Wirelss CNC Network Need Help

[slonka]

Setup:

I have recently taken on the task of setting up a shop with wireless communications to mobile workstations and to the CNC machines (20 or so). I have excellent signal throghout the shop with a wireless gateway and recieve that great signal via a Wireless serial server box place atop a machine. Every aspect of the wireless network is perfectly running, even tested the serial server.

Problem lies in sending files to the machines properly via the wireless serial server. I have placed on the testing Laptop a program that emulates a serial port and routes it to a tcp/ip mode of communication to send to the wireless serial server. Files are recognized at the serial server as being sent but CNC doesn't see the file being sent. My pin configuration at the machine is proper as I am using a pre-existing cable that works when hard wired in.

Second dilema after first is resolved is how can I from 1-5 computers send files to 20 or so machines.

ANY Help would be appreciated...

-Slonka

By the way I am working a Fanuc controller

[HuFlungDung]

What brand of hardware are you using for the RS232 to ethernet? I've got a Moxa NPort unit working in my own shop, only for a single machine so far.

Only problem I've had occassionally, after a power outage, was that Windows apparently changed the virtual com port to a different number. There are a couple of utilities that comes with the Moxa hardware that allows one to rediscover and reset the com port number to a correct match.

[slonka]

1. Wireless Gateway (Linksys WRT54GL)
2. Wireless Serial Switch (Datahunter 2 com serial DB9)


The program used for file transfer at this shop is Edit/DNC and I am using TCP-Com for the serial port emulator. If there are better software packages out there for performing this job, I am all ears. Especially software packages that can shoot code out to 20 different machines without having to have 20 different port emulation programs running.

-Slonka

[rancherbill]

I looked up the product that I think you are using theData Hunter 802.11g&b with dual RS232 COM ports. On the product brochure

http://www.wirelessresource.net/reso...rialLAN-gb.pdf

on the second page it shows the port configuration.

One of the ports is DTE (data terminal equipment) and the othe is DCE (data communication equipment).

RS232 originated in the days of modems, thus the refence to communications equipment. Think back 30 years ago.... the computer used pin 2 to Transmit data to the modem, and the modem Received on pin 2. at the other end the modem Transmited on pin 3 and the terminal received on pin 3. Draw it out on a piece of paper and also do it the other direction. REMEMBER, when TRANSMITing a signal on a wire, it MUST be RECEIVEd on the other end of the wire.

I believe you grabbed a PC type cable and that the Fanuc does not follow the PC " ? standard ? " of who is the DTE and who is the DCE.

I would read the Fanuc docs and and compare it to the datahunter. I am positive that all you will have to do is get a serial cable (or gender changer) that will mate to the other connector on the data hunter.

[gm3211]

Slonka,

The Data Hunter units do have limitations for bi-directional commuication on CNCs. We used to be a reseller for them and ran into several limitations with the hardware - I will blash them later ...Even there new units still have issues.

But yes, there are two ports and either one will work as long as your cable is pinned out correctly for the port to the CNC. You best bet is to use an RS232 tester and connect to the port on the Data Hunter. This way you can confirm the data is coming to the port and outputing. Next, connect your cable and you should see "RD or RX" flash on your breakout box. Yes, the Data Hunter has lights, but believe it or not, they sometimes wired them backwards (thank you China).

We just hooked up 2 machines using the Data Hunters using Predator DNC with a Fanuc and Okuma controls. The customer is going to expand to 10 more next week. The customer did the homework but wanted it professionally installed.

Feel free to call me and I will try to help you but I dont know much about your software which might also have limitations.

PS - We are now recommeding Digi Wireless Units! Shows up as a standard Comm Port

Greg Mercurio
Shop Floor Automations
www.cncnetworking.com
619-461-4000

[Donkey Hotey]

Greg,

Did you ever get around to bashing the Data Hunter?

I've searched and can't find anything but this thread and one other that mention them.

I'm considering one. I have two machines and their 'server' has two ports. It looks like an ideal solution.

Thanks in advance

[gm3211]

I have several units that we took back in from a shop and supplied them with different hardare.

If you want try it, give me a call and I can send you the ones I have and tell me what they are worth to you. I think they are like $150 ea new?

What software are you going to use, because it has to use an IP and Port #, where most communication software do not support this feature.

[Donkey Hotey]

Hmmm..maybe I'm misunderstanding how they work.

From what I could gather, a driver gets loaded to the PC so it creates two 'soft' serial ports. Any software I run should see those ports as if they were hardware. Am I misunderstanding something?

I don't have a serial port (USB to serial converter) and I know that only works because of the driver.

The specific item I'm considering is this one:
http://www.datahunter.com/seriallangb.html

[WayneHill]

Any luck with the data hunters? We were looking at them at one time.

[slonka]

The data hunter work great for its purpose, however after pricing out and weighing the pros and cons of wireless vs hard-line, hard-line is definitely the way to go in my particular situation. I could see using wireless if equipment was going to me moved, such as desktop mills or things such as that. Data hunter has drivers that do allow a virtual serial port to be loaded on your pc, so thus transferring via software is much the same as if you were hard lining through your serial port.

Equipment that I use and would recommend any day..
-Avocent ESP Network serial hub
-Non proprietary double shielded cat5e
-ProDNC is the serial communication software; I can't say enough good things about this software and the owner/programmer.

[Donkey Hotey]

I'm curious to hear what your pros and cons were. Even if I go with the Data Hunter, there is still 'cabling' to go to the two machines. Extra cable doesn't cost so much.

These are my reasons for wanting to go with the Data Hunter (1 laptop, 2 Haas machines):

• Electrical isolation: I don't have to fear a ground difference zapping the computer or the machine.
• No cables to trip over. Being able to just carry the laptop out to the shop and work next to the machine without worrying about snagging a cable and pulling the laptop off of a table is appealing.
• Immediate connection to either machine from my terminal software (Hypterterminal or Mastercam X). No connecting and disconnecting.

The downsides that I see:

• Cost (more cable is cheap)
• CNC Noise interference with the connection. This is the biggee for me because it's an unknown.

Any advice?

[gar]

071230-1311 EST USA

Donkey Hotey:

I do not think you have to worry too much about RFI at 1 GHz from the CNC, but microware ovens are a problem, and other transmitters working on the same channels you are using.

If you drip feed over long times your problems are greater than if you simply transfer files.

.