Syntec Controller and Network Access

[nash]

Friends,

I bought a 4 axis CNC router from China with a Syntec controller. The controller is really a nice PC loaded with FreeDOS, a knock off of a geriatric OS (MS DOS). The machine was delivered with two CF Cards, and one USB drive. This actually put me in a tangent, it took time to figure out why the USB didn't work and why its drivers, which are loaded properly at boot time, failed to initialize! The bios of the controller computer has USB disabled. So I question, whats the use of that USB drive?

The only way I could use the machine was using the CF Cards. The CF cards are extremely delicate if popped in and out of inaccessible rear part of the controller panel. I changed the USER CF Card to a 1GB card from a 256MB card that was delivered as standard. Therefore, the only practical way to use the machine, for me was through the network.

After some teething issues, I've finally managed to connect my machine's syntec controller to a computer on the network. If there are many on the board who use Syntec and have not been able to use network access, I'll be happy to write a tutorial for you.

Warm greetings,
N

[mhkwd]

Hello Nash,

I've had my syntec controller for over a year have not figured out to hook it up to a network. If your willing to write a tutorial I sure would like to try it out.

Best Regards, Mitch

[nash]

Mitch,

Many here were very helpful in addressing my woes in getting the machine running. This is one way I can contribute to others. Give me the weekend to get some free time and I'll write a tutorial that should get your syntec machine to read files from your network.

Best,
N

[mhkwd]

Nash,

No hurry, I waited more than a year, a week or two won't matter.

Thanks, Mitch

[nash]

As promised, here's my tutorial, done hurriedly, but please be very careful, first make a backup of your CF Cards so that you don't waste work and time. Then try what I've written here at this link. If you have questions, post them here. I'll try my best to answer. If you don't know squat about networks, don't even try this, but you can play with your computer settings, connect to the network, make basic network settings work, then you will definitely understand this.

[mhkwd]

Nash,

Thanks for taking the time to write this. I probibly fall in the catagory of "not knowing much about networks", but will give it a try.

Mitch

[nash]

Mitch,

If you wish, PM me the result of running the command "ipconfig" from the console of your computer (Start->accessories->console). And email me the files that need to be changed, and I'll send you the changed files. Or just ask a 20 year old computer guy to come and interpret my tutorial for you. Its very simple. Some things you need to know:

Myths according to the CNC manufacturers:

1. You can have only the directory and domain name that is pre-installed in the controller. FACT: I've changed that. In fact if everyone had the same domain name, it would be a security risk.
2. You cannot make a copy of the CF Card for your own safety. FACT: I was a bit perplexed with this and didn't do this till I was told that others had done it. In the computer world some CFCards can be preprogrammed to change if they're inserted in a reader. This is not the case with Syntec card. So feel free to keep a backup in case things go sour and reinstall the system.
3. You should not change your CF Cards. FACT: I put a 1gb USER CF Card, I formatted it in the FAT file system, and copied the Syntec USER CF Card stuff on the 1gb, and installed it in the system. Worked well.

All the best.

N

[MaNo]

....so in conjunction with UltraVNC SC or other flavour we now could ask technician at factory to check out parameters rather than us experimenting !!??

http://www.uvnc.com/pchelpware/sc/index.html

[nash]

Norbert,

We most definitely could if the Syntec had at least a multi-user (windows 2000 and up, or Linux or any flavor of Unix or the new mac OS-X) window'd OS which the VNC could very well use. There are a number of other technologies that allow the VNC kind of feature. But I guess, the first thing is to use a more advanced OS for controllers. Syntec should work on using Real Time Linux which is free and stable-solid, and instead of using OpenCNC that is DOS based they can use the Linux CNC which is free as well.

Best,
N

[jiongyau houng]

if anybody have questions about syntec controller
please send email to john@syntecclub.com.tw
or add my skype: jiongyau
My English is not very good
But I can find someone to help you

[MaNo]

Originally Posted by jiongyau houng if anybody have questions about syntec controller please send email to john@syntecclub.com.tw or add my skype: jiongyau My English is not very good But I can find someone to help you

Hello John,

Although Nash started this particular thread, I hope he doesn't mind my taking the liberty of saying 'Welcome'

I am convinced most Syntec users would definitively appreciate any help and /or information that you can give to us. While you offer help via email, please bear in mind that many other people would benefit from your knowledgeable answers if the posts were published on this forum.

In my case, I do not have an immediate need of information because my machine is on its way back to the factory for replacement and I do not know if the replacement will be shipped with the same Syntec EZ 4012M as the original machine.

One thing I couldn't understand though, why would the EZ 4012M be supplied with 900 TE software/firmware? I was told that the 900 TE software is for a lathe but that it had probably been modified for router. The 'manual' I received with my machine didn't explain all the buttons/keys on the controller console. I do realize that some of the keys are for a different type of machine and are not active for a router but I was never told which keys to disregard because they serve no function.

Anyway, until I get the replacement I will not have many questions but I am sure others do.

Best regards

[BM3]

Nash "So I question, whats the use of that USB drive?''

The usb slot can be used to import files or to add a second screen.

Nash "You cannot make a copy of the CF Card for your own safety"

Also I have been able to ghost the Syntec CF card, to keep as a backup. I use USBOOT (but only works on an XP computer)