fanuc 6t controller

[stlwrksdesign]

I am a student working on a project for a design company and they have this old Mori Seiki SL-1 Lathe with a FANUC 6t controller, i just wondering, is it possible to hook this up to a computer workstation through RS232 and have it feed the machine G-code or other programs?

I am totally new to this so spare no details please!

also, if this is possible, would we be able to network that computer workstation to an ethernet network and access the CNC machine from other computers.

also just found out that it is the FANUC 6T(B)

[dcoupar]

I believe your 6T-B has an RS232 port. Look for a DB-25 "female" connector on the cabinet.

If you have a PC with a serial port (it will probably be a DB-9 "male" labelled IOIOI) you can connect to the CNC with a serial cable wired as follows:

CNC PC
DB25M ---------- DB9F

1 <---- (shield) ---- no connection
2 <-----------------> 2
3 <-----------------> 3
7 <-----------------> 5
4, 5 jumpered on cnc end only
6, 8, 20 jumpered on cnc end only

You'll need a communications program on the PC, i.e.: NCNet Lite (it's free from Cadem Software).

DNC – wireless and wired, Free DNC for 1 machine

You CAN use HyperTerminal, but IMHO it's a PITA when sending CNC > PC.

As for hooking up to the network, the 6T didn't have ethernet capability, so you can't see it from other PC's. The newer Fanucs do have ethernet.

Yell if you get stuck.

Dave

[stlwrksdesign]

Hello Dave, Thanks for your reply to my problem, I really appreciate that. My partner and I are going to be testing that out over the next couple of weeks.

Also, we have another machine that we couldn't find a category for on this forum so if you don't mind...

We also have a Matsuura MC 500V 3-axis Mill with a Yasnac 3000G controll (yes its old). We are looking to do the same thing with this machine, probably to the same PC. We know it has a DB25 connector on it also.

What do you think?

[dcoupar]

Does this machine have a CRT?

I can't find any reference to RS232 in the 3000G manual, nor in the 3000G with CRT supplement. I seem to remember (and I may be wrong) that the RS-232 interface didn't appear until the 3000G-II, and I don't have a manual on that.

I suspect that your DB25 may be a parallel interface for a Facit tape punch in which case you can't hook it up to your PC.

[stlwrksdesign]

Yes this machine does have a CRT Monitor. Thanks for the info. I'll be in touch.

I just went back into the shop and looked at the machine. It has what looks like a DB25 port directly above the Tape drive also there is a DB25(Female) cable running out from the back of the machine.

Does this help?

[stlwrksdesign]

Any info you have would be a great help im sure.

[dcoupar]

Originally Posted by stlwrksdesign Yes this machine does have a CRT Monitor. Thanks for the info. I'll be in touch. I just went back into the shop and looked at the machine. It has what looks like a DB25 port directly above the Tape drive also there is a DB25(Female) cable running out from the back of the machine. Does this help?

I believe the one above the tape drive is the Facit Punch connector. The other one MAY be a serial port. One way to tell would be to hook up an RS232 tester (available at Radio Shack or Fry's) to the cable and try to punch a program out of memory. Watch for activity on pin 2 while punching.

[stlwrksdesign]

Thanks for the info!

but what do you make of this?

http://www.g-zero.com/G0Help/MiscCom...-YASN3000G.htm

[angelw]

Originally Posted by stlwrksdesign Thanks for the info! but what do you make of this? http://www.g-zero.com/G0Help/MiscCom...-YASN3000G.htm

Yasnac has used their own pin assignment, but this is a RS232 configuration.

The pin assignment on the PC end are as follows:

DB25--------------------DB9
2 = Send-------------Receive
3 = Receive-----------Send
7 = S/Ground----------5 = S/Ground

If the first cable configuration is used, then Xon Xoff handshaking will be set on the software at the PC end. If the alternate Hardware Handshake cable is used, then the software is set to RTS/CTS.

Regards,

Bill

[stlwrksdesign]

Hello again, its been a while. still working on this CNC project. Does anyone know where we could get a rs 232 cables that will work with the pin assignments described?

we need a cable that has DB9 female on one end and db25 male on the other (db9 = computer end) (db25 = cnc end)

thanks again guys.