Problem with the SMCI35 motor controller

Hello Alex,

What are you trying to make?

Thank you,

Jamie

Hi Jamie,

I am trying to connect the motor controller together with the NanoPro software that comes with it, and also the linear actuator. The end result is that I will be able to control the speed of linear actuator from the NanoPro interface. I've used the cable to connect my laptop to the controller, then the controller is connected to the power supply by placing a charging capacitor in between, finally I connected the linear actuator according to the pin order in the manual.

I followed every single steps in the manual, but my laptop still unable to detect the controller.

What are the possibilities that cause the problem?

Thank you

Alex

Hello Alex,

I will move this over to the Linear Technology area of the community as it seems a better fit for this question.

Thank you,

Jamie

No idea why Jamie has put this in Linear Technology Group (it doesn' admit to using any of their parts).

@Alex - do you have a scope ?

In your place I would check that there is activity on the SMCI35 serial RX pin when the PC software is trying to find the board.

Did you spot the dire warning about blowing the serial interface if the PC is plugged in when you make the USB connection ?

Did you check the firmware download document (loss of firmware is listed as  a reason for the board not to talk to the PC.)

MK

Hi MK,

It seems like the computer managed to detect the cable, because the blue LED light on the PCB board was switched on after I plugged into the laptop. Yes, I am aware of the the warning, I did make sure my laptop is not charging when I'm connecting them. I've also installed the cable's driver, however, what bother me the most is, the LED light did switched on, but it keep pop up the 'communication error' window on my laptop.

What does the blue LED light tells me?

One thing I found it weird is that the RX and TX label on the cable is different from the manual. In the manual, RX is the RED colour wire, and TX is the brown wire, but, on the cable, label RX represent the brown wire, and TX represent the red. Please advice, It might be my mistake.

Sorry Alex - I'm not familiar enough with this part (never used one) to want to get stuck in just yet. Email Farnell tech support first and see if they can help you out. If you don't get any joy then come back here and I'll help if I can but it will be based on general knowledge rather than experience of this device.

MK

Hello Michael,

Apologies, I will move this into the Industrial Automation & Robots.

Thank you,

Jamie