Help - LB10/15 Okuma Lathe with OSP5000L-G

[Poindexter]

"If your up there please save me superman"

Hi there, at the start of the week i was given the task by my management to communicate to this machine via a PC. I thought it would have been a relatively easy task however it is the end of the week and im still unable to get any type of communication going.

I have wired up every single type of RS 232 cable combined with every different combination of settings on the DNC or hyperterminal. I have read through most of the other threads and adopted some methods but nothing still works.

The one thing i have not tried is to change parameter settings on the NC and that is because i'm unsure of how to do this. WOuld anyone be able to give me a heads up on how to change them or at least view them?

[Superman]

Define where "up there" is.
PS ---Melb. is below Syd.

OK !
What transfer software do you have ?
using PIP or DNC ?----I'd say you will be using PIP

COM1 plug= ? pins ( 9 or 25 )
RS232 plug at the MC ? ( normally 25 )
PC 25pin --> OSP 25pin is wired differently than PC 9pin
How is your cable wired now ?

Always start by sending a file from the MC to PC
MC has different settings for Reading and for Punching

This is god info
but shows only a 25 --> 9 pin layout
for a 25 --> 25 pin the differences are
----PC-pin2 --> OSP-pni3
----PC-pin3 --> OSP-pni2
----PC-pin7 --> OSP-pni7
----no pins need bridging on the PC end

Do you have contact with Okuma Aust. ? Greg W. (apps guy) would be a good start

[Poindexter]

Yeah i have contacted Okuma Australia. They have given me advice on where to start. Most of this is new to me. If all still does not go well i will have to get them out to the machine.

Okay I'am using the PC with a RS 232 port and running XP windows. I have tried to use hyperterminal but i also have got DNC communication software that is much the same as hyperterminal.

My Pin configuration is as followed:

PC > 25 to MC > 25
2 3
3 2
4+5 4&5
6+8+20 6+8+20
7 7

To communicate out i type into the OSP:
>Go to edit
>go to PIP
>Punch "My Filename".MIN,CN0:

After a few seconds i get the words "end of file"

I was looking at the Parameters on the machine last night and it seems that the BAUD rate is set at 0.

I have tried to change this but for some reason i get an error message saying "input data overflow" error 2509

This may be my main issue.

[Superman]

I have tried to use hyperterminal but i also have got DNC communication software that is much the same as hyperterminal.

Yeh, they all work using the same principle

My Pin configuration is as followed:

PC > 25    to     MC > 25
    2               3
    3               2
    4+5            4&5
  6+8+20        6+8+20
    7               7

Red text is not necessary, but should still work

I type into the OSP:
<Edit> <PIP> <Punch> "My Filename".MIN,CN0:

After a few seconds i get the words "end of file"

Try placing the device name before the filename
ie <Edit> <PIP> <Punch> CN0: Myfile.MIN <Write>

Your Myfile.MIN should be ( don't put the $Myfile.MIN% on #1 line-it gets placed there automatically on the PC copy )

N1 TEST
N2 M30
%

I was looking at the Parameters on the machine last night and it seems that the BAUD rate is set at 0.

I have tried to change this but for some reason i get an error message saying "input data overflow" error 2509

Okuma alarms give a lot more info, when giving an alarm #, give the entire alarm message---the hex # should be the allowable range for input (min/max)

What baud did you try to set ? and how ?
ie S 9600 <Write> (S for Set & no decimals when the cursor is on that parameter)
normally it is preset to 4800---we have ours set to 9600, any higher and data can be corrupted because of the cable length between PC and machine

PS---backup the machines' parameters before changing, or at least, keep a record

[Poindexter]

What baud did you try to set ? and how ?
ie S 9600 <Write> (S for Set & no decimals when the cursor is on that parameter)
normally it is preset to 4800---we have ours set to 9600, any higher and data can be corrupted because of the cable length between PC and machine

I was looking at the wrong parameter which is why i could not change it. The book i have is OSP5000L and apparently it makes all the difference.

However, once establishing that the Baud rate is set to 2400 (parameter no.39) and set the rest of the parameter bits for parameter no.1 and no.12 i tried to test the communication again.

