Beta Software

ShopBot's Tools are used in an incredible variety of cutting and machining process, with a wide range of file types, and in numerous kinds of production settings. Because of this extreme variety of use, extensive testing is required to refine and adjust the features and capabilities of the software. The need for feedback from user experience is particularly important as we work to extend and enhance the capabilities of the ShopBot software.

ShopBot periodically makes available 'beta' versions of our Control System software that are still undergoing development and testing. This allows interested ShopBotters to participate in testing and evaluating new features and to provide the development team with feedback on what is working well and what is not. We are appreciative of this involvement since it contributes to making the software better for everyone. Thus, we are glad to have your help in testing new software. However, we strongly recommend that beta software only be used experimentally and not for serious work or projects.

Beta Notes

• Keep a copy of the installation file for the current-release Control Software on your computer as well as the new installation file for the beta. This will allow you to quickly re-install the standard software when you have finished testing the beta. Just run the installer and it will put the version you want into play and maintain all the existing settings in your ShopBot.ini file. This works better than trying to set up separate versions and separate folders.
• ABSOLUTELY REQUIRED WITH THIS UPDATE:  Load the Control Box firmware with the beta software. And, when going back to the regular software you will again need to reload the older Control Box firmware. This only takes a second. Use the [UI] function to update the firmware if you do not do it during the install. ALSO do a [UR] to reset the default settings file.
• Beta software is likely to be frequently updated. Make sure if testing that you are using the current version.
• Some new features in the beta software may not yet be operational or only partially functional.
• YOUR FEEDBACK: To report, you can just send us an email at support with "Beta Testing" in the subject line. Or, we also have a "Beta Area" on the "Talk ShopBot Forum" for reports and discussion of your experiences with beta versions of the software. This section is moderated by the ShopBot Development Team when we are actively testing a new beta version. If you would like to participate in this forum section, just send an email to support and indicate that you would like to receive a logon to the 'Beta Area'. It would be helpful to us if you let us know the type of tool and type PC and operating system you are running. We will give you a call if we need more detail. Please realize that we really appreciate your feedback. We may not be able to immediately reply to all posts on the forum or to emails you send -- but we are very attentive to them and will try and keep everyone informed about what's going on with the beta. 

Software Designations

At ShopBot we are in a process of continuously upgrading software. Minor revisions (e.g. Sb3.4.xx; where xx signifies the minor revision number) are usually posted as routine maintenance upgrades after in-house testing at ShopBot. Major revisions that involve new features or capabilities (Sb3.X.01; where X signifies the major revision number) are typically subjected to extensive in-house testing as well as 'beta' testing at ShopBotter sites.

BETA SOFTWARE AVAILABLE:  Sb3.8.1Beta19

We are in the process of a major update to the ShopBot Software. It is available here now in a "beta" or test version (see Control Cards to which this software applies, below) Version 3.8.1Beta19 Released 4/6/12 ~25MB

[Click here to download Sb3.8.1beta19]

THIS BETA VERSION REQUIRES A FIRMWARE UPDATE. In general, when using beta software it is best to always reload firmware after the beta install and again if you go back to the current software.

Control Cards to which this Beta and Updates apply:  V201 - V208; all PRS tools and various upgrades and replacements shipped from November 2007; PRS-alphas from S#1026071251, PRS-standards from S#1106070490.

• How to tell:  The small card that is plugged into your Control Board is the Control Card. It will have a model number printed on it.

 

Functional Improvements (made possible by capabilities of the 20x series of Control Cards; not applicable for earlier Control Cards)

