VB Comms Failure During Long Jobs

Using Arduino Interfacing w/ Software on the Computer
14

Hi Paul,

The shots were extracted from video of the UNO while my laser cutter was running. The serial transfer is a very simple polling scenario.

  1. The VB app sends a command string, and waits for an 'OK' from the Arduino
  2. Arduino catches the string and parses the variables <- RX flashes
  3. Arduino carries out motor/laser commands
  4. Arduino finishes and sends 'OK' back to the VB app <- TX flashes

And so on...

The photos show that the stalling is a fault with the Arduino or its code because the TX does not flash at the moment of stall (the last photo). Thus no 'OK' gets returned to VB. I had assumed for ages that VB/Windows was locking the port for some reason and not receiving the 'OK'.