Proceedure to facilitate remote diagnosis
Via Frank:
If there are problems (strange behaviour, error messages), they should always:
-- make a screenshot,
-- terminate NPC16 (or if this is not possible, pull the serial cable) to write the log files,
-- send the log files (in the Log folder) and possibly also work plate and NPC16.INI files to GeSim for an inspection.
I would say that by inspecting the log files, we identify the hardware problem in about 90% of all cases.


Instructions for Users:

All actions of the Nano-Plotter are logged in the Log directory (Fig. 4-5 above) in the files NpC16_Init.log and NpC16.log; the latter is constantly updated during program execution and only the most recent events are found here. Therefore you should always switch off your Nano-Plotter and terminate NPC16 immediately after you have noticed an error.


After program restart, the the old log file is renamed to NpC16_Bak.log. Do not erase the log files. Send them (if possible, together with NpC16.INI and the current work plate file) to GeSiM if unexpected problems occur to facilitate error diagnosis at the factory before sending the hardware.


The log files can be stored in several locations:


  • The log file should be created automatically when you exit the NPC16 software. It will be saved in the Log folder within the NPC16 folder in (C:) > program files (X86) The log file name format is "[date - yyyymmdd] report log.txt"


  • In current versions of the software there should also be some log files located in under C:\GeSiM\NPC16... in a sub folder called \LOG and in (very) old Versions a NPC16.log and maybe NPC16.bak should in the main folder of the NPC16 software.