Need Help!- Interface problems with TNC 151

[bigred]

This is my first post on this forum, as I have been searching through them over the past few weeks and getting a lot of useful information.

I am using a Bridgeport Series I Interact 3 Axis with a Heidenhain TNC151B control, I have been using conversational programming for some time now, and recently have been trying to link the machine to a PC. We made the 25-9 cable to connect to the PC (running windows 2000). We are using the TNCserver program we downloaded from the Heidenhain website.

now for the problems.

When we try to send a program to the PC from the machine, the program goes to active and recognizes the file trying to be sent, but within 5 seconds the status goes from active to stopped. In the folder set up in TNC server, there is the file (XX.H), but it is just an empty file with no content except for the name of the program.

I have changed some of the parameters as I have found through some research
MP 218 = 17736
MP 219 = 16712
MP 220 = 279
MP 221 = 5382
MP 222 = 168
MP 223 = 1
MP 224 = 4


I have the TNC set to FE and the baud rate at 9600

The PC is set in FE mode at 9600

The PC Com settings are set as follows
9600 baud
7 data bits
x on/x off enabled
1 stop bit
even parity

I am running PRO/Engineer to design the parts, and output the G-Code with BOBCad, which is what we are eventually trying to send to the machine.

But, for now, we would like to at least back-up the programs we have on the CNC


If anyone has some simple example conversational programs that I could try to send to the machine, to see if the problem is only sending to the PC, or if it is both ways, I would appreciate it.

I hope that I have provided enough information relating to my problem, I would appreciate any input anyone has on this issue.
-Anthony

[greg b]

Anthony i dont know if i can help or not but i had simular probs with my 2500 control have you selected the exit button to transfer you programs,and what i found i had to put the mode function in heidenhain to transfer conversational and iso for g code hope this helps regards greg

[gus]

Try no flow control

[GarageShop]

Are you using a null modem adapter between the PC and the control?

[bigred]

Originally Posted by GarageShop Are you using a null modem adapter between the PC and the control?

no it is just a straight cable from the 25pin on the back of the control to the 9 pin port on the PC

the configuration we used for the pins is

CNC 25Pin ---- PC 9 Pin

2 ---2
3 ---3
4 ---8
5 ---7
6 ---4
7 ---5
20---6

[bigred]

Update:

We managed to get the CNC communicating with our Greko EZ-File, using the parameters and setup instructions described in the Greko book, and the machine set in EXT mode, not FE like we originally thought.

I think the problems communicating with the PC lies in the machine parameters somewhere between 218 and 224, as this is the only thing that we changed to get the Greko working.

Does anyone have these parameters for communication with a PC, or any better information on how to calculate them? The manuals for the TNC151 do explain them, and how to calculate them, but do not give any explanation of what they are, or should be for different situations.

We also just purchased a new copy of BobCAD V21, which apparently comes with the setup instructions for the machine, I will let you know either way.

-Anthony

[greg b]

Anthony my 2500 has 515/17701/16677/279/5382/4/168 i dont know if there the same as yours but you could try the 17701 in place of 218 and 16677 in place of 219 all the others seem the same as mine see how it goes regards greg.

[bigred]

update:

The copy of bobcad is able to generate both conversational and g-code programs. We are able to transfer these via 3.5" floppy discs to the machine using the greco ez-file. The biggest problem with this method is that the 151 is limited to 1000 lines of code per program, and 32 programs. The only thing we have left to do is figure out the parameters for the tnc151 and computer in order to drip feed to the machine.

Originally Posted by greg b Anthony my 2500 has 515/17701/16677/279/5382/4/168 i dont know if there the same as yours but you could try the 17701 in place of 218 and 16677 in place of 219 all the others seem the same as mine see how it goes regards greg.

Greg, we tried this, but what mode is the control set on (FE,ME,EXT)?



-Anthony

[greg b]

Anthony im pretty sure the setting is in (ext) on my 2500 control hope this helps regards greg

[caniggia_100]

http://www.aggsoft.com/rs232-pinout-...b9-to-db25.htm

This one is working.

On the PC I use default settings for port,

on the machine I use 9600 and FE transfer.

Enjoy