Biesse Rover 321R CNI Compact XNC

[StillMakingCabinets]

Hi all, I need some help from one of you guys who have one of these machines. I have one of the first MultiCam machines I’ve been using since 97. Still going but is limited to its capabilities. Had an offer for a Rover 321R dirt cheap from another cabinet makers "fire sale", so I took it. Now I’m trying to learn this thing and am finding it a little difficult. Nothing like the Multicam (plugs direct to my PC, using AutoCAD and ToolPath). From what info I can get from the net, connecting the Biesse to a PC is very difficult (although the manual is not specific). The previous owner is unavailable for info but what i have found out is that it did come with a dongle that's can't be found. I have all the manuals (actually measured them at 110mm) and software (controller software on 11 floppy's and CNI Informatica on CD).

What I’m after is if anybody can tell me if it’s possible to connect it to a PC and if so, how?
Is there a way around the dongle issue or a cheap way to replace it?
And if I have to resort to coding, is there a resource with some good learning tools?

I’m reading the manuals but any extra info would be appreciated.

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[cheetahcnc]

Some of the early 1990's Biesse Rover's used a CNI Unix based controller. There is a version of the software on the office PC to write the programs, then they are transferred to the machine via floppy. I understood these to be somewhat difficult, and expensive, posts when our shop was checking out MasterCAM. You could always build your own controller for it. I spoke with Gary, I think it was, at Camsoft http://www.cnccontrols.com/default.asp who assured me it could be done with his software/hardware packages. There is alot going on in some of the Biessie's. Do you have the drill banks, grooving saw, multiple router heads? Our shop has three Biesse's, the last one purchased about a year ago even had the machining C axis. We put a moulder head on it for arched mouldings, really cool!

Jim

[StillMakingCabinets]

Came with everything but the grooving saw (dissapointed about that). Has all the drill banks and the router heads as well as a couple of boxes filled with extra spindles and assorted bits and pieces.

[cheetahcnc]

The grooving saw? You can always get an aggregate grooving saw, I believe you can mount them in any of the spindles. One of ours had a positioning C axis to orient a tool for a particular axis automatically. A while back I even saw an aggregate saw offered on eBay.

Jim

[majstor76]

I worked od Rover 23

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_quh-gUajpg4/Sd...0/Image019.jpg

and i was doing programming on the machine , didnt have a software cheetah is mentioning (but i did see it and it exist). Check BiesseWorks, dont know if supports your machine.
Learning by reading telephone-book manual is hard, find someone who has worked on machine to show you,it will be much quicker. I had 12 hours education(with no experience with cnc at all) and after that i was doing alone, so its not really problem,but maybe it look to you now.
There is on forum owner of 321 so wait a little, he will respond

[majstor76]

Some of the early 1990's Biesse Rover's used a CNI Unix based controller.

Jim

Even some later Biesse had a Unix, mine 1999 Rover 23 had it.

[majstor76]

BTW what are you doing with machine? What parts? I saw cheaper software for my Rover 23, Biesseworks is for complicated stuff. Price was about 1000 euros and it looks much better that software on machine. Does 321 have a slot for network card?

[StillMakingCabinets]

Just had a look in controller, there are a couple extra slots for add on cards. I specialise in custom cabinetry for bathrooms mainly for the small to medium reno guys so i do all sorts of stuff. I was hoping to get the parametric working so I can spend less time designing the same designs for odd sizes. Problem I have is all my designs (11 years worth) are sitting on my pc in the office in DXF format for the MultiCAM. Was hoping there was a better way than re-coding back and forth with floppies.

[majstor76]

Rover 23 has a same Compact XNC unix controller and Biesse technician told me its possible to import dxf but i was doing mostly simple stuff so i didnt investigate further. If you have 11 years worth of designs that it should be important do get dxf import working. I could send a mail to guy from Biesse and ask him how to do it, if you want.
I was doing some parametric programming with LPX,LPY and LPZ since i had various sizes of same design

[StillMakingCabinets]

I have tried talking to Biesse here but no one i have spoken too so far can give me a straight answer. Any help would be appreciated.

[majstor76]

I have tried talking to Biesse here but no one i have spoken too so far can give me a straight answer. Any help would be appreciated.

I send him mail but he is kinda slow on response

[MarkT]

The XNC is a pretty powerful control for panel processing. Before trying to convert the machine to another control, I would recommend learning the XNC software. In your application, parametrics are very efficient and will pay for themselves many times over.
If any more questions email me at ntek1@aol.com or visit my website at www.cnccustomservices.com and email me from there!

Mark T.

[majstor76]

I got reply from man from Biesse and he said that for dxf conversion is used Dxfcid modul or Biesse Works. Hope this helps

[StillMakingCabinets]

Thanks, will have a look at them.

[battwell]

how are you getting on with your 321?
i write parametric programs for my products for different sizes
see you tube "biessebod"

[StillMakingCabinets]

Found out the only guy from Biesse who knows this machine was in town so got him to come out. I spent 4 hours with him going through the programming. I have the basics now and have started to program my own designs. Still no success with an adequate DXF solution but I’m having success with my basic designs. Still haven’t got to the complicated stuff yet but programming as the stuff I need comes through production. My next challenge will be pre-drilling for all the screws and dowels as well as frames. got all the basic cuts and holes so far.

[atakan19]

arkadaşlar slm benrecep bana rover321r cnc sistemi lazım pc için bu program varsa demo falan farketmez yardımcı olursanız

[battwell]

i would love to know what that said!

[StillMakingCabinets]

So would I. The best translation I have so far is

"cnc system need friends pc rover321r slm benrecep for me if this program helps you any demo or something"

I think its Turkish but who knows.

[battwell]

its quite funny that virtually all posts are in english , and someone expects us to translate to help them?

how you getting on? are you a biesse wizz kid yet?