• Enabled 2X+ faster communications and 7X more information buffered on Control Card:
  • Speed and buffering creates more robust communication between PC and Control Card; makes computer efficiency less critical to performance
  • Allows faster stepping (50KHz+); e.g. 12ips circles on full-size tools  [also higher resolutions in tools with special gear ratios]
  • Supports smoother acceleration/deceleration ramping [we recommend starting with default ramp settings]
  • Additional performance supports a Control Card ramp-down feature that will stop tool gently if USB cable disconnected during motion; similar gentle slowing in cases of starved communication
• Behind-the-scenes transmission check & repair system that will resend any lost data; also contributing to communications robustness [this means there are now two active data correction systems: 1) within USB signaling system, which is maintaining integrity of the data at a byte level; and PC-Control Card check system maintaining integrity at a message level]
• Outboard controller now maintains absolute location of all axes unless turned off  [This means that, in the absence of a driver fault or lost steps, exact location can always be recovered by connecting to the Control Card [e.g. a new computer can be plugged into a running Control Box and will update to the true current location or the tool]
• Full 6 axis; simultaneous interpolation in all  6 axes
• Spindle/router failsafe shutdown if connection to PC lost
• Independent Indexer Spinner [Available via the MI Command]
• 12 Outputs [additional 4 only directly accessible on newer Control Boards; available on all boards via a header connector on Control Card]
• 12 Inputs [additional 4 only directly accessible on newer Control Boards; available on older boards only with modification;  on Desktops only #9-12 will be available ]
• PWM System for controlling a laser cutter
• Heater control functions for 3D printer [extruder motor controlled by B Axis]
• 2 channels of analogue input measurement capability (0-5v DC)
• 2 channels of analog output capability (0-5v DC; low mA)
• Control Card temperature measurement [reported in UD]
• Logic power line voltage measurement and spiking [reported in UD]

New Control Software and UI Features

• Updated layout of standard CNC user interface for clarity; many small enhancements
  • Right clicking on Command line allows configuring Command entry style
  • Right clicking over Input and Output Display allows configuring
  • Clicking Outputs Indicators toggles them ON/OFF
  • Automation Buttons for Zeroing and Homing now readily available on the Location Display
  • [MI] Command for running/spinning Indexer independently of other operations
  • New [VH and VI] parameters for controlling PWM output and 3D printer heater
  • Additional system variables including those for new digital and analogue inputs
  • [UD] new tool data as well as voltage and temperature; Connection speed efficiency data is now reported in UD
  • [UD] provide access to oscilloscope function that displays logic voltage or voltage on analogue input on 1 or 2
• KeyPad Usability Enhancements
  • Memorized Location (like old-time radio) Buttons; go someplace and hold the button down, it will remember; click later to return to location
  • Easier Zeroing from KeyPad
  • "GoTo" now more direct [enter axis key, new location, enter; e.g. "x 3 enter"]
• NEW! ShopBotEASY Interface … interchangeably available
  • As CNC and digital fab get easier, it will be more natural to primarily use the ShopBot interface just to cut a part or access other software; the ShopBotEASY interface is set up with this ease of use in mind and the idea of making operation more pushbutton and less dependent on learning CNC code or commands (as much as we like OpenSBP). It's all about getting closer to 'Click-to-Print'  and to simply cutting your design. Old-time purists may lament moving away from the old work flow. We look forward to your input on what is missing from ShopBotEASY and absolutely must be added ...
  • Help Dots in EASY provide simplified and customizable Help
  • Buttons in the EASY interface have shortcuts that get away from using C2, C3
  • Cut Part gives optional access to parameters, and Ctrl-Cut Part to FG
  • Accessing values and settings is done from the Help page in EASY
  • Note that in EASY, whether you are connected or not to a tool is left kind of ambiguous to reduce confusion about SM/SP … we're not sure how well this works.
  • Switching back and forth between EASY and the standard interface is just a button click
• NEW! Button/Macro system for automating frequent tasks and for setting up production interfaces (at the moment this is relatively un-documented and still a bit 'alpha'). We'll put some examples in the next version, but if you want to give it a try got to Buttons in the Virtual Tool Folder and run Buttons.exe. Setting up a couple of buttons to run is relatively straightforward. After you "Set Production Mode" and close, the next time you run Buttons you just see them. To get back to the set-up system hit the "Shift" key immediately after starting Buttons. Data for Buttons is saved in under ShopBot in the Program Data folder.
• Enhanced Programming Interface for Developers / Customizers is available through the registry. This will be fully documented in future updates, but you can run see the types of information made available and tasks that can be accomplished by running the example program (with ShopBot running):  c:/Program Files/ShopBot/Developer Tools/ReadReg_Example.exe   [Program Files (x86) on 64bit computers]. You can also have a look at the registry entries to see the new options.

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