How many RS232 ports can we have on the machine

[sinha_nsit]

I have seen only one serial port on CNC machines.
Can we have more ports? How many?

Sinha

[Al_The_Man]

Usually more than one is possible, depends on what model you have?
Al.

[sinha_nsit]

Thanks for reply.
I am asking with reference to 0i M, model C and D.

Possibly, one would be connected to a PC, one to a CNC-USB device (for using a pendrive), one being used for some other purpose ...

[sinha_nsit]

I was looking at 0i model D page on Fanuc website.
It appears that everything is being done through ethernet/PCMCIA.
There is no mention of RS232. Have they stopped providing serial port?

[dcoupar]

Originally Posted by sinha_nsit I was looking at 0i model D page on Fanuc website. It appears that everything is being done through ethernet/PCMCIA. There is no mention of RS232. Have they stopped providing serial port?

I just hooked up RS232 communications to an 0iT-D. Same old serial port.

[sinha_nsit]

I am trying to understand it.

If everything is possible through ethernet, why use RS232 at all which creates communication problems many a time?

[dcoupar]

Originally Posted by sinha_nsit I am trying to understand it. If everything is possible through ethernet, why use RS232 at all which creates communication problems many a time?

Everything is NOT possible... you can't drip feed through the embedded ethernet. RS232 is not dead, yet.

[stevo1]

Originally Posted by dcoupar RS232 is not dead, yet.

LOL. I hope that it takes a long time to die. I have always used RS232 and my attempts at Ethernet have been pretty much nonexistent. To tell you the truth I am a bit timid about trying anything with it. I don’t know if it’s the technology or just bothered that why take something that works and make it more complicated. Now I have to learn something all over again.

Stevo

[sinha_nsit]

Possibly, someday there would be a few built-in USB ports on the control where we can insert 16GB sticks, completely eliminating memory space problems. Drip feed, if needed, would be directly through the USB. I have heard that even today drip feed through PCMCIA is possible.
RS232 has to die some day. Who likes a mesh of cables!