584,802 active members*
5,071 visitors online*
Register for free
Login
Page 1 of 3 123
Results 1 to 20 of 42
  1. #1
    Join Date
    Mar 2020
    Posts
    7

    Controller Disconnected Error

    I have a Windows 10, Dell Optiplex 9020. While cutting I keep getting the Controller Disconnected Error. SW: 2020.03.14. HW: 2020.03.12.

    Device listed in windows is: CNC USB Controller Mk3 v2. Which is what I have. Driver date is 9-22-2016 ver. 1.0.0.1

    I have replaced the USB cable with no change. I have tried every USB port on the front an back of the PC, there are 10. I have routed the usb cable away from all other wiring. No change. Yesterday I cut all day and it happened 3 times. Today it has happened so often I've given up cutting.

    I could use some guidance. Thanks

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Feb 2018
    Posts
    6

    Re: Controller Disconnected Error


  3. #3
    Join Date
    Mar 2020
    Posts
    7

    Re: Controller Disconnected Error

    I saw that thread. The thing is, it worked before v2.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Feb 2011
    Posts
    138

    Re: Controller Disconnected Error

    post #3 solve my problem

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Mar 2020
    Posts
    7

    Re: Controller Disconnected Error

    Moving my ground fixed my issue.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Feb 2017
    Posts
    34

    Re: Controller Disconnected Error

    Hello!
    I have two CNC machines with USB controllers Mk3/4 (3 axis)
    All equipment is the same-computers, drivers, motors, wires, power supplies...
    USB wire shielded with two ferrite filters 1.2 meters long.

    The first machine works well, but can sometimes stop 2-3 times a day in the middle of the program.
    There are no error messages, the spindle is switched off, cooling is still enabled.
    I can continue working from any line of code.

    The second machine always performs the "HOME" procedure and you can manually burn the axes.
    But it always stops with the message "Controller Disconnected" when performing the first G1 movement in the program.
    At the same time, this situation does not envy the operation of power supplies drivers, motors, spindles and other power devices - the problem is only in the connection between the computer and the controller.
    I completely rule out problems with noise and power leads or a problem with jamming.
    USB works well with the scanner and printer, intervuys USB is sure to work with all devices.
    Do you have any ideas other than replacing the computer and cable?

    Thanks!

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Mar 2017
    Posts
    1295

    Re: Controller Disconnected Error

    This is noise/power/ground issue for sure. You can not rule this out.

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Feb 2017
    Posts
    34

    Re: Controller Disconnected Error

    Are you talking about the first machine or the second?
    I can rule it out (noise/power/ground issue) for second machine.
    After HOME procedure I turn off ALL power except the computer and controller and always have an error when I first command G1

    I think this is due to active data transfer to the controller`s buffer. Is there any way to test this?

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Mar 2017
    Posts
    1295

    Re: Controller Disconnected Error

    How are your limit switches connected?

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Feb 2017
    Posts
    34

    Re: Controller Disconnected Error

    All limit sensors are connected via optical decoupling chips according to the recommendations on the site:
    https://planet-cnc.com/how-to-connec...-limit-switch/

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Feb 2017
    Posts
    34

    Re: Controller Disconnected Error

    I replaced the computer. The situation has not changed, there is always a connection loss when running G1
    I replaced the cable. The situation has changed, sometimes (2-3 times a day) I have a loss of connection with the controller.

    I think the problem is with the controller's power supply!
    I have a questions for the controller manufacturer - how is the controller's power supply organized?
    Why does it work if the external power is turned off?
    Does it get power via USB? How can I turn off power via USB?

  12. #12
    Join Date
    May 2008
    Posts
    266

    Re: Controller Disconnected Error

    Quote Originally Posted by basilevscom View Post
    I replaced the computer. The situation has not changed, there is always a connection loss when running G1
    I replaced the cable. The situation has changed, sometimes (2-3 times a day) I have a loss of connection with the controller.

    I think the problem is with the controller's power supply!
    I have a questions for the controller manufacturer - how is the controller's power supply organized?
    Why does it work if the external power is turned off?
    Does it get power via USB? How can I turn off power via USB?

    If this problem were mine, I would disconnect everything except the USB connection and run some gcode to try and isolate the fault.
    Then reconnect things one at a time until the fault comes back.

  13. #13
    Join Date
    Feb 2017
    Posts
    34

    Re: Controller Disconnected Error

    My experience in electronics development tells me that if the operation of a device depends on the quality of the cable it is a bad device (((
    The sad thing is that I wanted to buy two more controllers, but if it's so unstable...

    (I have 2 more machines running on LinuxCNC via LPT port for more than two years without any failure.
    If I don't find a real solution when the work doesn't depend on the quality of the cable and computer, I will have to throw out these controllers and look for other hardware.)

