Denford Software & Machines

Hi, I have just acquired a 2004 Microturn for my school and everything appears to be fine apart from the fact that it will not communicate with the computer. I have scoured the forums and appreciate all of the comments about similar communication issues, but am yet to solve the problem. I have tried 3 or 4 different cables and followed the pin out diagrams given on the forum. I have tried every combination of Microturn lathe in the settings, and every Com port configuration. The board in the back has a red LED which shows the number 7 with a flashing dot. Any help or advice welcome.

Are you connecting to the computer via a com port or using a USB - Com Port adapter?

bradders wrote:For clarification

All Denford's machines (With the exception of Micromill's and Microturn's) have RS232 (Null Modem) cable connections between them and their PC's.

Micromill's and Microturn's have signal to signal adapter cables i.e. TD - TD, RD to RD, RTS to RTS etc, as the RS232 wiring crossovers are carried out internally on the machines themselves.

A typical external Micromill and Microturn cable would be

download/file.php?id=3337

Hi, thanks for the prompt response. We are using a full RS232 cable, 9 pin to 25 from the computer to the Microturn. This morning we found another pin out diagram showing a 9 pin at the computer end going directly to the 9 pin at the Baldor board end. We then found a cable to try this, but still got no communication. We thought that we were getting somewhere when we changed the 'control' number to 0 in settings and the software showed that it was looking at the COM ports. It mentioned something about MINT but then still failed to communicate.

It would have been shipped with a external cable like this,

http://www.lindy.co.uk/cables-adapters- ... emale-p528

You could try MintFinder.exe which should be in the VRTurning directoryin C:\Program Files (x86)\Denford\VRTurning

Hi, thanks again for the help. I have run 'Mintfinder.exe' and it shows a progress bar on the screen which stops about 75% through its search and then just hangs the machine up. We have also now tried updated software downloaded from Denford, but are still not getting any communication between computer and lathe.

Can you check what version of software is on the eprom on the Denstep board. It should be a V2.1 or V2.0 or a Beta.

Hi, sorry please excuse my ignorance on this issue, but I have had a good look at what appears to be the main board (the one with the seven segment display) and can't find any eprom information or version number. There is a large IC with a silver label stuck on the top with Denford BETA on it.

That is the Eprom with the correct software on to connect to VRTurning. Can you check the RS232 cable?

I presume you are not running through Windows 8 or Windows 10?

Thanks again for your hep and advice with this. We have tried 3 different computers, one did have Windows 7, but the other 2 have got Windows XP on them. I understand the RS232 problems and think that I now have a cable that checks out exactly as the one in the diagram posted on the forum. We have also tried a direct cable from the computer to the baldor board, without success. I am starting to worry now that the machine itself is faulty.

Where are you located? UK? Can you send the Denstep top card in for testing?

Hi, we are in the North East of the country in Gateshead, so sending the card for testing would not be a problem. Have you any idea how much this would cost, especially if it needs repaired or replaced? Thanks

I would be able to test it for free if you cover the return postage.

That's great, I really appreciate it. I will make the arrangements to get it posted off.

Hi, please can I have your address and contact details to send off the board.

Thanks

Denford Ltd,
Armytage Road,
Brighouse,
West Yorkshire,
HD6 1QF

Thanks.

Martin, I have packaged up and posted the board this morning. Thank you again for testing it and I look forward to hearing the outcome.

We are closing for Easter until Wednesday. I will keep a eye out & let you know the results.

I could not connect to it either when on test. I have swapped the card & the cable.

Martin

I can't thank you enough for all of your help with this matter. I have just replaced the card and the cables and the machine worked first time. We are now happily playing with the lathe and experimenting with software and files. Thank you so much.