Problems with Trinamic stepper motor

[cliveward]

I have been attempting focus bracketing using Helicon Remote with either a Canon EOS R5 or R10 plus Canon MP-E 65mm with Canon EF-RF converter and Trinamic stepper motor (as described on the Helicon web pages).
When I set the program running, one of two situations occurs. Sometimes, although the motor runs when I click on the appropriate icons and I can save either a near or far point, it does not record the change in position after further motor movements (stays at 0) so I cannot define the other point and therefore cannot shoot a series. Sometimes I can set it up with near and far points saved and interval/number of shots defined. However, when I click on “Start shooting” it takes only one shot and stops. It then reverts to the situation previously described!
I am running the latest version of the software and get the same problem on two different computers – a desktop running W10 and a laptop running W11. I’m pretty sure I have run the setup successfully in the past but cant remember whether this was with my current cameras or my previous EOS 5Div.
Any suggestions welcome!

[Catherine]

These might two separate issues, shooting one photo and stopping might be simply due to the configuration. First, I need to know: which Trinamic is it? 1141 with built-in USB socket, or an older model with a USB to serial converter (the cable that plugs into the controller itself is not a USB cable)?

Or, you can just send a bug report after a problem occurs: menu - Help - Report a bug. We'll see the info we need.

[cliveward]

Thanks for getting back to me.
I think mine must be the older model - there is no USB connection at the motor end of the lead.

I just tried the setup again with slightly different results.

Firstly, I tried with the R5. It took the required number of shots with no problem (first time this has happened in many many attempts!) but after I cleared near and far points and attempted to redefine them it once again failed to record any movements.

At this point I tried to send a bug report as you suggested. When I clicked on "send" nothing appeared to happen so I'm not sure whether it failed to send or if I sent multiple messages (as I tried a few times)!

I then tried again with the R10 and this time everything seemed to work perfectly!

[Catherine]

It doesn't matter which camera is connected, that's random variance with regards to how the motor works.

Please try this:
* Open Helicon Remote
* Press Alt+Shift+F11 on the keyboard
* In the window that pops up paste the following text:
rail=trinamic-com
* Press the Save button, exit Helicon Remote.
* Unplug Trinamic both from USB and power, then plug the power cord back in, then the USB cord.

Now see if the problem still occurs.

If it doesn't work, try sending a bug report again after the error and give it more time, ~10 minutes. If it doesn't work still, then we'll troubleshoot it.

[cliveward]

I tried what you suggested and it has improved performance but I still get the same errors albeit not as often. I have sent a bug report after the most recent failure.

[Catherine]

Unfortunately we didn't receive your report. We studied the server logs carefully and there was never a request made in the first place, which means there's a network connectivity issue on your end, not something wrong on our end that we could address. Could be a firewall blocking access, for example.

The next time the problem happens, please do this: open the bug report tool, but don't press "Send", instead tick the "Show data to be sent" checkbox. The click the new text field that appeared, press Ctrl+A and then Ctrl+C to select all and copy, and e-mail the text to [email protected].

[cliveward]

Thanks for getting back to me. I have done as you suggested. Incidentally, I have the preferences set to move the trinamic motor 1 degree at a time, but in fact it moves 4 degrees with each step. I don't know whether this helps with diagnosis!