Nothing....absolutely nothing. I spoke to the gentlemen from okuma and he seems to think that the board might be blown.

I will get the okuma guy to come out and check it.

Thankyou for the help. I will let you know how it goes.

Cheers.

[Algirdas]

sorry for interrupting you. I do launch serial communication in 15 minutes as usual. Something looks strange to me. can I comment a little?
I have wired up every single type of RS 232 cable combined with every different combination of settings
You are not serious, right? Is it just an emotion?
My Pin configuration is as followed:
PC > 25 to MC > 25
make sure, You use serial port of PC. Mostly they are DB-9 connector pins. Your's is DB-25 (pins or holes?). DB-25 holes is LPT port as usuall. DB-25 pins most likely is serial port on PC, especially if PC has two serial ports installed.
Nothing....absolutely nothing
It would be better if You use less emotions and more technical expression for this task. The message "end of file" is important. As Mr.Superman noted already, error and alarm messages helps very much.
You must be sure, what parameters You change. Machining center parameters differs from lathe. Some specification related differences may be also.
Baud rate 2400 and 4800 is good for settings. 9600 (maximum) is best for work if it starts well.

[OkumaWiz]

I thing Algirdas is right, you may be trying to communicate with the parallel printer port rather than the serial port in which case you will get nothing...excuse us if we insult your intelligence, but we have to start with the simple stuff first...

If the okuma is giving you the end of file, it is most likely sending correctly, or at least thinks it is. This would mean that you should see something transmitted across lines 2+3. Do you have a test box? You can get a little LED one at your local radio shack that would at least show you if the board is twitching and is alive. They don't fail that often, but a lightning strike while connected will take them out.

The cable you describe will work to communicate between 2 okuma's. Is it possible to reach another one with your cable in order to eliminate the PC?

Even with settings bad, you should at least be able to see garbage coming across to your pc in many cases, so that is what makes me think your connection is bad. How old is the PC you are using? Which OS? Some older OS's like to take control of your ports, so let us know.

Hope these tips help,

Best regards,

[Poindexter]

Insult as much as you want, in the end i'm here to learn.

I understand where you guys are coming from. In fact i checked it out this morning and the old laptop that was given to me must of had wrong drivers for the port.

I used an up to date laptop and the connection was fine. However I seem to be getting a whole lot of jargon now. Nothin that resembles a g-program.

I've read this somewhere in another thread but i can't seem to find it.

OKUMAWIZ - you mentioned i should at least get some garbage coming through, so i think this is it.

Any reasons why?

[Poindexter]

Garbage has now been transformed into a clean g-code program after i changed the baud rate.

My next challenge is to send the data back to the machine. When i did this i recieved an error saying "SAT full". Not sure what it means but im still investigating.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

[Superman]

When i did this i recieved an error saying "SAT full". Not sure what it means but im still investigating.

SAT full = Remaining Memory space in the control will NOT take the incoming program

Solution === download some files...... good practice ..now that you can download ,,,,,LOL

[OkumaWiz]

I was going to suggest baud rate, but Superman beat me to it. I guess it helps to be faster than a speeding bullet. (not to mention the time zone he's in)

I'd suggest trying to send a tiny file out from the machine and then send the same file back to the machine to avoid any format errors.

If you get the "Sat Full" error, check memory with the FREE command. FREE;C will show continuous available memory. DELETE programs to make room if need be. If you still get the sat full, your XON,XOFF (software handshaking) is not working correctly. Make sure it is on positively on both sides. even with it not set right, if your program is small (less than 256 characters) it should still go into the machine OK. If not, you still have mismatched settings.

One more thing, make sure you are reading and sending from the same port you are connected to. I believe it's 45 and 54 on most machines for READ and PUNCH. By default most are set up to READ from the paper tape reader (TT and not the RS232 port.

Best regards,

[Poindexter]

No more problems gentlemen.

I deleted a file from the directory to create space and it is now recieving
files.

It saves the file automatically as "A.min". I'm not sure if i can get it to send and save it in a different file name, but im not that concerned.

Also just to let you know i had to delete the first line filename.min and also put a % at the end of the program. I've had to do this with turret punch programs which is why i thought i'd give it a go when it wasn't sending on the first try.

Cheers guys.