I recently had to replace the 6FX1134-2BA01 battery backed RAM card on my 820T (GA2 I think - not marked) CNC Lathe controller following lightning in the area. This card is located as a daughter card on the 6FX1121-2BB02 interface card.

A full re-load went without any errors and everything works as it should EXCEPT message numbers are not translated to text from the PCA file. PCA file loads without any issue, and I have preformed several full system initial clears and re-loads but the error persists. This file has been loaded before the problem and worked fine.

I understand that this file of 3K bytes loads to the RAM I've changed, but there again so does an awful lot more that is working fine.

I had hoped to output the PCA file from the controller to see what it actually had in memory, but I seem to remember that this isn't possible.

Are there flags or something that inhibit the number to text translation or anything I can look at under Diagnose that might give me a clue what's happening?

to read in the PCA file you need to set machine data 5012 bit 7

in initial clear format the alarm text memory area

then read the file in, in intial clear mode

I usually set the bit in the md 

then go into initial clear and format the alarm memory

I then reboot

then go back into initial clear and read the PCA file in 

Sadly I'm getting nowhere fast with this issue :)

I am following the attached document 'How to Reload Your NC' from the Siemens Training Centre:

When I get to page 5 and start the actual re-loading I put in TEA1 and TEA2 (followed by ASM at this stage as I was told it was necessary) - all are acknowledged on the 820T screen. 

Then on page 6 I load PCP and PCA which again go in OK and are acknowledged.

My TEA1 has MD 5012 bit 7 set (see next post)

My PCA file seems Ok - anyway I've used it Ok previously (next next post)

So if anyone has any suggestions what I'm doing wrong I'd much appreciate you comment

. . . very frustrating

HI,

Your PCA file looks OK.

Are you loading an ASM file. ASM is in eprom and not something that can be loaded via RS232. I would skip the asm bit and just reload everything else.

Are the letters PCA displaying on the screen when you load it and do they stay on for the duration of the transfer?.

Pee

Hi,

ASM is Anwender Speicher module or User memory Module.

It was used to store user created screens and could also hold the machine data, plc program and plc message text on EPROM. Very few manufacturers ever invested the time or the money for the programming package to use it on 810/820 controls.  

Pee

Interesting background Pee, thank you.

I tried not loading the ASM file, but the controller wouldn't jog the lathe although it went 'ready'. So I tried a full reload with ASM and very sadly it STILL won't jog - PLC reporting a few errors such as low hydraulic pressure (Gauges say OK), and drive faults. Had enough for today - will re-visit it tomorrow with hopefully a clearer head. It's probably nothing to do with ASM not having been loaded, and more to do with old electronics being turned on and off a few times.

Thankfully I have in the past (thanks to help from Pee El Sea) managed to get Step 5 running and download and interpreted the PLC program which helps enormously fault finding. I'll try and set up Step 5 in monitoring mode which shows the state of variable if I can remember how to do it !

Copy of my PLC program attached as bedtime reading :)

Not Jogging was the Keyswitch on the control panel - so back to just not taking any notice of the PCA file.