Fanuc PPR - Paper Tape Punch, Printer and Reader : Not quite working

[Eric Moore]

Yep! You can absolutely punch straight binary to tape. There is an escape,
the details escape me but are enshrined in my silly network attached paper
tape program:

https://github.com/emooreatx/FANUC-PPR

-Eric


On Sun, Apr 10, 2022, 12:43 PM Martin Bishop <
mjd.bishop at emeritus-solutions.com> wrote:

> Eric
>
> Thanks for confirmation the reader should “just work”.   Unfortunately it
> does not ...
>
> One other specific : can the PPR punch absolute binary tapes, e.g. for a
> PDP-11, one potential use.  Or, is it limited to “alpha numeric” ASCII.
> Using the native controller, I can’t see any way of geting it to punch e.g.
> DC1 .. DC4, they control the logic and are absorbed prior to the punch.  Is
> there an escape sequence ?
>
> The reader does not want to cal:
> - the procedure is in the PPR Operators manual [B-54584E/01 p 47-48]
> - the tape is a loop of U* with even parity, taken from ano Fanuc manual
> [see my 10 1314A Apr 21]
> - the tape feeds, but none of the indications illuminate : 50/60 Hz,
> sprocket signal, channel signal
> - beyond my doing it incorrectly (tried a few times), I would wonder if
> either lamp or optos are kaput
>
> Consequently, signal tracing to / from the reader looks the way to go, and
> the place to start is probably the sprocket opto.  A job for another
> "weekend", preferably with the circuits to hand - although I have seen no
> sign of any.
>
> Martin
>
> From: Eric Moore [mailto:mooreericnyc at gmail.com]
> Sent: 10 April 2022 17:23
> To: Martin Bishop <mjd.bishop at emeritus-solutions.com>
> Cc: General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts <
> cctalk at classiccmp.org>
> Subject: Re: Fanuc PPR - Paper Tape Punch, Printer and Reader : Not quite
> working
>
> Yep! That is my experience in remote mode, both driven via the panel or
> remotely.
>
> You know more than I do, I hope you get it figured out soon! The PPR is
> super fun to have on the bench if you have tapes to read or especially if
> you have a computer that works with paper tape.
>
> -Eric
>
>
>
> On Sun, Apr 10, 2022, 4:44 AM Martin Bishop <
> mjd.bishop at emeritus-solutions.com> wrote:
> Hi Eric
>
> I have a pair of light boxes and a CRO on the job:
> -          Modular Technology MT25-IV on the PPR side,
> -          BlackBox TS50A on the D-9 side,
> -          CRO on p2 & p3
>
> This unit says it takes and is receiving 220V power
>
> I can see codes going to the unit, but nothing coming out – stuck at
> logical zero (-7.5 V)
>
> I could start to believe that the RS232 driver may have an issue
>
> It sounds as though your experience is feed tape and out come the octets ?
>
> Martin
> From: Eric Moore [mailto:mooreericnyc at gmail.com]
> Sent: 10 April 2022 02:01
> To: Martin Bishop <mjd.bishop at emeritus-solutions.com>
> Cc: General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts <
> cctalk at classiccmp.org>
> Subject: Re: Fanuc PPR - Paper Tape Punch, Printer and Reader : Not quite
> working
>
> Hi Martin, do you have an RS232 light box like this one?
>
> RS232 Breakout Tester LED Monitor, DB9 Male to Female Breakout Module
> https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08CDQ76Q8/
>
> I am so confused why you are not seeing anything, I have had 3 PPRs (2
> bartered away) and never had any issues except a broken punch pin and one
> needing 220V power.
>
> -Eric
>
>
> On Sat, Apr 9, 2022, 7:18 PM Martin Bishop <
> mjd.bishop at emeritus-solutions.com> wrote:
> Eric
>
> Thank you for the manual and the suggestion of pulling all the jumpers.
> With all but jumper 1 out, it punches and remote starts (Xon) the reader at
> 4800 8N1; unchanged functionality.  However, still, nothing is emitted from
> the 232 for consumption by Putty.
>
> Unfortunately, the SystemP manual contains identical pages on the PPR to
> those in the PPR’s own manual.  Nonetheless useful as context, and for
> perusal in slow time.
>
> Martin
>
> From: Eric Moore [mailto:mooreericnyc at gmail.com]
> Sent: 10 April 2022 00:09
> To: Martin Bishop <mjd.bishop at emeritus-solutions.com>; General
> Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts <cctalk at classiccmp.org>
> Subject: Re: Fanuc PPR - Paper Tape Punch, Printer and Reader : Not quite
> working
>
>
> http://vtda.org/docs/computing/FANUC/B-54111E-02_FANUC_System_P_Model_G_Operators_1983.pdf
>
> Here you are, I knew I scanned the manual. This has all the jumper
> settings, and instructions on local vs remote modes.
>
> -Eric
>
>
>
> On Sat, Apr 9, 2022, 5:50 PM Eric Moore <mooreericnyc at gmail.com> wrote:
> Hi Martin, I use the PPR for all kinds of paper tape shennanigans.
>
> https://youtu.be/hGr0F9a7x1A
>
> Remove all but the first jumper, and that may help with your issues. I
> found at one point the jumper settings, but will need to search.
>
> -Eric
>
>
> On Sat, Apr 9, 2022, 4:56 PM Martin Bishop via cctalk <
> cctalk at classiccmp.org> wrote:
> A nicely made yellow box with a rather poor manual - both lost in
> translation and limited in scope.
>
> Working on setting one to work, but can't get anything out of the serial
> port.  In drives the punch, and the punched data verifies (based on a QL).
> In also drives the printer, although somewhat garbled, perhaps due to BCD
> coding or perhaps due to invalid parity (which is configured as no check).
> The reader 'reads' tape both in response to X/ON over RS232 and in response
> to front panel keys.  However, nothing is emitted onto 232.  The D25 - D-9
> transition has all the RTS/CTS and DSR/DTR/DCD lines knitted appropriately
> and indicating 'correctly' on blinkenlites.  Interestingly, on long test
> tapes the reader does not fall off the end but stops, repeatably after ~49"
> which is remarkably close to 512 octets.  Finally, the CNC termination
> octets : % (ASCII) and 0x80 (BCD : RS-244) don't seem to impress the reader
> - nothing changes.
>
> Specific queries:
> - Are there any magic control codes or handshaking rituals to coax data
> out of the reader
> - Is the PPR to CNC Controller interface protocol manual available as pdf
> - Where can I find drawings for the PPR's electronics, most importantly
> the main board (with its 8031)
> - Suggestions on how to proceed with setting to work / fault diagnosis
> - Has anyone house trained one of these to read PDP-11 absolute binary
> tapes, their target market was G code (text)
>
> Martin
>