LaserCad Software doesen't communicated with controller

[Jamie]

I have recently installed the latest version of lasercad 6.77 and the software opens fine but when I try to connect to the controller via the USB Window 8 states the USB device driver is not recognized. I also used the port connection dialog box in the lasercad software and selected findcom button but also states communication failed. Any help would e great.

[Tech_Marco]

Jamie

Did you una6all the 64bit driver that I sent you
You need to install it separate.

Marco

[Jamie]

Marco,

I install the driver and still doesn't communicate with the controller. I see the driver was installed in the following directory:
"c:\users\jbowen\appsdata\temp". I noticed it was installed previously so I also removed the drivers and reinstalled with no success . Secondly I went to device drivers in windows and changed the directory to the directory stated above and didn't seem to work as well. Could I be having issues with the old lasercad software which may not have been uninstalled properly?

[Tech_Marco]

After install the LaserCad, you may want to delete the folder "LaserCad". When you installed the LaserCad, it asked if you want to install a driver. Choose "no". Then, install the 64bit driver instead.

Both Windows7 and 8 are very picky to USB. You may need to change the USB port to other and keep testing. Make sure device manager is able to detect the new devices once the DSP is plug in

Marco

[Jamie]

Marco,

I have done what you have suggested and the device manager is not able to detect the new device once the DSP is plug in. Every time I plug the DSP into the computer is says it doesn't recognize the device.

[Tech_Marco]

Which USB port you used to connect yo PC. There are two USB on the DSP mainboard. Don't mix it up

If it worked before, it couldn't be the DSP board


Marco

[Jamie]

Marco,

I am using the same USB port on the DSP that I have always used and even replaced the cable with a new one and I still have the same issue. Do you think we need to get the programmer involved to help resolve this Windows 8 issue. I have even tried installing the old version with no luck. I will say this is a new computer from the previous one as the hard drive would no longer function.

[Tech_Marco]

It's not the LaserCad issue and I've discussed with him and he insisted that many companies were using Win8
I suggest you to uninstalled the LaserCad and install it again. Make sure to delete the folder from the hardware for a fresh installation. Also, when it pop a message for driver, say "no" . You want to install a 64bit driver that I sent you separated.

I'll get my laptop with Win8 installed to give a try today.

Marco

[Jamie]

Marco,

Ok I will uninstall again as I think I have done this several times already. I agree that I do not think it is the LaserCad software per say as this loads and runs fine the issue is with the driver. When I attach the DSP to the computer it keeps saying it doesn't recongize the device. Mybe we need to have the programmer contact the driver software folks as I think the driver is from FTDI drivers. I looked on the website for FTDI and it states the software drivers they have work on windows 8. I have an HP Envy so I wonder is something on my computer is not allowing the driver to properly install. When I run the driver install setup it says it installed propery but again just won't connect to the DSP. I went to the device manger and tried to update the driver as well but again says it doesn't recongize the device. I am no windows 8 expert that is for sure but, I saw on the web that windows 8 has more sercurity that previous windows versions and I wonder if this has something to do with the driver install. Maybe FTDI has some type of software to ensure a clean sweep of any of the device drivers thay have and the reinstall the software.

[Tech_Marco]

Jamie:

The programmer also sent me the link to the USB chipset manufacturer. He said that it was nothing to do with the DSP controller or the LaserCad but the issue of Win8. I told other folks I hate Win8 as it made me dizzy to be tangle around by it's new setup. In fact, I'd the Win7 and I setup a few machine with Win7 and it works great, even though there were times loosing connection. But either re-start LaserCad or reboot Win7 recover the connection quick. So, if possible and if I'm not asking too much, get back to Win XP or WIn 7 if you're using the machine for production. The connection is more stable and 'firmed'

Marco

[Jamie]

