Work Flow - DNC Communications and a post processor

[keith_clausen]

I can not overstate the advantages of rock solid DNC communications solutions and a post processors has on day to day operation.

I finished fighting (figuring out) with the DNC on the last machine CNC machine in the shop and have it now talking back and forth with our network. Who would have known that it needed to be set 7 data bits to send to the machine and 8 data bits to send from the machine....?? Its working now......now its time to setup the remote request.

I realize that most people in small shops such as Clarus Microtech is may not use DNC communication to and from their CNC machines, but I have been spoiled in the past and understand the enormous benefits to the day to day operation in having rock solid communications. I send a lot of code to our machines and I save a lot of time and effort by using Cimco DNC-Max coupled with a Moxa ethernet to serial router in order keep my serial cable runs short to boost signal integrity.

BTW the control that I just connected is a Fanuc Oi Mate-TC on our Prodigy lathe (small format gang chuck lathe)

Oh, I almost forgot to mention I also managed to work out some post processor issue on the machine this week with the help from  Andrew Ward at Autodesk/HSMWorks. Now we can start implementing HSMWorks to program the lathe.

All in all while it was a lot of work picking away on these technical issues this week for this machine its solves a lot of work flow issues....now onto the next thing!

[ArjanDijk]

Compared to the DNC programs a lot of my customers use, the DNC option in the Cimco editor works flawless (after right configuration of course 🙂 ). Really happy with it.

[scottmoyse]

I just got HSM Edit DNC hooked up to a Fanuc 16i-MB on a Robodrill. I used the default Machine 1 settings, Software flow control, 9600 Baud rate, default XOn & XOff characters.



In this particular case I needed to turn on 'Wait for XOn' so the operator could send the code, then walk around to the machine and then execute it.



I set the COM port to the only one available.

[ArjanDijk]

Thanks for sharing, Scott.

Is 9600 fast enough for dripfeeding? Is it fast enough for the customer? I know it will make a 1mb CNC file a 15 minute wait.

Its surpising me sometimes how long machine vendors continued to offer machines with serial communication as the only option.

Still, I'm very happy with this DNC option.

[scottmoyse]

I was dubious. I told him I think we may need to increase it. Apparently they've had issues in the past where too much data has been sent to the control, so they had to back it off. It's easy enough to change if we have to.

[Greg_Haisley]

Its surpising me sometimes how long machine vendors continued to offer machines with serial communication as the only option.

What is even more surprising is machine tool controller suppliers still sell memory in feet or meters in length. Talk about still in the dark ages. You can get more memory in a $10 thumb drive that they will put in a CNC controller at any price. Can anybody say monopoly? With bastard serialized mother boards, displays, serialized hard drives what is left of a generic PC. I can't stand the way they do business. OEM's charge gold prices for replacement parts also. It's not what the costs are for the part ~ rather it is what they can get away with.

[ArjanDijk]

Recently I saw a 2012 machine with Siemens 802s control with 64kb memomry!!! A bit of a shock to me. Yes, a basic CNC control, but 64bb is something from 30 year ago.

[DWhiteley]

Is there any way that Fusion 360 ultimate users can utilise HSM Edit for DNC?

[ArjanDijk]

Unfortunatly, no