How to transfer program between CNCs

[nedkelly348]

Hi My uncle has a Cincinnati Milacron Acramatic 2100 and a Cincinnati Milacron Acramatic A2100. He wants to transfer programs from one to the other. Only the 2100 has a floppy drive. He wants to use the COM1 port on both to do it. Is there a special DB25 cable with modified pin out arrangement to be used or just a standard one?

[CNCRim]

I would recommend him to get a computer... then transfer programs from one machine to computer then to other machine the advantage is you can save program and keep track all the program what is it for and keep the machine clean that way less confuse you can remember what program for what part at start but as time progress more and more part I don't think you can remember anyone that is where mess up. It's better to organize now instead a bigger mess later.

[nedkelly348]

What program would he get to be able to receive and save the programs from the machines?
Would hyperterminal work? If so what settings would he use for setting a session up?

[rgammage]

Hello Ned

Hyperterminal will work in most cases. First find out if both machines can be set the same
for baud rate, data bits, parity and stop bits. If they cannot be set the same you will need two sessions one for each machine.

The fun will start if you cannot find the settings and you have to guess .....

If this is the case then I would start with 9600, n, 8, 1 that is 8 data, no parity this will display something if the speed is 19,200, 9600 or 4800 but only be partially or wholly readable if speed is correct. If it is mostly readable then the data bits should be changed to seven and try even parity first then odd until everything is readable.

If the input is garbled alter the speed up or down one step until mostly readable and continue as above.

If little or no data seen try changing speed by two steps at a time .....

Good Luck

Richard

[NCPROG1]

Hi Ned,

If you are unable to get your hyperterminal to work you might want to try Symantecs "ProComm Plus". I use that to talk to all of my machines. It's very "adjustable", not rediculusly expensive ($150 for version 4.8) easy to use and easy to switch from one (machine) setting to another. Here's a link to a place that sells it.

http://www.superwarehouse.com/Symant...lus-series.htm

I've been using ProComm for over twenty years. I have yet to find a machine I can't get it to talk to.

Newtexas is right. don't try to go from machine to machine. It will only make it more frustrating. Get a laptop or a desktop on wheels.

The special cable you are looking for should just be a null modem cable you can get at any Radio Shack or Best Buy or your nearest computer store. I would check with your machine builder first though. They usually have the pin configuration all laid out for you in some document somewhere. I had to make my own cables for two of our machines. That's not all that hard either.

The machine builder will also tell you where the parameters are for communication. The machine might be limited by baud rate but as long as the machine and the computer have the same settings you should be able to send and receive all day long.

And now the fun begins. Best luck to you. Seasons Greetings all.

[Graham Young]

YOU really will not want the grief of connected 2 CNCs together.
To really do it easy and fast you should create an DNC system. this can be done in many configurations with serial or Serial to TCP/IP conversions.

Rather than a PC on a cart which is a time waster. Connnect to a PC using a 2 port serial connection or convert the Serial ports to Ethernet. Then a program in one can be sent to the computer and called to the other machine quite easily.

If you like contact me and I can go into more detail

Graham Young
www.memex.ca

[John_B]

nedkelly,

The A2100 control is a PC based system as you probably know, so you can install an ethernet card and hook it up to your local network in your shop. Then you can send files to it over the network just as you would to another harddrive on another computer - no DNC software needed.

I have a 2000 year model Arrow 1000 with the same control that I have this done on. It works great - the floppy is for the birds. I have it mapped as Z drive on my PC that I run Mastercam on, and I can create a file and save it directly to the Arrow's harddrive directly or I can copy and paste a file from my saved programs over to it. I still use a DNC program for editing and such (CimcoEdit) but it is not really needed for this machine. You could use Notepad or Word just as easily and not put out a penny.

The RS232 method is a waste of time when it's much more functional with a direct ethernet link.

[CNCRim]

Originally Posted by nedkelly348 What program would he get to be able to receive and save the programs from the machines? Would hyperterminal work? If so what settings would he use for setting a session up?

I had this DNC http://www.box.net/shared/xqpzlol9sr .... download it and give a try it. Try the settling rgammage had suggested it should work.

[hpowell]

Try ConnectCNC from http://www.connectcnc-dnc.com/index.html.

[ronfournier]

i use the cimco edit excellent and easy to setup

[nedkelly348]

Sorry for not posting a reply sooner, its just that my uncle is not very close.
rgammage: Tried hyperterminal with all different settings and nothing worked.
NCPROG1: Was looking on Symantec's website and was not able to find any info about procomm plus there.
Graham Young: Your idea is completely free and is kind of what we have been trying, Could you send me some more information and instructions?
John_B: One of them has a NIC card but does not act like it is connected, and also do not really want to take them apart.
CNCRim: I forgot to stick your program on a flash drive to take with me
hpowell: I tried Connect CNC and no data appeared.
ronfournier: Sorry same thing as CNCRim

Also been looking around the internet for the File transfer settings and have not found them or the pin out arrangement. Any ideas?

[rgammage]

Hello Ned

I agree with John B. if you can use a network it will be better than serial, that said no-one has mentioned cables ... Assuming 25 was connectors at each end try:

2 - 3
3 - 2

4 -, , - 4 Loop 4 & 5
5 -' ' - 5 both sides

6 -, , - 6 Loop 6, 8 & 20
8 -| | - 8
20 -' ' - 20 both sides

7 - 7

This will work for X-on/X-off (i.e. software handshake) if hardware handshake break the 4 - 5 links above and cross them over so 4 on one side goes to 5 on the other, both ways.

Hope you get it going soon.

Richard