Trying to get a C30 to boot, only getting a black backlit screen...

    Thanks for the file save, I've had a look over it and here's what I've found:

    - AS Firmware requires updating - The current version is not a recognised version I've ever seen.

    - SV firmware require updating - The current version is very old indeed and may not be correct.

    Kawasaki Tech Support sent you these files including the TP firmware for the MFP.

    Therefore IMHO they would not have sent you these unless they were correct.

    Can you zip those up and the procedure they provided and send them to me using the conversation option on the forum?

    I think at this point with the MFP's displaying nothing, is it worth taking a punt and assuming it's the display part of the MFP that is faulty and try a blind firmware upload just for smarts to see if this is the case?

    So what I mean by this is to carry out first an AS firmware install procedure, even though we can't see anything on the TP and then an SV firmware install if the AS install is a success.

    If this all works, then at least you will have a setup 1GA/1HA board ahead of resolving the MFP/1HP issue.

    This may then highlight the issue with the MFP is an internal issue and not 1HP.

    What do you think?......worth a shot?

    What you will need is a known compatible PCMCIA card.

    I have started the following thread posting compatible cards based on experience with C controllers:

    C and D Controller PCMCIA known compatibility - Kawasaki Robot Forum - Robotforum - Support and discussion community for industrial robots and cobots (robot-forum.com)

    So this means:

    - Placing the relevant files onto a compatible PCMCIA card from a PC to the card.

    - Placing the card in the MFP slot.

    - Setting SW2 on 1GA/1HA card to 1,3,5,8 ON.

    - Emergency stop in, teach lock on.

    - Powering the controller up whilst holding either diagonal corners.

    - Holding them for a good 60s.

    - Then walking away from it for a good 30-40 mins.

    - Powering down the controller, setting SW2 1 ON.

    - Have KCWin32 running and connected and powering back on.

    - Then entering ID command and see if the firmware has loaded.

    Bit of a blind punt, but worth a shot I think.............

    Sorry for the absence! With getting married, and the recent shopping holiday, and two trade shows it has been insanity this last month, and not completely calmed down yet, but I am going to try to increment one more step towards a solution on this...

    I'm going to send over those files shortly.

    I think it makes sense to try anything you think I should. I think that treading lightly in fear of bodging the software is probably a bridge already burned.

    You had mentioned in the past that there are some new versions of boards that are better than the old ones... what about mfp's? Will this controller work with any other mfp than the "batwing" design one? I ask because there is a huge number of mfp's available in the secondhand market, but very few of them are the "batwing" design and the batwings are by far the most expensive...

    Thanks sir, and files are coming soon.

    Congratulations............ :beerchug:

    I wish you and your partner for a great future together.

    The files you sent over appear to be missing the AS firmware files, could you ask Kawasaki if they can supply you the AS firmware files too?

    Once you have a full compliment of files, we can try the 'blind' load and see if that's the CPR she needs to wake up again.

    Yes, you are correct, there are a couple of teach pendants available.

    They are referred to as Type 1 and Type 2 and both would be compatible with your controller as long as the connector is the same.

    These 2 types of pendant were manufactured with either a square or circular connector.

    Type 1 is what you refer to as the 'batwing' style (love the analogy) and type 2 is the same except you have a some additional hard keys.

    The below links may be too old now but:

    Type 2 Teach pendant looks like the following link:

    KAWASAKI TEACH PENDANT 50817-1260 | eBay

    The following two threads are quite similar to yours and the 2nd thread, the member cguenther may have some other pendants available, you may want to contact him and see if you can strike up some sort of deal......

    Restoring Kawasaki FC006N - Kawasaki Robot Forum - Robotforum - Support and discussion community for industrial robots and cobots (robot-forum.com)

    Journey to resurrecting C controller... - Kawasaki Robot Forum - Robotforum - Support and discussion community for industrial robots and cobots (robot-forum.com)

    It you can get the AS firmware, this would be the root to try first I think for a blind load.

    Consolidating a couple direct messages here for the good of the group as this adventure goes forward... :

    Ok,

    I have ordered two different CF cards that are on the list of known supported cards, when I get them I will follow the following directions:

    So this means:

    - Placing the relevant files onto a compatible PCMCIA card from a PC to the card.

    - Placing the card in the MFP slot.

    - Setting SW2 on 1GA/1HA card to 1,3,5,8 ON.

    - Emergency stop in, teach lock on.

    - Powering the controller up whilst holding either diagonal corners.

    - Holding them for a good 60s.

    - Then walking away from it for a good 30-40 mins.

    - Powering down the controller, setting SW2 1 ON.

    - Have KCWin32 running and connected and powering back on.