  14. #14
    Join Date
    May 2008
    Posts
    266

    Re: Controller Disconnected Error

    Quote Originally Posted by basilevscom View Post
    My experience in electronics development tells me that if the operation of a device depends on the quality of the cable it is a bad device (((
    The sad thing is that I wanted to buy two more controllers, but if it's so unstable...

    (I have 2 more machines running on LinuxCNC via LPT port for more than two years without any failure.
    If I don't find a real solution when the work doesn't depend on the quality of the cable and computer, I will have to throw out these controllers and look for other hardware.)

    If you don't find a real solution, I'd be keen to buy one off you.

  15. #15
    Join Date
    Jun 2017
    Posts
    143

    Re: Controller Disconnected Error

    The main source of noise is the cable from the VFD to the spindle. You haven't mentioned what your machines are, but if the spindle cable isn't shielded (ie. like all the Chinese machines) the noise will easily get out of that cable and affect the USB connection. I had that very problem. There are two ways to improve noise immunity. 1) Stop it being radiated at its source; 2) stop it being absorbed elsewhere. Clearly 1 is a better solution as then the noise can't affect anything. Also you didn't mention if your spindle was running at the time the disconnect happened (if not you can possibly ignore the above).
    Also keep the USB cable as far away from the spindle cable (and not running parallel).

  16. #16
    Join Date
    Feb 2017
    Posts
    34

    Re: Controller Disconnected Error

    I do not any noise, all wires in the machine are shielded.

    My action:
    1. I turn on the computer and the machine.
    2 I check the movement on all axes manually from the program and perform HOME procedure - everything works!
    3 I turn off all power to the machine except for the controller.
    4. I upload the file, click run and get an error "controller disconnected" when the first G1 movement is performed - always happens with a "bad" cable

    Thus, I claim that the power supply to the spindle or the power supply to the driver of the motors does not have any effect on the occurrence of this error! I've made a lot of electronics and machine tools including, I feel that the problem is not the noise. Why does one 0.75 m cable work and another exactly the same length of 1.2 m does not?

  17. #17
    Join Date
    Feb 2017
    Posts
    34

    Re: Controller Disconnected Error

    One more note may be important!
    After this error, if I do not turn off the power to the controller and disconnect the USB cord, then after connecting Usb cable again, Windows can not identify the device as a CNC controller, it will send an "unknown device".
    To continue I have to power off the controller and turn it on again and then connect the USB cable.

    I have a video of how everything is happening, I will post it soon...

  18. #18
    Join Date
    Feb 2011
    Posts
    138

    Re: Controller Disconnected Error

    I have (occasional) the exact same problem with foam cutting interface (GGC2) equiped with atmega chip on it. Maybe something that related...

  19. #19
    Join Date
    Mar 2017
    Posts
    1295

    Re: Controller Disconnected Error

    Electrical interference causes errors in USB transmissions. USB uses differential signals which are more resistant to noise but main problem is power. USB is not galvanically isolated like Ethernet. Grounding is major issue.

    CNC controller is very intense USB device. This means a lot of big packets at high speed.
    USB has built-in error detection. But in bad conditions many errors get through anyway. Controller detects this and asks for retry. You can monitor this statistics in log.


    Like I said, USB also have built-in error detection. If there are a lot of these errors then computer disconnects USB device because it assumes device is faulty. This is when "disconnect" happens.
    Using active USB cable (or USB hub) often helps because it filters out all those bad packets and they never reach computer.

    But filtering out noise generators and fixing ground issues is correct way to address this issue. There is no recipe for success. When done correctly USB works reliably even in high noise environments.

  20. #20
    Join Date
    Feb 2017
    Posts
    34

    Re: Controller Disconnected Error

    Thanks for the answer! (I'm an electronics developer I understand everything about data transfer speed and grounding)

    How do you explain the presence of this error if controller have not galvanically connected to circuits with noise?
    Please explain me about the power supply of the controller - is the DSP processor powered via USB or from an external power source?
    What is the current consumption of the controller? This is very important!
    My controller works even when I don't turn on external power, is this normal?

Page 1 of 3 123

Similar Threads

  1. Fanuc 3m encoder disconnected error
    By nathanclymer in forum Fanuc
    Replies: 14
    Last Post: 11-24-2021, 06:38 PM
  2. Laser machine is disconnected
    By vladlop in forum Laser Engraving / Cutting Machine General Topics
    Replies: 3
    Last Post: 11-13-2019, 04:30 PM
  3. Kmotion - Disconnected !
    By Salexxx in forum Dynomotion/Kflop/Kanalog
    Replies: 2
    Last Post: 12-05-2017, 07:56 PM
  4. Connected-disconnected loop
    By geppo in forum Dynomotion/Kflop/Kanalog
    Replies: 2
    Last Post: 03-16-2014, 04:38 PM

Tags for this Thread

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •