Problems communicating with BP boss 8 series

[eckolaw]

I am having a problem getting my laptop to communicate with my boss 8 series 2. I have the ezlink utilities and the printer port connection but i can not establish a connection with the mill computer. Is there special drivers i need to transmit information to the boss 8 computer? I have mastercam to write the nc but have failed at every attempt to load the nc into the machine. Can someone please enlighten me. I have mainly worked on newer HAAS machine centers.

[kdhBOSS5VRAM]

I think you have to use the 9 pin serial port to communicate, not the printer port. At least on the laptops I've used that's how it works.

Kevin

[MrBoss8]

eckolaw, since you use MasterCam, enable the "Cimco Editor" for working with .nc files (in MasterCam go to Screen, Configuration, to select your editor). Then with Cimco installed, and started, go to, and click on, "Transmission", then "DNC Setup", then "Setup", Then "Port", and select COM 1 (or the COM port you are using), 1 Stop bit, Even parity, 1200 Baud (after it works you can increase the Baud rate), and 7 Data bits. Then set Flow Control to "Software", XON Char to \17 and XOFF Char to \19. Be sure the baud of the R2E3 MATCHES YOUR CIMCO SETTING, your cable is wired properly, and connected to Port "B" on the Boss8. Set machine ready to accept program, then send from Cimco. Good Luck.

[eckolaw]

Really. The machine came with a 4 wire cable for the printer port so i thought it would work. Thank you for that information. That could be why its not getting any signal at all. Thank you again.
And thank you Mr boss 8 for the step by step info! this is what i was looking for. Also, beings that the manual i have is very vague, how do i set the Baud on the machine itself?

[kdhBOSS5VRAM]

That's exactly how my cable is also but I think it was for a 25 pin serial port on a desktop computer, not the printer port. I had to use a 25 to 9 pin adapter to plug into the serial port of the laptop. A lot of newer laptops do not have a serial port so then you have to use a USB to 9 pin adapter. It will work eventually but on some machines we've had to use a null modem also between the machine and cable. I don't think the Bridgeports need that though.

Kevin

[eckolaw]

I would like to use a usb if i could but i havent seen any of those yet. I do have a serial port on my laptop. Do you know how to change the baud rate on the mill itself? thanks again for this info. it has helped me move forward a lot

[kdhBOSS5VRAM]

I would just get the 25 to 9 pin adapter and use the serial port but I think the USB adapter is something you could get at an Office Depot or Ebay if you want to use it that way. I would just go with the serial port as long as you have it. I don't know what you change for baud on your machine as mine is a Boss 5 and you actually have to flip dip switches on the board to change it. I would just try changing baud on your laptop until you get one to work, that's how I did it on mine. I'm sure MrBoss8 can fill you in on what you have to do on your machine.

Kevin

[MrBoss8]

In the upper right hand corner of the front panel, is a button labeled "option," scroll through the sub menus till Baud (A and B port) is accessed, then select the lowest baud to start, once you have success, baud rate can be increased.