CNCDrive wrote:Did you ever try to connect the controller to a different computer?
I have a strong feeling that the computer has somekind of problem with the USB ports/chipset or somekind of software (Windows) issue.
I have a brand new HP Pavilion Win 10 64 Bit PC which was on my list of next for testing the motion controller if the hub and motion controller does not stay working as it should.
So far I have recycled the PC 3 times last night and all worked. I just powered up the PC this morning, it's been off for about 12 hours and it is below 60 degrees in the shop right now. The motion controller connected and showed up in the USB section of the device manager. So I will, of course, keep checking. If I get three days of it functioning, I will consider it resolved.
Unfortunately, I will not know where the problem lies and neither will you, just that the system is functional. If I didn't have to wait for 1.5 - 2 weeks to exchange this unit, I would go the exchange route as I do not have complete faith in this unit, that is, that it won't fail in the future. I just do not want to be without a machine for that length of time. I still have the BOB coming in and I will use it to further isolate the power sources and loads from each other (negating ground loops) as a possible cause as well.
What I do know is that the BOB I am using is not optically isolated and all the pins feed straight through to the other connector with only some pull up resistors and capacitors on the input lines and some filtering capacitors on the output lines. Worked fine with using the printer port on the Xp machine, but it may be a problem on a more sophisticated system such as a motion controller. With that being said, the Motion Controller would not connect even when it was not connected to any external devices such as switches or the stepper controller including the BOB, just hanging out there at the end of the USB cable. Just trying to remove any concerns and improve reliability.
I am not trying to find fault with the controller, I just want my machine able to function. I am reasonably sure it is not the cables and I don't have a clue as to what side of the equation is causing the problem, but if the USB Hub resolves it, I am satisfied. FYI I still have not powered the hub.
I only question the PC not being the culprit because
all of the other (3) USB devices are working flawlessly. The PC is not a wimp either 4 core AMD, 12 GB of memory operating freq of 2.9 Mhz Windows 7. That does not mean that something on the PC side is not causing a problem and it could be that one of the USB devices is causing a problem.
I know this is lengthy, but I don't want to leave any stones unturned, to the best of my ability and resources.