5T Operating Instructions FAQ /Q&A

[clembrant]

I have just installed the btr from rym on a 5T fanuc controller. I followed all the intsructions and I'm trying to send a simple program to the machine. The problem is i'm not getting any response from the computer when I push cycle start. It seems like there is no communication at all between machine and pc. Any help would be greatly appreciated. thanks Brian

[Dan Fritz]

First off, be sure that you're using the correct procedure. On the PC-DNC Editor, open any file (I like to make a test program with just a bunch of N-numbers). Then, click the "BTR" menu and select "Send file". A separate box should pop up showing your program. On the CNC control, you select TAPE mode and press CYCLE START. You can do this in SINGLE BLOCK mode if your program is going to actually move the machine. You should see the cursur advance in the BTR box as data is being sent to the Fanuc.

When you press CYCLE START on the 5T control, (if you're in TAPE mode), the tape reader normally clicks in and starts reading a tape. If you have the BTR cable connected, then the same signal that starts the tape reader is used to start feeding data to the CNC.

If the BTR output isn't doing anything when you press CYCLE START, then here's a test you can perform: Re-connect your paper tape reader ribbon cable to the Fanuc 5's "A" board. Then put the control in TAPE mode and press CYCLE START. If you watch the little "shoe" under the tape reader's pinch-roller, you will see it "click" in and try to pinch a tape between the shoe and the roller. You should be able to hear the click, and you should see a small motion in the shoe. The roller itself just spins all the time.

If you hear the click, then press RESET on the control and it should click again (to release the tape). The fact that the tape reader is clicking in and out means that the IC chips on the Fanuc "A" board are working, and the BTR link should be working also. If the tape reader DOES NOT click in & out, thent the CNC either has blown ICs on the A board, or else there is something else that is preventing you from cycle starting. There can be many safety interlocks on these machines, such as door open switches, lube low switches, air pressure switches, etc. Any one of these safety interlocks can prevent the control from cycle starting. If the paper tape reader doesn't click in when you try to CYCLE START, then we need to investigate why.

If the paper tape reader IS clicking in & out OK, then the BTR link has something that's not working right. There are several possibilities:

You might have the address of the parallel printer port set wrong. The normal address for a parallel port LPT1 is hex 0378-037F. There are some PCs out there, however, that use non-standard addresses for the printer port. To find out what address your PC uses, do this:

1) Right-click on the MY COMPUTER icon and select MANAGE
2) Click DEVICE MANAGER
3) Click the "+" sign next to "PORTS (COM and LPT)"
4) Right-click on the parallel port. It might be called "ECP printer port", or something like that
5) Click PROPERTIES, then click the "RESOURCES" tab

The address used by the parallel port should be shown under "Resources". If the number does not start with "0378", let me know what it is and I'll talk you through the adjustment process in the PC-DNC Editor.

Also, what version of Windows are you running, and what type of PC is this?

Dan

[clembrant]

thanks for the help Dan. I was able to get it working and am happy with the results so far