Filesize Management w Fanuc

[tomGKJVK]

Hi guys,

I just bought a brand new Doosan with the latest Fanuc control with the iHMI.  Little did I realize they were still selling 80's computer technology with 512k of total memory.  I cannot load my programs from Fusion - even some single operations are too big.  

What tricks are you Fanuc guys using to load your programs?  The dealer recommended I use a PCMCIA card, but from what I've read those cards are also outdated/discontinued.  Now he's recommending adapters to use the PCMCIA port with CF cards.   Is this the right way?   Is this reliable?  I hate running adapters inline as it's a failure point, but I've also struggled with DNC as a failure point at times.

What is the best way?

[a.laasW8M6T]

Im not familiar with fanucs(other than knowing that they have possibly the worst file management/UI on the market), but DNC would probably be the cheapest option, the best option is to get the 5GB dataserver option from Doosan/fanuc but I have no Idea if that's able to be fitted in the Field.

If you want to reduce file size in fusion, turning smoothing on in some operations can help alot. (2D/3D adaptive 3D contour and Parallel will see the biggest reduction in size with smoothing on, Some toolpaths like scallop smoothing has virtually no effect on.

[seth.madore]

Take this with a grain of salt, but my Doosan rep did say that the data server could be field installed. He may have been blowing smoke, trying to close the deal....

That's my biggest gripe with Fanuc. It's the only control I've really known, but my gosh, file sizes are so much bigger now. Just glad my Mori and Kitamura came with the 1gb data server already installed

[iporter6]

I am fairly sure the data server is just a CF card that is already shipped with the machine.  They want £2k to turn it on in the UK.  When the guy came to set up my new Doosan he opened the back and plugged something in "there you go".

Also, you can buy a special short PCMCIA adapter and CF card direct from Fanuc.  Doesn't stick out a mile like a normal version and will work without any formatting or pain.

BUT, Data server absolutely the best way to go as you can use the USB stick to transfer to the MEM or the Data Server without having to change the input channel parameter (to use the CF card).

[tomGKJVK]

Thanks for the responses.   I'm a little unclear on what the Data Server is.  Is is a hardware device that gets added to the electrical cabinet?  Or is it an external computer hooked up to the machine?   I see descriptions where you can access and load to it through USB on the machine, and I also see videos of people hooking up computers and running FTP.   

I already have an ethernet port on the machine that looks like it's hooked up to something.  What are the chances I already have what I need?

[tomGKJVK]

I just found an interesting screen showing my machine has 7.5GB.  

Does anyone know how to allocate this to usable memory?

[chrisdavid605]

PCMIA to CF is the most common way outside of drip feed through dnc (eww). Fanuc sells an adapter that 100% works, I've had other brands work on and off. I think the recommend a 2GB max but I've ran up to 15 without problem. The iHMI may have an extended memory function that would work like a CF card. You would need to look in the manual and see if there is an I/O channel that doosan set-up for the fanuc side to see the drive.

Edit: The data server function option is usually physically installed on all the imported machines and they have you pay for the software unlock.

[seth.madore]

@tomGKJVK who did you buy your machine through? Your applications guy for the reseller should be able to get you better and more accurate info than we could give. It helps to build a relationship with them, the assistance they provide can be quite valuable

[tomGKJVK]

@seth.madore Yes, that's how it should work.  Unfortunately, my confidence level with them is not high and fading.  This is my first purchase with them and things just haven't gone very smooth.  I'm hoping the relationship will improve, but there are still other problems with the control w probing features not working and they don't seem to know how to fix it.  And the information I'm getting from them about this issue is inconsistent with what I'm reading elsewhere and what I'm seeing on my machine.  I am still trying to communicate with them. 

[seth.madore]

Who are they, if you don't mind me asking? If you aren't comfortable posting publicly, you can PM me the name.

If you use social media (Instagram), give a shout to user ubmathis, he's a sales rep for Ellison, he'll get you hooked up with the info needed

[a.laasW8M6T]

So for whatever reason the architecture that Fanuc controls are built on seems to not like large amount of storage for actual program memory.(That 7.5GB your seeing is likely for the IHMI software front end and cant be used for program storage)

What the data server does is gives you a place to store programs and then it internally drip feeds the programs to the controller(high speed), this seems to be how Fanuc gets around the memory limitation.

For reference our 22 year old Heidenhain 426 control has a 6GB hard drive...(3GB program Storage, 3GB on the Control/PLC Partition)

Also has file management similar to windows explorer with folder trees etc.

[tomGKJVK]

@a.laasW8M6T Thank you, that's good info!  Not what I was hoping to hear, but good to know 😉