Fanuc Pro 3 Control 16i Memory Card Error

[bassboarder85]

All,
I have a Makino a51 machining center with a Fanuc Pro 3 control. I have been trying to get a PMCIA adapter with a Sandisck 512 MB flashcard to work on the machine.
My main objective is to transfer programs from the Card to the Machine.

Here is what i am able to do.
1. I can punch a program from the machine to the card (and then view it on on the computer)
2. I can transfer that same program from the card back to the machine after deleting the program in the machine.

Here is what i am not able to do. All i get with these steps is Memory Card Error 114.
1. I cannot just transfer a program in a text file to the machine.
2. If i modify a transfered program from the machine on the card, i cannot transfer it back to the machine. Even if it is as simple as changing one letter.
3. I cannot take a program that is transfered from the Machine to card and transfer it off the card to the computer, then back onto the card and then back to the machine. It still gives Memory card error 114.

When a file that i transfered from the machine is on the card, it just shows up on the computer as file type "file". I can open it with notepad and view the file but that is all.

Is there something i am missing? Is it possible to modify a program on the computer and transfer it back to the machine with the card? How about start with a new program, is .txt the correct file type?? What editor would i use? notepad? Something else?
Thanks in advance for the help

[dcoupar]

114 says: Specified file not found.

Are you using F-READ or N-READ? I always use F-READ and specify the file number and F-SET, instead of the name.

Technically, filenames are limited to old DOS 8.3 format. Something like O1234.TXT or FLANGE.CNC should read just fine. You can use Notepad, or any ASCII text editor to create or edit your programs.

[bassboarder85]

I have tried using F Read, i have used just Read.
Neither works.
I will try the different file names though, i don't have much hope considering i couldn't even change 1 letter in a program and put it back on the machine with the exact same file name...

[fanuc fix al]

i have got a similar problem-
after backing up a Mori Sl250 msc518(f18tc) using a pretec 4Mb battery backed sram card.

The controll recognises the card i formatted the card in the mc and saved sram data to the card. i put it in the pcmcia slot in my laptop(running xp) and I could see it as a drive,but i could not copy the file SRAM0_5.FDB. I got the message "windows cannot copy this file it is corrupt or un recognisable format"

i tried this same thing earlier in the week with another similar 18tc and managed to get a SRAM parity alarm in the controll, powered down and up and the mc was ok. i think this occurred because the card was not formatted in the controll.

[MysticMonkey]

Yes try the method dcoupar suggested.

I find you cannot load files with extensions on the end of the file if you are saving the file with notepad I expect it is saving it with a .txt extension.

default Fanuc program files have no extension.

you can change windows default settings to show file name extensions

To show file extensions in XP, go into My Computer or Windows Explorer and choose Tools|Folder Options. In the View tab, remove the check mark next to Hide extensions for known file types.

you can get round this by using F-Read and choosing the file number (not the program number) and then setting the O number you wish it to be on the NC when read

[fanuc fix al]

thanks for the reply Mystic, i know that i wont be able to read the cnc,s Sram backup file (.FDB) because its a complete download of all the cnc's battery backed data which will be in a format only known to Fanuc.

however i need to copy this to my laptop for backup purposes.
i understand the file system is MS DOS after doing some reading, so i think i may have trouble with my laptop not reading the PCMCIA SRAM card properly.

i think i need a proper driver for this function.... does anyone have any experience on which Memory cards have damaged the Card Slot on the cnc, i have read that ata compact flash can blow the port on the older non i controlls?

[memoryman]

I have done hundreds of backup/restore cycles using sram cards (including Pretec) without problems. You may need the proper driver for your card. I only use sram pcmcia cards and have no problems. The .FDB files can be viewed in hex mode on better word processing software such as Ultra Edit.

[fanuc fix al]

thanks for the info memoryman, do you happen to know where i can get a driver for the pretec (4Mb sram with 8K eprom attributable mem) xp can see the file but wont copy to hard drive.

xp would not see the card at all untill i installed the generic pc card driver from "add and remove hardware" in the controll panel.

i have got a customer who has given me sixteen machines to backup, i am doing the files separatley via rs232 and taking pictures of keeprelays
etc, so i have already got a solid backup, however it would be nice to nail this for future use.

