Camstore 1SX Trouble Shooting

The Camstore 1SX is a shop hardened PC computer that may connect to older machine tools via a BTR (Behind the Tape Reader) interface. The Camstore 1SX is packaged in a rectangular cabinet with a 9" mono VGA display and vertically mounted (but removable) keyboard. Access to wiring connectors and floppy/hard drives is provided by a side door. On older units, fan filters are mounted on the cabinet. On newer units, cooling is by heatsinks and internal recirculation. It is usually mounted on top of an NC control and connected via a flexible conduit to a uP cable and BTR card. Click a topic: [CRT] [Display] [PC Ports] [BTR] [Disassembly]

CRT DISPLAY:

Camstore 1SX CRT displays have a horizontal video driver card with small pots for adjusting size, brightness, vertical and horizontal sync just like your TV set. Many minor problems can be corrected by turning pots and wiggling connectors to clean contacts and adjust settings. You can center and rotate the display by moving tabs or rotating the coil on the neck of the picture tube.

Power to the display is conditioned by an AY13 switching regulator card mounted on the top front of the display. Power from the PC supply is too poorly regulated and filtered to drive a CRT display and must be cleaned by the AY13 circuitry. To verify a properly working supply, verify +12v input (supply end closest to box center) and verify +12v output (supply end closest to box side).

BEFORE WORKING ON A CRT DISPLAY, TURN OFF POWER. ALWAYS STAY AWAY FROM THE FLYBACK TRANSFORMER OUTPUT WIRE TO AVOID SHOCK. THE FLYBACK TRANSFORMER LOOKS LIKE A BLACK OR RED RUBBER CASTLE.

DISPLAY as a TROUBLE SHOOTER:

The Camstore 1SX display is a window on many possible failures.

The display is wavy: The 12 volt power supply may be out of regulation. A switching regulator card is mounted on top of the CRT to clean up the noisy PC supply.

The display is blank: The VGA adapter card plugged onto the motherboard may need replacing or reseating. Check the cables, too.

The display jumps and dims sporadically: A loose solder joint on the video card may be the problem. Solder all connector and transformer pins. Check the brightness pot and cable.

PC COMPUTER PORTS COM1 and COM2:

All Rybett DNC software includes the programs TESTCOM1 and TESTCOM2. They are located in the DNC directory which is usually named CAMx or something very similar.

1. Exit to the DOS prompt and change to the DNC directory. For instance, if you are using Rybett Camstore Menu software, just type "CD \CAM3" followed by <Enter>. Then type "TESTCOM1" or "TESTCOM2" followed by <Enter> to test port COM1 or port COM2.

2. When in the test program, any key pressed is sent out the serial port and any character received is shown on the display. Locate the appropriate port connector on the back of your computer and unplug any cables attached to it. Most PC COM ports use 9 or 25 pin male connectors shaped like lopsided rectangles. Jumper pin 2 to pin 3 on the port connector on the back of the computer. You may use a jumper wire, a paper clip or the blade of a screw driver. Now, if the port is working, any key pressed will be sent and returned by your jumper and will appear on the display screen.

3. If the port works, you may use it to test your long shop cables. Remove the jumper between pin 2 and 3 and replug your cable onto the port connector. Then use the jumper to connect pin 2 to pin 3 at the far end of the cable. This just makes a very long jumper. If the cable is good, the port test program will again display typed keys.

4. The TESTCOM1 and TESTCOM2 programs operate at 9600 baud using even parity. If your interconnected equipment also uses these settings, plugging everything back together and running the test program will allow you to send and receive characters.

5. Note that all Rybett DNC software uses a common method of setting port parameters. If you are unsure of your settings, just choose "Machine Setup" from the DNC menu and look at the first line: PORT/MODE COM2:9600,e,7,1,p

In this example, the port used is COM2 and the baudrate is 9600. If your DNC menu does not display a "Machine Setup" option, it may be present but hidden. Try typing one menu number larger than the last menu item. If a password prompt appears and you do not know the password, try "password", "PASS" or "ADAMA" without the quotes.

6. The TESTCOM programs are just batch files that call the master program RTERM at 9600 baud. If you wish to operate at different port settings, you may call RTERM directly. For instance, if you wish to communicate over port COM1 at 4800 baud, using even parity, 7 data bits and 1 stop bit with software handshakes, type: RTERM COM1:4800,e,7,1,s

BTR INTERFACE CARD:

All Rybett BTR (Behind the Tape Reader) products are designed for easy installation and removal. The heart of our BTR is an interface card and harness adapted to your specific machine control model.

The Camstore 1SX may be placed in a Bypass condition whereby the tape reader interface card may be operated independently of the Camstore computer. Replace the flexible conduit at the uP bulkhead connector on the NC control with our round (military) Deadhead cap. When the Deadhead is in place, the machine should operate from the tape reader as if the BTR was never there. If the deadheaded interface works with tape, there is no need to repair it.

If the interface does not work in deadhead, remove it entirely and replug the original machine wiring. Test the machine with all BTR parts removed to see if the NC tape reader logic is working properly.

DISASSEMBLY:

Popping the lid on the Camstore 1SX permits access to the CRT video adjustments and the adapter cards plugged onto the motherboard. If you need further access, the front panel may be removed:

1. Make sure the flexible conduit is unplugged and all power has been removed .
2. Unplug the internal AC power cord to the power supply mounted on inside front panel.
3. Remove 4 screws holding the front panel lift and rotate the panel free of the cabinet.
4. Carefully mark and unplug the drive ribbon cables to allow the front panel to be pulled completely free.

To reassemble the unit, remember to replug the ribbon cables into exactly the same position and orientation as before and remember to replug the power cord back into the power supply chassis.