Running encrypted pgm's

[Tommie]

Dear people!

I am looking for a solution. We deliver NC codes for 5-axis simultaneous milling. To protect the content of the NC-file we encrypt it so it can not be read by an operator, but only by the machine itself.
We have this working for Heidenhain and Siemens. Now the market is expanding to Fanuc. Is there a good workable solution?
Working procedure:
Genarate several NC-files!
1=jobs: readable for the operator. so settings can be made (toolcall, S, F, and so on).
2=main: not readable for the operator. in this NC the milling strategy is written.
3-25=sub: not readable for the operator. in this NC the milling passes are written.

Is there a possibility to set up a solution like that?
Note that the NC-files 3-25 are quit big. 15000 lines each and about 1 MB each, so a extcall (M198) will be needed!!
Note also that it is possible to a new set of PGM's on the machine daily!!

Thanks in advance.
Tom

[fordav11]

The technique is fairly advanced but you could write the program to additional flash memory like MTB usually does.
On Fanuc it's called OMM (Order Made Macro). On boot-up it usually shows OMM [version].
It's probably possibly to install flash memory module/PCB or EPROM/flashROM into the machine to hold your custom data.
You would probably need Fanuc developer tools to complete the task. If you want to go this way you will probably need to make an appointment to talk to Fanuc tech support in person and the solution will probably not be cheap

You can also enable a parameter password that disallows reading/editing the program unless the password is entered for programs numbered from 9000 to 9999.
See parameters 3202/3210/3211

Both of these are one-off long term solutions. If you need to modify the code daily it will become tiring very quickly.

Protecting a program that is used for one job is pointless in my opinion.
Bear in mind that if you can write the program there is someone out there who is smarter and can also write it, probably better and more efficiently and at a cheaper rate. You would be better to spend your time keeping the customer happy rather than preventing them access to something they have paid money for.

Also bear in mind that protection is only as good as the person that designed it. Nothing is uncrackable given time and motivation and money. It wouldn't be difficult to get access to anything stored in the memory with the right hardware tools (I've been doing similar things for ~10 years in another unrelated field)

[Tommie]

You can also enable a parameter password that disallows reading/editing the program unless the password is entered for programs numbered from 9000 to 9999.
See parameters 3202/3210/3211

Can these parameters been set by the program itself? Sort of a pgm-controlled, pgm-specific password??

The reason of encrypting is that we don't do CADCAM, but we do mathematical NC-writing. So no CAD and CAM efford is needed to generate within 5 minutes a 100% bug free NC-program that can will run till 25H on the CNC machine!!!!
We are till now unique and it seem that we are focusing us on a good procedure by encrypting, this is a financial decision!
(whats the price of 1 NC-pgm if there's only made 1 product with, and whats the price of the same NC-pgm if there's made 10.000 products with?)

We are only aiming on high end 5-axis machines, so the latest fanuc controls will be used. A start-up cost from €5.000,- will not be a problem for our customers!

Where can I find more info on the OMM solution?
Do you have a specific person in mind in Fanuc DE, because fanuc is BIGGGG en ist hard to get through the core experts finding somebody that realy knows the details...

Thanks in advance!

Greetz Tom

[txcncman]

Seems like a lot of wasted time, money and effort to me. I have found if you shoot the first operator that changes anything and the rest of them quickly get the message, "Don't do that!" Maybe it is just a Texas thing.

[fordav11]

The password could possibly be set from a program using G10 but then the password would be plain text so not a good idea.
I don't have any specific details or Fanuc contacts. I was just generalizing about the possibilities. It's not so simple to do what you want because on Fanuc it is usually not widely done.
If what you are doing is unique patent it then if someone copies it you sue them and retire a rich man.

[MysticMonkey]

I think this is more like what you are trying to develop.
MTB's like Hartford use this to create their HARTROL software.

I suggest you invest in a few Fanuc 30i series manuals

Programming
Macro Compiler / Macro Executor PROGRAMMING MANUAL B-63943EN-2
Macro Compiler OPERATOR’S MANUAL B-66264EN
C Language Executor OPERATOR’S MANUAL B-63944EN-3

you may be able to develop a NC side decryption program to allow you to upload encrypted files.