Communication problem with Newport 8000 laser driver

[Herry1]

Hi,

Does anyone has the experience to communicate with Newport Model_8000_8008_Modular_Controller? I have an AT-GPIB/TNT card. It can find the controller address, but can not identify the instrument. In visa properties, the device status shows the device is working properly and can communicate with.  The setable attributes are as follows: Timeout: 3000; Maximum queue length:50; termination character:0x0A; termination char enable:VI_false; IO protocol: 1; Suppress End of reads: VI-false; GPIB Readdressing: VI-True; GPIB Unaddressing: VI_false; Allow DMA Transfers: VI_true; File Append Enable: VI_False;

From the manual, when sending a command to the controller, it puts <CR><LF><EOI> at the end of the command string. I tried different command to communicate with controller, such as *IDN?  *IDN?\r  *IDN?\n   *IDN?\r\n   LASer:LDI?   LASer:LDI?\r   LASer:LDI?\r\n .... But the communication still fail (read timeout error).  Write/read data from other instruments such as power meter works very well. Does anyone know what's the problem? Thanks.

[Dennis_Knutson]

Have you actually confirmed in the manual that the instrument supports the *IDN? command? The driver at http://sine.ni.com/apps/we/niid_web_display.download_page?p_id_guid=E3B19B3E94BA659CE034080020E74861 doesn't seem to have that command. Have you tried the driver?

[Herry1]

Hi,

I do check the manual. There is *IDN? command. I also tried other command such as LASer:LDI? listed in the manual. Another command I tried is LAS:I?, which has been used in the driver you linked. Thank you.

[Dennis_Knutson]

Does the driver work? I really have no experience with this controller so all I have to go by is what I can read in the driver. The driver is old and (the top level anyway) not especially well written. The driver uses the Old VISA Open which should be replaced but if you are trying to communicate in MAX with VISA, that shouldn't be a problem. The one think I notice is that after the VISA Open, the command "TERM 6" is sent to it. I have no idea what that does but you might see if that is something you need to do first.

Message Edited by Dennis Knutson on 04-20-2006 01:49 PM

[Albert.Geven]

Hi

I modified part of that driver and of course willing to share.

Be sure not to communicate too fast with this one because it hangs up and the only way to recover seems to be power down and on again.

I'll check my software and see what I can post in a few minutes, It was for a very specific application so this might not be enough for you.

[Albert.Geven]

Here it is:

It is based on a functional global and this one has several functions.

You have to call init first and then what you like and at the end exit.

The init uses our installed boards to check if the system is ok, I think you have to change that.

If you have questions mail, or reply to this message. 

[Herry1]

In Newport manual, the command TERM is to select the message terminator type for GPIB. 0: <CR><NL> with END; 1: <CR><NL>; 2<CR> with END; 3:<CR>; 4:<NL> with END;5: <NL>; 6 END with last byte; 7: no terminator. End meas assert EOI line with the last byte. <NL> is equivalent to <LF>

I tried TERM0~7 in the init.Vi and the Equipment Available.Vi, Query.Vi. There is an error "wait for message visa" and error code is -1240. There is no response string in the Query.Vi.

The error when run Laser Panel Using VISA.Vi in download labview driver V7 is "No installed modules".  It seems the main problem is still the communication. Any suggestions? Thanks.

[Albert.Geven]

Hi

Did you run my vi?

This one gives a message unexpected hardware found if the returned string is <> what it expects.

How is your address formed, did you see the instrument in max?

[Herry1]

Hi, Albert,

I run your init.Vi and Equipment Available.Vi. The error is as Iisted in last message. The address of the driver is 4 in instrument handle format.  MAX can find the address but can not identify the instrument.Thanks.