Gateway BTR ....... was Re: Troubleshooting a BTR

Hello,
For anyone else interested in the Inpiration Systems, Gateway
BTR..... They are located in Australia & their website is:

<http://www.softcncware.com/Hardware.htm>

They were very good to deal with.
Hope this helps someone,
Thanks, Tim Bostic

--- In CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com, luvindaddy@y... wrote:
> Hello Vinny,
> I too have an Ikegai FX-25 Lathe.
> I came across the "Gateway BTR" from Inspiration Systems.
> It is a very nice, affordable, BTR. I purchased one from them but
> haven't had a chance to hook it up yet. It cost $200 US +
shipping.
> They have very good support & I would deal with them in the future.
> Maybe this would be your best solution?..... I know I couldn't
> affort the more expensive BTR's!!!.
> Good Luck, Tim Bostic
> (Just a satisfied customer!!!!!, That's all)
>
>
> --- In CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com, "metlmunchr"
> <metlmunchr@y...> wrote:
> > Vinny, a lot of the old controls read @ 300 baud. If your
machine
> is
> > good otherwise, you might consider buying a new btr. There were
a
> lot
> > of early BTR's that used proprietary software and basically won't
> > operate with a PC. They were sold to large companies that had
> > mainframes or minis and the $$ to network and DNC early on.
I've
> got
> > a couple of fairly new BTR's from Advanced Digital Research, and
> they
> > work flawlessly. There are people around who kinda specialize in
> > BTR's on specific controls and have re-seller agreements with
> > manufacturers like ADR. You can buy from them for about the same
> > price as from ADR or similar companies, but they include
> installation
> > tips and instructions for your specific control and reader
combo.
> On
> > one of mine, the guy included a special pre-made cable to allow
> hookup
> > of the BTR to an existing plug at the reader board instead of
> having
> > to do a bunch of wire splicing. The BTR and cable cost $1300,
and
> the
> > list price of the BTR alone was $1295 at the time. When I
called
> ADR
> > and told them what I had, they steered me to the guy who I
> ultimately
> > bought it from. Installation was a snap, and I had a guy I
could
> call
> > with questions who was familiar with my specific setup. When the
> > alternative is beating on a keyboard and hoping you don't make
that
> > one error that causes an unexpedted crash, a good BTR is the best
> > money you'll ever spend on an otherwise good machine. If you
> should
> > decide to purchase a new one, the minimum memory is plenty for
any
> > lathe application, so there's no need to spend the $$ for larger
> > memory on the board.
> >
> > --- In CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com, "vinnygenovese"
> > <superman@r...> wrote:
> > > --- In CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com, Jon Elson <elson@p...>
> > > wrote:
> > > > vinnygenovese wrote:
> > > >
> > > > >I am trying to bring an IKEGIA FX25-N / Fanuc 5T back to
life.
> > There is a
> > > BTR
> > > > >that I am trying to bring online. Problem is I don't have
any
> > instructions or
> > > dip
> > > > >switch settings. I uploaded a photo to
> http://radiantheat.com/UCM-
> > > BTR.jpg.
> > > > >The board has a single LED , which seems to 'blink' when i
> send
> > data, but
> > > it
> > > > >seems no signal gets through to the Fanuc 5T. (or I am
sending
> > the wrong
> > > > >commands). I googled and googled. It seems they are out of
> > business. Any
> > > > >hints on the dip switch's or other hints would be very
> welcome.
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > Well, I think it can be deciphered. It looks like there is
no
> > > > microprocessor there,
> > > > I think the big chip is a 40-pin UART. It also looks like
the
> > markings
> > > > have been
> > > > sanded off that chip, but by tracing the power pins, you may
be
> > able to
> > > > figure
> > > > out which if the several 40 pin uarts it is. It is
socketed,
> so
> > pulling
> > > > it and
> > > > looking on the back may have some markings that at least
> identify the
> > > > manufacturer,
> > > > which may be all you need to narrow down the type of UART.
> Once you
> > > > know this,
> > > > you can see which dip switch is connected to which pin, and
> with the
> > > > crystal frequency,
> > > > you can figure out how to set the baud rate and transmission
> > characteristics
> > > > (# bits, even/odd/none parity, etc.)
> > > >
> > > > I could be off on this, but there is clearly no EPROM chip,
> and
> > > > something about
> > > > it just makes me think it predates one-chip micros. I note
> 1488 and
> > > > 1489 chips,
> > > > and wonder if it is getting the right power to those chips,
as
> > they need
> > > > both
> > > > positive and negative voltages.
> > > >
> > > > I don't know Fanuc machines, but most systems need some
switch
> > settings
> > > > and/or
> > > > commands or buttons to put them in the right mode to read a
> > program from
> > > > tape
> > > > or to go into DNC mode.
> > > >
> > > > In DNC mode, the computer becomes a file server for the CNC
> > control, and
> > > > doesn't send anything until the CNC control asks for it by
> file name.
> > > >
> > > > Jon
> > >
> > > Thanks for your insights. I have taken the board apart as per
> your
> > suggestions
> > > and found the UCM logo was painted over the first markings on
the
> > large chip
> > > just like you guessed. The original markings are close to gone
> but I
> > can make
> > > out the lowest line GFSX904 5 or S. On the back it says
> Malasya. I
> > have
> > > found the trademark (tm) MICRO-BTR on the back, but they must
> have
> > gone
> > > under in the pre-internet days (nothing on google but one
> reference
> > to UCM
> > > in LA.).
> > >
> > > The dip switch settings on the top dip switch seem to control
> baud
> > rate, the
> > > traces for that chip go to one SN74LS165N. When I change these
> > settings the
> > > LED blinks out the new baud rate after a reset.
> > >
> > > I also learned that if I type into my terminal like a madman
and
> > change comm
> > > settings on the fly, sometimes I can get it to lock up and the
> LED
> > blinks out a
> > > steady 0. The BTR dip switch's came set up for 1200 so I
assume
> a 1979
> > > Faunc 5T defaults to that baud rate ? .
> > >
> > > FYI in order to set up my Fanuc 5T control to read the BTR I
have
> > set my main
> > > mode switch to 'memory' and pressed the read button on the tape
> > reader. ( as
> > > stated in the Fanuc 5T book that came with the machine. The
> drive wheel
> > > spins in the reader full time. of course I would throw the BTR
> board
> > into the
> > > Atlantic if I could afford to replace it ! ! !
> > >
> > >
> > > Thanks everyone for your interest and suggestions.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > vinny