[MysticMonkey]

Originally Posted by fanuc fix al thanks for the reply Mystic, i know that i wont be able to read the cnc,s Sram backup file (.FDB) because its a complete download of all the cnc's battery backed data which will be in a format only known to Fanuc. however i need to copy this to my laptop for backup purposes. i understand the file system is MS DOS after doing some reading, so i think i may have trouble with my laptop not reading the PCMCIA SRAM card properly. i think i need a proper driver for this function.... does anyone have any experience on which Memory cards have damaged the Card Slot on the cnc, i have read that ata compact flash can blow the port on the older non i controlls?

Hi, I was actually replying to the original posters query. New queries should really be posted in new threads.. but any way.
It's supposed to work when you install a generic driver
http://www.cablematic.com/documentos/sp0x-1xman.pdf

[underthetire]

Originally Posted by fanuc fix al i have got a similar problem- after backing up a Mori Sl250 msc518(f18tc) using a pretec 4Mb battery backed sram card. The controll recognises the card i formatted the card in the mc and saved sram data to the card. i put it in the pcmcia slot in my laptop(running xp) and I could see it as a drive,but i could not copy the file SRAM0_5.FDB. I got the message "windows cannot copy this file it is corrupt or un recognisable format" i tried this same thing earlier in the week with another similar 18tc and managed to get a SRAM parity alarm in the controll, powered down and up and the mc was ok. i think this occurred because the card was not formatted in the controll.

Done plenty of Mori's. There are different versions of the control, the early i series will not take a ATA flash card,(parity alarm) you really need the SRAM card to use on those.(fusitsu etc..) Problem is, XP has problems reading those. I have got it to work by setting the driver to a centenial SRAM card, and able to copy the SRAM from the machine. The later controls will use a std ATA falsh type II and those have very little problems with XP.

[fanuc fix al]

apologies Mystic, i noticed that just after i had posted. i have tried the workaround generic driver but no joy so:-

i went to a local factory today and borrowed an okuma with 18tc and tried a pretec 1Mb sram(with 2k atributable mem) and an old Mitsubushi 2Mb both of which worked ok.
This leads me to believe that my new 4Mb pretec is faulty, i explained my testing to the suppliers (valuetec) and they think its a card fault and are going to send another of the same type so then we'll see...

it seems kinda odd that the controll will write to it ok without alarming the controll, formats it ok and wrote 5x ..FDB files on it. but still windows wont copy and says it is corrupt, even though windows finds the card and sees the files.

the pretec cards came up with a hard drive icon and the mitsubushi came up as a card icon.
who knows? we'll see when the new card arrives.

i will try the centenial driver next time i get the laptop out

[MysticMonkey]

Originally Posted by fanuc fix al apologies Mystic, i noticed that just after i had posted. i have tried the workaround generic driver but no joy so:- i went to a local factory today and borrowed an okuma with 18tc and tried a pretec 1Mb sram(with 2k atributable mem) and an old Mitsubushi 2Mb both of which worked ok. This leads me to believe that my new 4Mb pretec is faulty, i explained my testing to the suppliers (valuetec) and they think its a card fault and are going to send another of the same type so then we'll see... it seems kinda odd that the controll will write to it ok without alarming the controll, formats it ok and wrote 5x ..FDB files on it. but still windows wont copy and says it is corrupt, even though windows finds the card and sees the files. the pretec cards came up with a hard drive icon and the mitsubushi came up as a card icon. who knows? we'll see when the new card arrives. i will try the centenial driver next time i get the laptop out

If the different cards are coming up with different icons they are being registered on the computer differently.

did you have to install a different driver for each of the other cards ?

look at the properties of the cards and see the driver they are using.

If it is the same driver as your 4Mb card then yes sounds like it's faulty

If it is using a different driver possibly it is using the incorrect driver try uninstalling and reinstalling from device manager