I somehow have managed to mess up my Shumatech DRO-550. It all started with erratic scale readings on first the Z and then the Y Axes. After several days spent cleaning, disassembling, reassembling, and testing, I finally got all axes working again.
Next, I had trouble with the bolt hole function. I had entered the bolthole parameters, and to familiarize myself with the process, was stepping through the hole locations with the DRO when I noticed the hole locations were not plotted correctly. I decided to erase the DRO and reload it with the latest version of OpenDro.
Here's where I have serious problems. When I completed the original build, I was running a desktop with XP Pro on it. Now I'm running a laptop with Win7 Home Premium 64 bit. So no serial port. I have tried to no avail to load the latest version of OpenDro on the DRO-550. I have tried both AMTEL's SAM-BA and Bossa. Neither program will connect to the DRO-550.
I even dragged an older Dell Desktop out of storage, loaded XP Pro, SP3, updates, SAM-BA, and Bossa. No communication from either program using USB or serial. The only problem I can see is SAM-BA does not offer the USB connection. Both programs see comm 1 but will not connect. I think it is a driver problem, but I'm not sure.
Somebody please help! I am a retired computer tech, and a very long time ago I was an electronics tech, so I know my way around computers and such. But, this has me baffled. I have become used to using the DRO on my mill and was just getting ready to try setting it up on my lathe.
Anyone else have this issue? The DRO-550 seems stuck in programming mode or the current load has become corrupt. HELP! I have a lot invested in the DRO-550 and the Shumatech group and website don't seem to want to help. I posted to the Shumatech group over 24 hours ago and my post has not appeared yet. I have e-mailed Steve S. with no response.
I have also been corresponding with Rick Sparber, but even his help hasn't got me going again.
Chuck