    - Then entering ID command and see if the firmware has loaded.

    Is the ID command specifically just typing ID and hitting enter, or what is that, just to make sure I only do exactly what is spelled out specifically here...

    Anyway, thanks again! Without you reviving this thing would be impossible.

    -Parker

    Correct.

    Initially you are looking at just loading in the AS firmware.

    The only reason to carry out this test is to prove/eliminate whether the MFP is in fact powering up and communicating with the CPU board (although there doesn't appear to be anything displayed).

    If the AS does load in (blind), by just using KCWin32 and the ID command, you should see the AS firmware level displayed relative to the AS file you loaded in.

    Which will then prove the CPU board is working and the MFP is working and communicating, just no display which will then prove the fault lies with the MFP.

    Ok!

    So, I loaded the firmware, and it appears to have took. I stopped at step 8, because I didn't know if you meant sw2 on the mfp or sw2 on the 1ga/1ha card. And if you meant sw2 on the mfp, if I was supposed to keep 1,3,5,8 on on the card, or if I was supposed to take that back to only 1 as well.

    I have the machine waiting for the second boot now. snooping via kcwin while it was doing its business it got to here: I assume that means success!

    If that is the case, I will further assume that I need a new MFP.

    My machine has the batwing-style 50817-1182R04. Is it possible to put a different MFP on this machine, or will the software only work on that specific model? I ask because I believe I bought the only two of these that there were on the internet, and they both don't work (unless it wakes up on reboot, I guess...) I am capable of switching the cannon plug if there is a better mfp that will also work but just needs a different plug...

    Anyway, awaiting further instructions out of fear of messing up what seems to be the first thing that has worked!

    Thanks!

    I was very specific in my instructions (or at least I thought I was regarding SW2 settings and the order of progression).

    No mention of MFP except for where the PCMCIA card is to be inserted.

    Only to try and load in the AS firmware as per my instructions above and see what happens.

    OK,

    So, it boots now and says it is in Version 33010KFE which I just uploaded 33010kfe.bin, so I think that took!

    It is not, however, letting me type into it in the KCWin terminal. I am going to read back to see if there was something I had to do first before I type, but just trying to type "ID" right now it won't register, even though the cursor is blinking.

    Again, I am now assuming since the firmware took that it is the MFP that is the problem. Is any other MFP compatible with this machine, or does it need to be exactly 50817-1182R04?

    Thanks, and awaiting any advice or instruction on what to do next.

    -Parker

    So the MFP is functioning, just no display.

    That could either be the backlight, the inverter board, both, possibly loose connections inside, capacitor (aging issues).

    The backlight can be replaced, but not for the faint hearted, but from your results that's what it points to.

    cguenther could you assist with this with your 'stock' at all?

    benderservices send cguenther a conversation, he may be able to assist in some way here... :top:

    So, on both of the MFP's I have the backlight works on both, you can see it light up, but the lcd crystal never changes. I have tried to no avail to find a replacement screen. The backlights are easy to come by on the 'bay. I have been in one but not both, and didn't see any bulged caps, but sure could change them anyway if there are elctrolytics... or cguenther has any options, I am open to that as well...

    Ok, so. I got a new screen from overseas, the backlight works but the pendant still shows nothing...

    So. does anyone have a machine that one of these pendants would work on? I'd love to mail one of these out and see if they work on someone else's machine. Either that, or what boards could quit that would make the pendant not work? We have already established that they kindof work as the card reader uploaded firmware, and also the touchscreen registered the corner presses to do the firmware updating procedure..... so....

    It just seems very unlikely that two different pendants and a third "guaranteed good" screen all have dead screens. The common denominator is the C30 console itself, is there a wire in the pinout that is like 'display enable' or something?

    Is the handheld a separate unit to the extent that it should boot on its own given the correct power?

    I am just trying to figure out what the next step is, as the last option I can see is a "new guaranteed pendant" from Radwell for almost 8 grand, which is just plain never going to happen. I would be happy to mail one of these pendants to europe if anyone over there has a machine they should work with!

    Thanks again for any ideas no matter what they are!

    -Parker

    Well it's clearly an electronics issue within the MFP and all I can say is what's left is just the graphics driver and GPU within the MFP.

    I don't want to keep throwing - try this and try that at this stage......but clearly the communication part of the MFP is working as you have successfully transferred data from PCMCIA to CPU, just no graphics representation.

    Tap up cguenther again........I am sure there is something that can be done.

    I am in the UK and have a working C controller and MFP and I'd be willing to take a look over them, but I couldn't offer any assurances of a resolution as my electronics days are well behind me and may take sometime to track down anything.......just an option if time is not critical.

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