Manual

Appendix H 18-1
18 Appendix H When it Doesn’t Work:
Debugging
When you think you've done everything right but it still doesn't work, you need to debug.
Here we suggest a few ways of tracking down problems.
Nothing Happens
Check that the Automove power is on and that the RS-232C cable is firmly plugged in on
both ends. If you supplied your own RS-232C cable, check the wiring. (See "The RS-232C
Interface" in Chapter 5.)
Make sure that the host computer is actually sending characters to its RS-232C port. Check
the host language statements which talk to the RS-232C port. Check the manual for the
RS-232C interface to see if it needs to see a positive voltage on CTS (pin 5), DSR (pin 6) or
DCD (pin 8) before it will send anything. If necessary, you can get a positive voltage from
the Automove's RTS (pin 4). Try connecting a computer terminal, or another computer
emulating a terminal, in place of the Automove System to verify that the computer is really
sending characters, and that they make sense.
Check the baud rate and parity switches on the Automove System and on the host, to be sure
both are in agreement. Make sure the host is sending 7-bit ASCII characters with one or two
stop bits.
If you are using external motors, be sure the motor cables are correctly wired and are
plugged in firmly. See the Automove System Operation Manual for information about
wiring motor cables.
Be sure that you have not inadvertently pressed the STOP button or the PAUSE button on
the Automove System, or closed the external Emergency Stop switch. (Look for a blinking
light.) If the light in the STOP button is blinking, turn the Automove System off, then back
on; if the light is still blinking see the next paragraph. If the PAUSE light is blinking, press
the PAUSE button. If this does not turn the light off, either the button is broken or the
button has been locked out via a software FP command from the host.
If the Emergency Stop light is blinking at power up then the internal non-volatile memory
may be corrupt. See Appendix A for the procedure to fix this problem.
Caution: This erases your Download Sequences, personality parameters, and linearity
correction table!
If the light in the PAUSE button stays on solidly (i.e. without blinking) then one of two
things has happened: a) The FP command has locked out the PAUSE button and the button
has subsequently been pushed. To fix this, execute an FP that doesn't lock out PAUSE. b)
The STOP button is being pushed or an external Emergency Stop switch is currently
actuated. To clear the situation you may have to take corrective actions such as closing a
safety interlock switch. Check to be sure the Opto I/O cable is securely plugged into the I/O
connector on the Automove back panel.