Marco,

I had some success in that I closed LaserCad and ran the driver software but didn't uninstall lasercad or usb driver. Then plugged in the dsp and for whatever reason it recognized the driver. I then opened lasercad and sure enough I was able to download a file to cut. I then unplugged the usb cable and plugged in again and worked. I then unplugged again and didn't work. I then reinstalled the usb driver but didn't uninstall first and had it working again with lasercad already opened. I then unplugged the USB cable and plugged in again and didn't work. I repeated steps above but nothing. So I the closed lasercad and reinstalled the usb driver and opened lasercad and when I plugged the usb cable in it worked. Next I unplugged the usb cable and plugged in again and now it doesn't work. I repeated the above steps with no success. I wlll say Microsoft downloaded some updates and rebooted the machine before I did all this. SO what I am saying is I have now seen it communicate a couple of times and seems to be possible. I think you need to be all over the programmer so he is all over the USB driver who can then work with Microsoft to fix this known issue. Is the programmer saying that we can't work with the software driver folks and Microsoft? If not then that would be very strange. The company I work for has an IT department and they have a paid service agreement with MS so they can fix things like this. I just don't understand how the folks who create the usb driver software can't get involved and fix the issue. Seems like they don't test the software drivers they provide. Just think if this software driver was for an external hard drive they would sure have a lot of customers upset with them. I know this is by no means has anything to do with your company as you do not make the software but maybe you can inform them your customers are not happy seeing as large laser tables are not inexpensive to build or purchase.

[Tech_Marco]

Today I tried my Win8 and played around with the DSP card. I seems have all luck that you guys don't. All I've to do is to install the 64bit driver and the Win8 detected the new devices right away. I then installed a 32bit driver trying to override the 64bit driver. It seems it won't be override and the OS still could detect the devices. FYI, when I tried it on Win7, sometimes it worked but sometimes it didn't. I blamed on the USB as usual. But later I figured out that it was a USB cable that caused the issue. After I bypass the USB extension cable and connected it direct to my laptop, it worked all day long without a problem. Jamie, try use contact cleaner to clean the USB port on the DSP card and on your PC, sometimes we just oversight a small things that play significant to the case.

By the way, regarding the USB driver as I mentioned before. It is the chipset company and the Microsoft. The programmer has nothing to do with the chipset as he didn't write the code for it. The driver was provided by the USB chipset company and can be downloaded from the website. To be fair enough, the USB connection isn't just happened to the DSP card. I know that I have encountered similar issue of other USB devices like a USB memory stick, an external hard drive, an USB Wi-Fi ,... and so many you can name it. What we can hope is a better driver available for download.

The Win7 and Win8 seems having stronger protection than XP, on both software and hardware. If it work, then leave the port for the DSP and try nothing Plug 'n Play so frequency. Once a USB detached, the OS will try to spare the resources for other devices. If you just reboot the machine with the USB attached, the chance of losing communication is very rare. But it is not the case if you unplug it. Give it a try see if I'm right


Marco

[Jamie]

Marco,

I am now on my third computer which has Windows 7 installed and all is fine with windows 7 so I will not have to return the DSP controller card. I have been in contact with FTDI driver chip company and did what they can do with no success. They stated they can not trouble shoot the issue of WIndows 8 and the DSP controller because they know nothing about this device. As I suspected they stated it is up to the DSP control card manufacture and the programmer to resolve this issue. I guess I fee the same. I don't understand why the programmer just wants to wash his hands when new versions of windows will be released in the future. This makes me feel as if I have purchased the wrong DSP laser controller card. I as an end user have nothing else I can do. I have tried to resolve the issue myself and the programmer doesn't want to help. I am frustrated because this was no small expense on my part to invest in such a laser system only to find out it is not upgradable to the latest windows. Please don't misunderstand what I am saying as it isn't your fault as you are just selling a product but maybe if others are having the same issue you can inform the programmer that this really needs to be resolved or he will possibly loose additional customers.

[Tech_Marco]

Hello Jamie:

I read you and I understand your frustration. I did see the issue and been discussing the issue with the programmer but no progress or promise from him how soon he could fix the issue. In fact, the programmer didn't know what was the cause. I was told that the best way was to use network connection through the RJ49 port with a hub. It is not only providing more stable connection but transferring data is many times faster. I did it before and I could see that it was very fast to upload a job file. Win7 and Win8 seems having strong protection on hardware and may be using different way to share USB resources. That may cause the connection link "Broken". The only way to re-established the communication is to unplug the cable than use "FindCom" to get the port back. Sometimes, you may need to reboot your PC and/or the laser machine.

I suspect that the cause could be the USB cable because of the length. I think you seem that once the PC lost the DSP, the port still occupied. It means that there was connection but the "hand shake" signal was gone. The lost of hand shake could be caused by noise or when Window enter "Sleeping" model. I will do more test to find out he cause and hope that I have a solution for the programmer and make some change accordingly.

In the mean time, stick with Win7 and not switched around the USB port. Or if you can, use network connection for communication till a solution found

Regards,
Marco

[Jamie]

Marco

Hope you are having progress in getting the USB port to communicate with a windows 8 computer. In the mean time I did connect to the Ethernet port and works great!!! Thanks for having me give this a try.