Fanuc CNC Scada

[RafaelLeal]

Hello everybody.

I am new user of this forum since I just had exposure with CNC Machines in my carrer.
The mill I work for, is planning to build a control network to collect data from the CNCs, which seems to me quite a challenge, since I have no previous experience on SCADA for CNC, but for process control & PLCs.

Well the thing goes like this, I found a OPC Server from Kepware, which contains the GE Fanuc´s FOCAS Driver. Additionally I am in the process of purchasing the Focas libraries from FANUC, whic we require in order to get OPC project running.

I am still not sure which data the process personnel will be requiring me to bring to their eyes, but i pressume it would be something like axis positions and stuff like that.

Can anybody tell me which addresses should I read thst represente the axis positions? Absolutes, relatives etc????

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Regards.

[Al_The_Man]

Are you sure it is machine details they are looking to capture and not part program details/transfer etc?
Bi directional program transfer is possible with a DNC system such as supplied by Cadem for example, using a PC as an unattended server.
If this is more what they are looking to do.
As to machine data, this varies from model to model, but such as machine & axis positions etc, etc, are contained in the 5000 registers.
Al.

[RafaelLeal]

Al.
Thanks for your response.

Yes, I am sure that what we need is to monitor the Status of every machine in our shop, from Fanuc, Fadal to Mazak CNC.

what i don´t understand is the addressing Fanuc lists in the OPC Server´s configuration, when declaring the Item to be read.

Program transferring, Upload downoad etc, has been done with PC´s al long time ago here,or so I´ve been told.

Thanks again

[Fanuc Guy]

Ive been involved with data collection systems for CNC controls for many years. I'm not sure what information you're looking to collect but a ton of information is available depending on the vintage of the system...If it has an Ethernet port or one is available for it you can get more data than you ever use.

I can tell you this from my 30 years of experience, if your looking to write your own data collection system using an OPC from Kepware, your in for a long and grueling attempt to recreate what already exist. If you were to spend the same amount of time your about to waist writing a "home grown" system on improving your productivity you would be light years and a ton of money ahead.

If your company is really serious about collecting data, which I really doubt is true....buy a data collection package and have it professionally installed..It really doesn't matter what the upfront cost are...It has an unbelievible amout of ROI if you use the information to improve..the ROI if you don't use the data to improve....ZERO...nada.,..nothing.

If your company is not truly committed to an improvement program..take the money you would have spent on data collection...save a dollar of it..and put the rest of the money in a pile and burn it..you'll be a dollar ahead...

[RafaelLeal]

That won´t help buddy.

[RafaelLeal]

Hello everybody.

Well, the thing goes like this.
I have finally made the connection to a CNC Fanuc 30i Processor, and I am able to read some data, such as current and next tool to be used, i see that there are some data allacated on the D registers, but there is no a memory map that guide me to the addresses I need, Part count, runtime counter, downtime counter, etc.
I am using Kepware´s OPC Server with FOCAS Driver trough ethernet, ant the data aquisition is being made with In Touch 10.
If there´s some hint or shorcut that you know of please let me know, I will continue to create tables for D addresses and try to find out where my data is.

Regards, P.S. Fanuc Guy Please don´t reply.
Rafael Leal

[Fanuc Mate]

Fanuc Guy is right.

I don't know if you know how to program in VB or C#, if not find someone that does, use the Focas Libs to extract all the data you could imagine. Here is the data you can get http://fanuc-support.com/Focas%20Contents.pdf

I tried Kepware many years ago but decided to take the VB/C# route, never looked back.