To my computer geeks

InPhase277 · 03-23-2009, 07:50 PM

I know I could ask this question on alot of computer forums, but I'd be hard pressed to get an answer anytime soon. I know alot of the regulars that post here are computer geeks to one degree or another, and I have a question.

I built a CNC mill to make circuit boards and small machine parts and whatnot. Very cool. Anyway, it works great mechanically and under the control of certain software, but when I use the control software I really want to use, it just jerks along... until I move the mouse, then it picks right up. If I keep the mouse in continuous motion, it works great. But when I stop, it goes back to the jerky motion.

For some background, the machine receives its signal pulses from the parallel port on pins 1-9 and 14,16, and 17. The mouse is a PS/2 optical. What the hell is causing this behavior and how do I correct it? It's driving me batty! I have tried adjusting the mouse and LPT port resource options to no avail.

What next?

EDIT: Sorry I didn't realize we had a PC forum. To any mod: please move accordingly.

rgsgww · 03-23-2009, 08:10 PM

Does this software stress the system? Does it take up a lot of resources?

I suppose it could be interference from the mill, but enough to affect the ps/2 port...I highly doubt it.

Than again, interference might be possible. It has been a long time since I've used ps/2.

And yes, I am surely a geek. Right now I'm ocing, very exciting!

DangerMouse · 03-23-2009, 08:17 PM

have you tried a USB mouse?

DM

DangerMouse · 03-23-2009, 08:19 PM

and just curious, but what OS?

DM

InPhase277 · 03-23-2009, 08:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rgsgww

Does this software stress the system? Does it take up a lot of resources?

I suppose it could be interference from the mill, but enough to affect the ps/2 port...I highly doubt it.

Than again, interference might be possible. It has been a long time since I've used ps/2.

And yes, I am surely a geek. Right now I'm ocing, very exciting!

Yeah, I'm a hardware geek myself, but I have let it fall off for awhile. Anyway, the comp it's attached to runs at 2 GHz with a gig of RAM. I don't have another computer with a parallel port, so I'm kinda stuck. The software doesn't seem to be stressing the system noticeably, at least not according to my CPU and RAM graphs. The same computer, running different software runs the mill fine, but it's sucky software, in that it always mis-interprets my CAD files and skews them badly.

I could get a USB mouse and build a circuit to continuously pulse the PS/2 port, but surely there's a software or resources solution?

InPhase277 · 03-23-2009, 08:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DangerMouse

have you tried a USB mouse?

DM

Not yet, but the mill still runs jerky with the mouse unplugged. Though, I haven't actually tried disabling the PS/2 port to see what happens...

Win XP Pro btw.

rgsgww · 03-23-2009, 08:26 PM

Good, win xp is pretty nice.

Try going into the bios and disabling unnecessary ports, controllers. This also helps performance overall.

Scuba_Dave · 03-23-2009, 08:36 PM

Seems like an IRQ or resource conflict
Seems like the mouse is using the same address as software?
I remember something like this, it's basically waiting for the mouse input as I recall. As soon as it goes thru the rest of the "traffic" can get thru

DangerMouse · 03-23-2009, 08:36 PM

try this for laughs.... download this--> http://download.cnet.com/Auto-Mouse-...-10585354.html
and run the mouse in circles to teach it, then loop it continuously and see what happens with the mill then.

DM

rgsgww · 03-23-2009, 08:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scuba_Dave

Seems like an IRQ or resource conflict
Seems like the mouse is using the same address as software?
I remember something like this, it's basically waiting for the mouse input as I recall. As soon as it goes thru the rest of the "traffic" can get thru

I had the same problem with my sound card.

All of that crackling drove me insane

Yoyizit · 03-23-2009, 09:15 PM

Try the CAMS listserver; Chesapeake Area Machinists Society. These guys eat and sleep CNC.

InPhase277 · 03-23-2009, 11:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yoyizit

Try the CAMS listserver; Chesapeake Area Machinists Society. These guys eat and sleep CNC.

Thanks, I'll check them out. As an update, I've tried every setting, it's not an IRQ, or DMA problem. I disabled the PS/2 port in the bios, but no luck, still jerky.

What I'm trying to understand is why this is behaving like it is.

theatretch85 · 03-23-2009, 11:24 PM

First things first, winxp as great as it is, really needs a gb of ram just to run well. If the software that's "better" is running slow, id strongly suggest increasing your memory to 2gb. With XP Pro 32bit/x86 don't bother with more than 3gb of ram as XP won't see it and it would be a waste. Also, what exactly are the specs of this machine? You say its a 2ghz, AMD/Intel? What processor? Could be bus speed thats causing you problems.

DangerMouse · 03-24-2009, 07:07 AM

did you try what i suggested in post #9? it would tell us what the problem is if it works....... or at least what it is NOT!

DM

InPhase277 · 03-24-2009, 10:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DangerMouse

did you try what i suggested in post #9? it would tell us what the problem is if it works....... or at least what it is NOT!

DM

Yes, I downloaded the software, but as soon as I ran it it froze the system. Even after several retries. Also, I put another stick of RAM in, giving me 2 gigs, and the effect is the same. Still jittery until I move the blasted mouse.