Hi there. We are using PAA Overlord3 in our automated workcell, and among instruments there is Tecan SPARK. Historically, PAA provided us with a Command modules (some sort of driver) that was communicating with SparkControl_Magellan, being able to literally command the plate in/out and to run a predefined Magellan Method. Magellan handled all the inputs and the outputs, and while not giving the smoothest experience (occasional need to repeat the command or rare RPC server failures requiring a machine restart), it was working for couple of years.
Since recently, I cannot manage the named chain to work on any of my PCs. The Overlord is able to run Magellan commands, but as soon as I exit a procedure using a Magellan command, or a setup menu for Magellan Command, all the software complains for “Failed to Create Instrument Object. Error: Object reference not set to an instance.“, and SPARK transits to some erroneous state that requires at least PC reboot, in rare cases powercycling the reader as well.
Because the Overlord Command seemingly works over COM+ object model interop via RdrOleDll4, I suspect some invalid pointer release and consequent heap corruption in Dragonfly USB layer. But I’ve no idea what to do with it other than repeatedly iterating over available versions of Windows, SparkControl (suite providing the drivers and USB comms service), and Magellan. At this point I’d like to ask if anyone experienced any similar quircks with any software or hardware (I tend to blame Overlord but all the same setup was working somehow half a year ago and before!) and managed to restore normal operation…