Need Help!- Conect lathe software wanted

[MarkMLl]

Does anybody have an intact copy of the DOS software to drive a Conect Numerical Control Cadet Plus lathe?

I can see that several people have discussed these in the past. I've got one and am interested in seeing how much can be done using the original controller boards. I've had partial success driving it from a PC but the G- and M-codes appear to be a bit idiosyncratic. I'm well set up for this kind of reverse-engineering job which I believe is legitimate under the circumstances.

Obviously I'll share any results, since there must be a lot of these machines gathering dust.

-- MarkMLl

[robin k5]

HI did u get any help with conect software.looking for same for lathe@mill.if i get software i will share it with you.

[MarkMLl]

Not found the software yet, but I've made some progress.

The Cadet Plus lathe understands some variant of G- and M-codes. I am able to connect to it using RS232 at 9600-7-E-1 with xon/xoff handshaking, and get sensible actions in response to M03, M05, EC, ^E and so on.

However the spindle turns the same way for both M03 and M04 and is uneven at low speed, and tool positioning/feed is very erratic which suggests to me either that the original software was controlling it in some other way or that I've got an electronic problem (blown drivers or similar).

I've not had the back open yet but my understanding is that this unit has still got the standard electronics. If that is correct then any of these lathes should be usable with standard software without hardware modifications.

-- MarkMLl

[rab]

Hi,
I'm just waiting for some drivers and BOB to arrive for upgrading my Conect lathe.
It's currently working with it's old DOS software running on 386 PC but the performance is poor (no microstepping) and the software limited.

Rab

[MarkMLl]

I'd love to get my hands on a copy of the software so that I could stick a comms monitor on it.

-- MarkMLl

[rab]

Hi Mark,
Drop me an email offlist and I'll send you mine.
Rab

[MarkMLl]

Rab, you have message off-list with an email address in it. Many thanks for the help, I'll obviously post the results although if I do end up having to fix electronics it might take me some while.

-- MarkMLl