I send an email to PPM asking for any notes on the configuration of the PC - IRQ's, drivers, settings, etc, to confirm that everything is the way it should be before I buy a $500 card from them. The email response from PPM (Precision Placement Machines) is only pseudo encouraging. They say that "I’m still sure that the HS3L is defective. You don’t need to worry about the IRQ’s, or a driver for that board."
Bullshit.
There are IRQ settings and drivers required. There are possible conflicts or other PC side issues that could keep the card from working. In fact there are more things to go wrong on the PC side than the controller card itself. The solution is to pay them first and then hope it works. All I wanted to do was confirm a handful of setting to make sure the troubleshooting was being done properly. I have already paid $1,500 for a license that they claim the previous owner never paid for. Now that I have the software licensed, I can see how buggy it is. When I ask about any updates, they respond with updates will cost extra. I tried to clarify, that I don't want an UPGRADE, I want an UPDATE to make the thing I just paid for usable. I feel like $1,500 should get me software that does not crash when I push the first button.
I am also trying to explain to them that I need to be able to estimate the costs involved to get the machine running before I start spending. It has all the makings of being a runaway expense magnet. Oh....$1,500 for a license...oh $500 for a board.....oh $1,500 for software that doesn't crash.....oh the feeders need new urethane rollers, springs, etc for $3,000. I don't mind spending the money to do the right thing, but I will not be happy if I feel like I am being suckered into a black hole. I fully expected some challenges and so far it is not too bad. The responses I am getting from PPM indicate that they have no idea what is going on and/or they are deliberately keeping me uninformed so they can get more money. I will give them the benefit of the the doubt for a little bit, but I need intelligent and honest answers. As a business owner, I can fully appreciate that they need to make a profit from the efforts.
Lets see......
UPDATE:
The latest email explained the crashes I am seeing are because the software is unable to communicate with the vision system. When that gets fixed, the software should be good. Maybe all is well after all.