10.10 with a mask of 255.255.255.0. What I was confused about is that this is the IP address of the Ethernet Card (and not the AXBB-E Card). I then used the UCXX utility that comes with UCCNC to set the AXBB-E card IP to 10.10.10.11 with the same submask 255.255.255.0. This essentially establishes a local subnet consisting of the ethernet card and the AXXB-E card. After this revised configuration the "test connection" button on the UCXX utility is successful and CMD pings to both 10.10.10.10 and 10.10.10.11 are successful.

Hope this helps other users. It consumed many hours of head scratching to resolve.

[dazp1976]

That is basically what it tells you to do in the manual for my UC300ETH.
The AXBB-E is based on the 300 controller.
Reading the instructions fo the 300 may have helped.
Although, it's likely the power supply config change made a difference. Is your 5v supply strong enough for all your devices?.

[JohnnyCimino]

Page 18 of the AXBB-E manual indicates:

We recommend to use a power supply with at least 500mAmps of current capability of the
power supply. More current may be required if more I/Os are used on the unisolated port
and on the IDC26 port.

I selected a power supply that is rated for 1 Amp so I should be good. I don't use any IDC26 extension ports.

[JAZZCNC]

1. I was sharing the 5V DC Power Supply with several devices. I installed a dedicated power supply that feeds just the AXBB-E board. I believe the AXBB-E is sensitive to any fluctuation in voltage.

Not that I know about.? Never had any issues with the 5v side other than it doesn't like 24Vdc...:whistle::whistle::sorrow:

2. I updated the configuration as follows (please note that on my system I have the AXXBB-E board connected via a cross-over cable directly to my notebook's ethernet card): My ethernet port IP address was changed from a dynamically set IP to a static IP. [/QUOTE]

Don't understand why you had this issue because every AXBB-E controller we fit talks directly to the PC using a cross-over cable and is set up using a static IP10,10,10,10 mask 255,255,255,0 and we fit lots of them all with this exact setup, never had to use the utility.

[dazp1976]

Page 18 of the AXBB-E manual indicates:

We recommend to use a power supply with at least 500mAmps of current capability of the
power supply. More current may be required if more I/Os are used on the unisolated port
and on the IDC26 port.

I selected a power supply that is rated for 1 Amp so I should be good. I don't use any IDC26 extension ports.

Fair enough.
I went for a 3A for my 300 type because I have 2 Ucbb's powered off IDC26, an 8 channel relay board, 8 channel opto module (5v in-24 out) for servo drive switches, and then there's the stepper driver PD & En connections.
It all adds up.


So you just have the AXBB-E alone on the 5v now then?.
Now you've got it going.... Enjoy ��

[Neale]

Must admit that I was confused about the device and PC addresses at first when I fitted my UC300ETH. I set the addresses the wrong way round as well. And that's after a working life in IT and a lot in IP networking! I think that the manual is a little bit ambiguous and as long as you read it the right way - or have done it once and see what they mean! - it's OK. Anyway, good that it's working, and don't feel bad about getting it wrong. Now, where's the red face icon when you need it?