USB to RS232 converter cables?

[shoptalk00]

Has any one had any luck using converter cables for DNC with their cnc machines? I am using Bobcad V24 with predator cnc editor 2005 for bobcad. My computer does not have any serial ports just usb. I have changed all the port settings to match my cnc settings and can get the predator editor to upload the code but my cnc machine is not receiving it. Thanks

[HorridHenry]

I have changed all the port settings to match my cnc settings

So the program you're using recognises USB?

[shoptalk00]

It seemed to at one point because the p. editor processed the upload on my pc but got nothing on the cnc controller end?

[HorridHenry]

With the release of Windows XP and computer manufactures only installing USB ports, users are finding that a USB to serial adapter is the only solution they have to try to communicate to their CNC machine. The truth be known, many off-the-shelf manufacturers of USB to serial adapters are not 100% compatible and communication to the CNC machine is unreliable, slow, or only limited to one way transmission.

[HorridHenry]

Frequently Asked Questions - Shop Floor Automations

[keystone76]

I have had similiar problems. You may need a "null Modem adaptor"

[keebler303]

I have had great luck with anything built on an FTDI chip. You can buy a converter directly from them or from someone like Digikey.

USB-COM232-PLUS1 FTDI, Future Technology Devices International Ltd | 768-1032-ND | DigiKey

B&B Electronics also sells professional stuff and they have top notch support.

Industrial Communication Solutions - B&B Electronics

Good luck
Matt

[billystein]

i recently bought one from cablestogo it is called usb to db9. less than $30 with driver disk. it installed on com6 i was able to change it to com1 easy.

[TonyW]

I'm using a B&B Electronics VLinx serial server for my NC machines. I have the serial server in the electrical enclosure on machine, which plugs into Ethernet. The PC is also plugged into Ethernet. The software that came with the serial server creates a 'virtual' serial com port on PC. Once connected with the right cable from serial server to cnc serial port, everything works well and quite quickly. I think I paid $200 for the serial server.

[underthetire]

Been using one for the last 7+ years. Think mine was Atec or something like that.

[gm3211]

Most of the off-the-shelf USB to Serial adapters seem to work great under Windows XP and are low cost. We spent 2 yrs looking for the right solution and then worked with the mfg to understand how to make them work with CNCs. Updating the drivers to support baud rates like 1200, 2400 and even 4800 were a challenge for them. They always asked, why does a CNC run so slow...well we all want them to run at 115K but most run at 9600 or slower.
With that said, we put it to the test and connected to over 50+ types of controls and documented, created our own setup docs for machines and Windows 7. We even did one better and tested with many DNC products like Bobcad, MasterCAM, eXtremeDNC and Predator.

Most of the other mfgs just port the drivers from XP to Windows 7 and hope they work for 32 /64 bit code. It just does not work, again for our applications. If we are talking GPS and PLCs, not generally a problem.

Give us a call, we can probably help with BOBCAD problem since we also sell Predator.