Denford Mirac PC wont connect

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cfmotorsports
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Denford Mirac PC wont connect

Post by cfmotorsports » Wed 14 Sep , 2011 22:18 pm

Hello

I have a 1992 Mirac PC, a few weeks ago the contolling PC decided that it didnt want to work anymore. I have now replaced the PC but am now going through pain trying to set it back up again. I have all the software back on the computer to run the machine (Mirac and Fanuc) and the RS232 and Desktop Tutor plugged into COM 1 and 2.

for some reason I cannot get them to talk to each other.

does anyone have an idea as to what I need to do in order to get my machine working?

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bradders
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Re: Denford MIrac PC wont connect

Post by bradders » Thu 15 Sep , 2011 5:57 am

Our records are poor in the early 90's but the control was a GSM LCB3 and the manufacturer is now out of business. The software was DEN V2.06 and our best guess is Mirac.zip from the link below.
http://website.denford.ltd.uk/support/9 ... s-software

There might be a manual here
http://www.denford.ltd.uk/index.php?opt ... &Itemid=52

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Re: Denford MIrac PC wont connect

Post by Martin » Thu 15 Sep , 2011 8:56 am

Try it without the desk top tutor connected & plug the RS232 in to both com ports until you get the software booted.

It may be worth booting directly in to Dos mode if it is a newish opperating system.

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Re: Denford MIrac PC wont connect

Post by cfmotorsports » Sun 18 Sep , 2011 21:52 pm

thanks for the replys

I have downloaded all the software (Mirac, FLStep, FanucL and LD etc...) the only software that does not load is the Mirac online programming from Mirac.zip, it is giving me an error in dos of Error 128. the offline programming works great and was just like before but it will not connect. I am running Windows 98 and using DOS to run the programs. I have tried putting the RS232 in both of me COM ports and have had no success.

whew getting frustrated.

by chance do I need to edit any of the MIRAC files so it can communicate? if so any ideas on what needs to be editted?

again appreciate any feedback.

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Re: Denford MIrac PC wont connect

Post by bradders » Mon 19 Sep , 2011 6:51 am

Do a search for .opt and .go files and check out this link

viewtopic.php?f=36&t=2545&p=9266&hilit=.opt#p9266

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Re: Denford MIrac PC wont connect

Post by Martin » Mon 19 Sep , 2011 23:04 pm

Are you using the correct RS232 lead?

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Re: Denford MIrac PC wont connect

Post by cfmotorsports » Wed 21 Sep , 2011 2:40 am

thanks for the info, I am using the RS232 lead that was working prior to my computer malfunction. I have no reason to believe it is faulty, but I will check it out.


regarding my .go file here is what it looks like

IBM.RS2 2
$3F8 4 COM 1
$ 3E8 4 Machine
Denford.KBD 1
1 8.2 $2F8 3
VGA.CRT 0
Mirac.APP

My FLStep is the same except for the extension on the last line is FLStep.APP


I believe this is the issue as I havd the machine running prior to me having to reload my entire computer.

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Re: Denford MIrac PC wont connect

Post by cfmotorsports » Wed 21 Sep , 2011 3:05 am

here is my .opt file

AUTOERROR 0
DRAGMARKING 0
DISPLAYSIZE 3
Narrowsimbox 0
utils_menu_1 Dos Access
Utils_go_1 Dos
Utils_menu_2 turning designer
Utils_go_2 Idesign
HIGHFEED 1200
SLAVE_XDATUMFEED 1200
SLAVE_ZDATUMFEED 1200
MIRAC_SDEVICE MACHINE
{SLAVE_SPINALFACTOR 1.2
MINTOOL 1
MAXTOOL 8
DC_BRAKE 0
(Tctype Z
MACHINE EXTENTZ 220
MOVERANGE 2 220
SLAVE_BANK 1
CHUCKCENTREX 5


Hope you know what these say because it is mostly foreign to me :)

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Re: Denford MIrac PC wont connect

Post by bradders » Wed 21 Sep , 2011 8:45 am

Have you got the serial No of the Mirac PC, i may be able to get the original .opt and .go files to compare with yours

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Re: Denford MIrac PC wont connect

Post by cfmotorsports » Wed 21 Sep , 2011 14:55 pm

Yes I do, it is E0 4033

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Re: Denford MIrac PC wont connect

Post by Martin » Wed 21 Sep , 2011 20:04 pm

I presume this machine has a GSM LCB3 control card so will not work on thr Flstep software.

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Re: Denford MIrac PC wont connect

Post by bradders » Thu 22 Sep , 2011 8:35 am

Martin. It is a GSM - LCB 3 control with software version 929-Den v2.06. do you know which software this is ?

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Re: Denford MIrac PC wont connect

Post by cfmotorsports » Sat 24 Sep , 2011 22:32 pm

this mirac software is version 2.5 should I be using something different?

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Re: Denford MIrac PC wont connect

Post by Martin » Sun 25 Sep , 2011 7:32 am

I think the correct version is either 2.24 or 2.25.

What does it say on the serial plate?

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Re: Denford MIrac PC wont connect

Post by cfmotorsports » Tue 27 Sep , 2011 23:05 pm

it doesnt, version running is 2.26 according to the Dos program.

oh why cant i get this to work.

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Re: Denford Mirac PC wont connect

Post by Martin » Wed 28 Sep , 2011 7:14 am

What version of Windows are you running from?

Are the com ports set as Com 1 & Com2?

Can you boot directly in to Dos?

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Re: Denford Mirac PC wont connect

Post by Denford Admin » Wed 28 Sep , 2011 9:09 am

I think you need to go back and tell us what you have done from the beginning, what was working and what you are now trying to get working...

What spec and operating system was the old, working PC ? DOS ?
What is the new PC ? Are you trying to run it through windows XP ?
What errors are you getting ? post some screenshots...
Have you checked the new RS232 ports are working and enabled in BIOS ?
You'll also need to double check the IRQ's are the same in BIOS for each com port you're trying to use.
If the old software worked, I don't see why you should be downloading and trying anything else as that'll just confuse the issue - as far as I can tell, all you've done is replace the PC ?

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Re: Denford Mirac PC wont connect

Post by cfmotorsports » Thu 29 Sep , 2011 0:32 am

cool, I can do that.

the old machine was a Pentium 2 900 running windows 98 running Mirac through the DOS prompt.
the new PC is a pentium 4 3.0 running windows 98 and I am trying to run Mriac through the DOS Prompt

when I open Mirac I am getting the error <error 128 software abborted>
I can run FanucL but only in offline programming

the connectors for that machine are as follows
RS232 - COM 1
Desktop tutor - COM2
I have reversed the order as well to see if that was the issue
Com ports show in Windows as well as BIOS as opperational

I am not using the Harddrive from the old PC as it was fried as well, I have freshly loaded all the software on the new machine and I believe this is where my issue is.

I have pictures coming for you.

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Re: Denford Mirac PC wont connect

Post by cfmotorsports » Thu 29 Sep , 2011 0:50 am

Image
this is how everything is plugged in
Image
BIOS showing Serial port connections
Image
Serial plate for the machine
Image
Error message when opening Mirac, happens in True DOS and through Windows
Image
.go file
Image
.opt file
Image
FanucL offline program if I coulod get it to work with this it would be awesome.
Image
The machine

cfmotorsports
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Re: Denford Mirac PC wont connect

Post by cfmotorsports » Thu 29 Sep , 2011 0:54 am

What version of Windows are you running from? windows 98

Are the com ports set as Com 1 & Com2? yes

Can you boot directly in to Dos? yes but I have the same problems.

I am glad I am not the only one stumped on this. :)

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