troubles profiling pololu 8 server controller.

I seem to be having similar problems as Addonff trying to profile my controller and servos.
http://www.x-simulator.de/forum/sim-gauges-from-belgique-t1152.html
(I dont speak french and babelfish does not translate very well, so Im making a new post.)

Ive tested the hardware and it appears to be wired up properly.

When I look at screen shots of the set up in the profiler that people have posted, I see a slider just off to the side.
I do not get this slider when trying to re-create what has been posted, which may be part of the problem.

Im using x-sim 2.0.x which I downloaded here last week.
This is what happens when I try to profile.....
power up.....yellow light on controller lights.
load x-sim profiler....red and yellow leds flash and server moves back and forward for a few seconds.
then the yellow light remains on.

Does the above sound like it is working how it should so far ?

I then try to follow the pictures people have posted to profile, but Im not having any luck.

Hello thren

At this point it sounds all correctly. When you have started up the Profiler you have to break and re-connect the power of the servo modul (controling part, servo power diconect is not nessesary).

The slider you can find in the force sender - just change the offical...plugin to the testplugin.

For the programming take a look in here: http://www.x-simulator.de/wiki/Servo_Ta ... _mboRacing

Greets

mbo

Thanks for the reply Mbo.

I found some robotics software, that will drive the servos, so controller set up is good
Ive tried following the wiki that you linked to, with no luck so far
Im away from home atm, but will try dis-conecting power as suggested when I get home next.

Hello thren

Could you please link this robotics software for other's to test, if they are in same problems?

Greets

mbo

http://animaltronicks.googlepages.com/

Made for halloween effects using the pololu server contoller I have,
evidently it syncs a music track to the servo movement ?

I just used it, and succeded, in geting the servos to move via the slider

bacicly PNP if you have the same contrilloer.

Hi all,
After a break I have come back to this project.
I have made some head-way, but would like to check a couple of things.
I am still having no luck lol, so I will post as much info as I think may help, perhaps someone can see a problem.

Due to a MB upgrade (gigabyte GA-EP45-UD3r) I had no serial ports.
I tried using a serial>usb adaptor with no luck so installed a PCI 2x serial port card.
Ive followed the mboRacing wiki project set up.
My settings are as per the images below, I get the green light on the controler (at last)
with profiler2 started.
Im sorry about images being large and off site, I tried to upload via site, but had troubles)
Servo controller..(hot linked)



My comport settings.




Result of moving slider 1.



USO settings..




Interface settings.... (no pololu ?? )






when I move slider 1 the graph moves as can be seen in the screeny but the servo does not.

Should the servo be moving with the slider?

If I use the Pololu Serial Transmitter utility for Windows software the servo reacts.


Oh and whilst Im posting pictures this is the incomplete dashboard hardware..



Any help appreciated.
Cheers

Hello thren

I cheked your settings with mine, and they are exactly the same (i'm just using com1, doesnt matter).
1. Do you use the correct jumper setting on the servo controller? -> You have to use the miniSCCMode (protocol jumper in place).
2. Try to give more or less pause after the datapacket sent.
3. @Sirnoname could this be a vista problem?

And yes - the servo should move withe the slider. If you startup profiler, give start and move the slider there is any reaction by the status LED's?

greets mbo

Thanks for the continued help mbo,

1. Do you use the correct jumper setting on the servo controller? -> You have to use the miniSCCMode (protocol jumper in place).

yes.

2. Try to give more or less pause after the datapacket sent.

Will try.

3. @Sirnoname could this be a vista problem?

After the MB upgrade I reverted to XP pro, so, no more Vista issues with this computer ;D

One more thing.......
(taken from the controller instructions)

I currently am trying the no jumper choice.
Yellow led on when connected, and that does not change today when Ive hit start and move slider.

one more thing: your power supply, how many Amps does it have??

I am using a 240v ac to 6V dc 2.2amp power adaptor.
(Australian wall outlet = 240v)
I have spliced the ends of the adaptor so from the adaptor I have 2 plugs
1 connected to the servo power pins
and 1 connected to the VIN and GRND pins.

I was having problems with the force sender giving errors yesterday, so reinstalled x-sim.
Now, when I start the profiler, the LED changes from yellow to green !! ( must be doing something right)
If I change the with a pause of setting in the USO panel to 100 the green led flashes.

Still no servo movement though.

Just a thought.
If Im not moving the sliders, then the light should not be green ?
as there is no signal being created ?
Because the light is green now even when Im not moving the slider..

Hello thren

Could this give a answer to you: (first part normal, second part slow motion)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YfTJCx9JYic

I was having the same reaction as yours when using the USB to Serial adapter...so I dropped the USB adapter and plugged it directly to my DB9 S232 serial port on my old computer and it worked with flying colors. I should also mention to USE IT with the DTR/RST OFF! I noticed in the wiki pics that his setup only had the single jumper mode selection cap. Maybe check to see if the cables or serial port have some sort of handshaking issue...I don't know though..I'm no expert!

Good Luck

-knubs