MadModder

To take a break from that stepper business, I thought why not test, if FY6900 that I have, if it's possible to expand it a bit by using it's PC software.

There appears to be very little documentation, or any other info available on the net about that piece of software. I started to wonder, why is that, because these Feeltech's(plus other re-branded ones, I have Dominty) function generators seem to be rather popular among hobbyists for their price.

Anyway, I downloaded software and usb driver from Feeltech website.

Installing that usb driver was not a breeze - I use W7, and had to go to device manager and install it by selecting usb device from the list, and then selecting CH341SER.INF -file.
Installing PC software itself wasn't encouraging either, but finally after some fiddling I got it installed.

So, how about using that software? It seems to have "list of bugs, that is longer than its source code", as someone commented on the net. Can it then be used for anything at all? I think it's possible, once one learns how to not make it crash.

One might say that it's a piece of crap, but as there aren't any other alternatives to transfer custom waveforms from pc to this device - why not test and see, what is possible.

At least in my case, once I draw some waveforms, and click "send data" -button, it transfers just fine to the function generator(haven't tested how the shapes look on the scope yet, though).

Its waveform editor doesn't have any tools to edit waveforms in precise way - it's just for freehand drawing.

And, what's most fascinating, when I save that waveform to .FY -file, and open it in the program - it isn't same anymore. It's just garble. Possible reason for that is, that the program saves all 8192 decimal values using commas.  When I open that .FY -file in text editor, and replace commas with dots(or periods or whatever), and save it, open it again in the program, the waveform appears just like I drew it earlier...

What comes to the program's main window, there is a button for opening files. But when trying to open FY -files, it always crashes with a message "Run-time error '6': Overflow".

Is there any ways to open/import data to this program? Yes there is, by first selecting waveform window. then selecting a waveform file from the left side, and clicking "Add waveform" -button and, then "Loading waveform" -button(Loading_waveform.jpg).

And there we have another trap - Cycle and Amplitude values - if one uses dot, instead of comma, when entering the values, it crashes with message "Run-Time error '13': Type mismatch".
Personally I just avoid entering anything in those fields, as I haven't yet found them to be useful anyway.

Control window, where other functions can be adjusted, haven't looked much into it yet, as all that I have so far needed/used, can be done with the device itself (Control_window.jpg).

Another way to insert data is text window, where one can paste copied values, as far as number of them doesn't exceed the 8192 limit, and then click 'Import waveform Window' button, so that the waveform shows in the waveform window(Text_window.jpg).

So, to create and/or edit waveforms is preferably done by using other program(s).

An example of custom waveform(Custom_waveform.jpg).

I used Openoffice's Scalc(similar to Excel) to edit values manually. It's kind of easy for simple waveform like that, but also tedious thing to do.

There is also another possible candidate, which I have tested a bit. It saves waveforms in .bkw -ascii format, which contains the data just in same form, that this Feeltech's program accepts:

https://l.bkprecision.com/wavexpress.html
 
I used it to make exact same, chopped sine waveform(BK_waveform.jpg).

Well, that was instructive. 


1, they are not difficult to take apart.

2, the largest piece of debris was a flake of paint (thst probably fell in when I opened it).

3, there is no perceivable wear , it's like new inside.

4, they are fiddly f####rs to put back together!

Still , I have fixed the leak


And decided the click is the motor coupling, which I may have to change along with the motor, as it lacks starting torque for the highest speeds.

A bit more fiddling today. I've wired a control box with no-volt switch and psu for the speed adjustment motor.

I going to have to pull the kopp apart and clean out some debris, I noticed that since changing orientation,it has developed a click (the adjustment worm bearing show noticeable wear and I suspect crap from this has got into the mechanism. Changing oil didn't shift it.) And I have a oil leak from the speed adjustment port.

It'll be easier to make a motor driven speed change with it on the bench

Bill, I still have another and some spares if you need them. Phil. (I did have a flexible drive for the speed change knob so you could operate it remotely but don't know where it is - or even if I still have it.)

thanks for  the kind comments!, i am not giving up any time soon, I hope!!
Phil

Sometimes, the excitement of working on engines can lead to a few oversights. Glad you figured it out. Now that it's running, tweaking it will be a breeze. Just remember, take it one step at a time and you'll have it purring perfectly!