[jderou]

I have 5 cnc machines, and I simply want to know how many hours every day that each machine has run. I want to trend this info, and I also want to view it live.
I am trying to find the slickest way to do this inexpensively. I can easily get an open/closed signal (or 0V/5V) out of the machine, how can I get this info into a PC? I would like to stay away from parallel port, as we don't have many PC's with them anymore.
Is their a breakout board for USB or ethernet that could do this?
I have looked into dataloggers, but most seem overkill (or too expensive) for what I am trying to do.

Thanks!
Joe

[Al_The_Man]

It may be possible using a Smart Relay, there are quite a few out there, all fairly alike, and can have the calendar clock option, also Ethernet Modbus and RS422 communication, also they have a data-logging feature.
The contact closure from each machine could be used on the inputs.
It may be worth looking into.
They are relatively easy to program and set up.
-Siemens Logo, Easy relay,smart relay,mini plc,programmable relay, xLogic, SuperRelay, Micro-Plc, Relay, PLC, crouzet,Moeller,Zelio,programmable logic controller, canbus,home automation, Automation, FBD, Function Block Diagram, ladder diagram, Intell
http://www.xlogic-plc.com/xLogic%20brochure.pdf
Al.

[doorknob]

How about something like this:

CNC4PC

[underthetire]

How about something like this:

CNC4PC

Ohhh, i think thats what i've been looking for, for my model trains. Yes i'm a nerd, so what!

Monitoring Software? | Spectrum CNC Technologies
probably out of your price range, but works quite well.

[jderou]

Thanks all for the suggestions! I will start looking into them.

Joe

[jderou]

I ordered the CNC4PC PoKeys56ET (ethernet version)
Will let you know how it works out!