Thermotron 8800

[plasmaphase]

I'm attempting to control a Thermotron 8800 via the LabView drivers:

http://sine.ni.com/apps/utf8/niid_web_display.model_page?p_model_id=2778

I've had considerable luck doing all sorts of comms and control via RS232, so I know I'm communicating correctly with the device.  I've read status, turned on and off the chamber light, etc...  Now I'm trying to do a basic Test setup with a few intervals to excersize the chamber, but am not able to run a program I've made.  Below is the block diagram and front panel results:

The order of the blocks from left to right are:

1. TH8800-8200 Initialize.vi
2. TH8800-8200 Clear Error Info.vi
3. TH8800-8200 Set Program/Intervals.vi
4. TH8800-8200 Error Message.vi
5. TH8800-8200 Set Initial Inverval Values.vi
6. TH8800-8200 Send Last Error Code.vi
7. TH8800-8200 Set Inverval Values.vi (called twice)
8. TH8800-8200 Run Program Mode.vi
9. TH8800-8200 Send Last Error Code.vi
10. TH8800-8200 Get Stop Code.vi

Below is a screenshot of the results/outputs on the front panel:

When I run this, there aren't any obvious errors, however, the chamber never runs, or does anything.  Anybody have any suggestions?  Thanks in advance!

[montevan]

Please post this vi or a code snippet png 

and I will trace it and see what is wrong...

Monte VanNortwick

[plasmaphase]

Here's the VI.

[montevan]

It is working now.

There was a bug in "Set Program/Intervals.vi" so I replaced it with  "Send Instruction to Instrument.vi" which is a very generic vi.

Also, the number of intervals was set to 3 and should have been 2.  The initial interval does not count as an interval.

Please see attached for a working vi...

[plasmaphase]

montevan, thank you for taking time to look at this and make corrections, however, it's still not working on my system.  All of the commands are accepted without error (as did previous vi) but my Thermotron remains idle after all commands are sent.  

Any other ideas?

[plasmaphase]

In the manual I have it shows error 10 as being:

Error Code 10
Command name: Illegal program number
Description: The value sent to the 7800 exceeds the program number range (1-10).

I wonder if there's an issue with the "Run Program Mode.vi"?

Also, it appears that my Thermotron is a 7800 and has been set to accept 8800 commands.  Would this change things?

[montevan]

Still not working?

Are you sure you are using com4?

8800 baud rate set to 115200?

Try changing the program name from GSETestOne to just Test.

Did you change the number of intervals to 2?

I tried it here and it worked fine.  But, I am using an 8800 , com1, 9600 baud, Program Name :  Test

with 2 intervals.

Everything else is the same as your code.

The 7800 does not recognize many 8800 commands.

Also, the 7800 has no concept of program names...only numbers 1 thru 10

For some reason, I thought you were using an 8800.  Try changing the program name from GSETestOne to just 1 and see if that works.

If you are still having trouble, I will find an old 7800 and try it here.

[plasmaphase]

When I run in highlight mode all of the responses from the transmitted commands are OK, so I think I have proper comms, but I guess I could be wrong.  I've turned on and off the chamber light with the TH8800 command drivers, so I know I at least have the baud, cabling, etc... wired up correctly.  I'm thinking my Thermotron will accept some, but not all, commands from the 8800 set?  The reason I'm using the 8800 set is because under the setup menu, it shows 8800 commands as a drop down option, though we've never done extensive comms like this before.

I did the changes you mentioned without success (commands seem to be accepted, but nothing happens).  Maybe I revert to the 7800 LabView drivers?

[montevan]

If you are using a 7800, I would suggest using 7800 LabView drivers.

I will try the code here on a 7800 and let you know my results...

[montevan]

I have attached a slightly modified VI that works on a 7800 using 8800 labview drivers.

It uses serial port com2 at 19200 baud so you will have to change those parms to match your hardware.

Note that I changed the Send Instruction to Instrument string to:

PROG1,test,2

which sends the new program to program slot 1 and gives it a name called "test" that is 2 intervals long.

I also changed the Run Program Mode string to:

1

because you cannot start programs on a 7800 by specifying the program name.  You must use the program slot number that has a range of 1 to 10.