[voytek1]

Hi,

My laptop computer does not have a serial port so I use USB to Serial cable.
Linux recognizes it as /dev/ttyUSB0.
This works fine with CUTECOM program.
It is equivalent of Windows Hyperterminal.
I can receive and/or transfer fails between my laptop and my Fadal VMC with 88 HS controller without any problem.
I want to DNC large program.
This is what I do:

1 - Start CUTECOM
2 - Open Device
3 - Press ENTER , response is ENTER NEW COMMAND
4 - CD,8 (This is for 9600 baud rate)
5 - DNC and press ENTER
6 - Then I press SEND FILE and chose my CNC file.
CUTECOM show progress bar with percentage of the file sent.
7 - At the machine controller I have a screen showing that it is ready to start and shows blinking WAITING message.
8 - I press START.... and nothing, machine is not showing any program lines and not executing anything.
I know the CUTECOM sends the program and machine receives it because if I press MANUAL on the controller I can see
the lines of code scrolling down.

I tried same procedure entering instead of DNC different command which is DNCX.
Same effect.

I have no comments in my program.
I also have no O word.
Just % sign at the beginning and end of file.
My file last line contains only M0.
There are no line numbers.

What am I doing wrong?

[sdfoiler]

My machine always gets files DNC'd to it - I don't run it any other way. Your process sounds right. I basically go to the 4020 - type in DNC (already have the baud rate set in the defaults - but cd,8 would force the 9600 before the DNC command)

The 4020 then waits for input

Go to the PC and send the file

Hit start on the 4020 and it runs for hours.

I've attached a sample file of mine if you want to compare it to yours. I can't imagine why yours would not work. Does yours stop after a few hundred lines and wait for the xon/xoff command? Or does it send the whole file without ever stopping?





%
N1 ( O0000 FRAME )
N2 ( CREATED ON 01-14-14 AT 9:42 AM )
N5 ( MATERIAL - ALUMINUM INCH - 2024 )
N6 ( T18 | 1/4 INCH 60 DEGREE ENGRAVE TOOL .06 TIP | H18 )
N7 G20
N8 G0 G17 G40 G80 G90
N9 ( 1/4 INCH 60 DEGREE ENGRAVE TOOL .06 TIP TOOL - 18 DIA. OFF. - 18 LEN. - 18 DIA - .25 )
N10 T18 M6
N11 A-0.
N12 G0 G90 S5000 M3 E1 X8.7911 Y-11.0297
N13 H18 Z.25 M8
N14 Z.2
N15 G1 Z-.1366 F14.
N16 Y-1.0297 F28.
N17 G2 X9.195 Y-.6259 I.4039 J0.
N18 G1 X16.6949
N19 G2 X17.0988 Y-1.0297 I0. J-.4038
N20 G1 Y-11.0297
N21 G2 X16.6949 Y-11.4336 I-.4039 J0.
N22 G1 X9.195
N23 G2 X8.7911 Y-11.0297 I0. J.4039
N24 G1 Z.0634 F14.
N25 G0 Z.25
N26 M5 M9
N27 G53 Z0
N28 H0 E0 X0 y9. z0
N29 M30
%
%

[voytek1]

Hi Sdfoiler,

Thanks for response.
The answer is that it send the whole file without ever stopping.
No matter how big the file is.
I took YOUR file and attempted to run it using DNC command and CUTECOM.
See the responses:
Pic01 – after opening CUTECOM and pressing Open Device, ENTER, CD,8 and DNC
Pic02 – shows YOUR file selected to sent. - pressed Open.
After that a windows pop-up showing sending progress of entire file and then disappears.
Pressing START button on machine controller does nothing.
Pressing MANUAL button brings ENTER NEXT COMMAND screen on the controller.
See Pic03 what CUTECOM screen shows.
Pic4 and Pic05 show same attempts but using DNCX command.
In both cases machine does not perform anything.
As you see on the pictures the XON/XOFF is enabled.
Again regular transfer using CUTECOM of entire file using TA,1 to the machine or PU from the machine works just fine.
Must be something trivial.
????

Voytek1

[sdfoiler]

Everything sounds right. I've attached the settings I use for Cimco Edit (DNC software).

With what you are saying, it sounds like an xon/xoff problem where it's not stopping when the buffer gets full. I'm not a serial expert, so maybe someone else has some ideas. I know I was instructed to turn off fifo buffers if they were being used. Not sure how that relates to your setup.

Only other thing I can think of is the cable pinout - but if it sends to tape, I would think everything is good.

[voytek1]

Thanks Sdfoiler.
I think I have to sleep over it and start tomorrow fresh.
The settings seem to be the same.
I am not sure about XOn and Xoff.
I also tried higher transfers (CD,9 and CD,10) for TA,1 and PU. Those work fine but not on DNCX or DNC.

[sdfoiler]

One more question... how long is your rs232 cable? The shorter the better otherwise you will lose characters. I actually use a wireless rs232 connection to deal with noise issues I had when using a cable.

[voytek1]

About 12 feet

[sdfoiler]

Is there a way you can use about a 3 footer for testing to see it it makes any difference? That could very well be a problem depending on noise generated on the line.

[Waynno]

A lot of people have these issues, I would first get a RS232 tester to check if you even have the connection set right for communication

I never have had luck with those USB to serial cables, If there is a desktop within the machine any place, I would start there and once
you get it working, then start fiddling with the lap top

Personally, I would start with 300 baud and go from there, sometimes the older Fadals will give parity errors

I am also really surprised nobody here has noticed the "%" at the top of the program, That means "End Communicate"

That alone will stop you dead in your tracks.

also, Older CNC 88 controls dont like bracket statements

( T18 | 1/4 INCH 60 DEGREE ENGRAVE TOOL .06 TIP | H18 ) Take this crap out, it serves no purpose other than cause troubles with
communications.

There are a few other ideas I can throw at you, but Im heading out the door for business

Wayne

[sdfoiler]

Wayne,

That was a test program I sent him. That is how Mastercam produces the file and has worked flawlessly on my 4020 for a few years now. Since all I do is DNC, I like getting the comments to help remind me of things while it is processing data. But yes, other than reminders, they are of no value to the machine.

Bryan

[Waynno]

Step 1

[Grubstaker]

I am having the same issues using DNC on the Fadal 4020 (88HS contoller).

My laptop computer does have a serial port so I use a DB9 and DB25 serial adaptor with a CAT5 cable.
I can receive and transfer files to the memory without any problem.
I need to DNC large program.

This is what I do:

1 - Start software
2 - At the machine press Manual key until the ENTER NEW COMMAND and enter DNC.
3 - Select my NC file and send file.
Software shows progress bar with percentage of the file sent.
6 - On the machine controller, I have a screen showing that it is ready to start and shows blinking WAITING message.
7 - I press START.... and nothing, machine is not showing any program lines and not executing anything.

I tried entering DNC and DNCX in the command with the same result.

I have no comments in my program.
I also have no "O" word.
Just % sign at the beginning and end of file.
My file last line contains only M0.
There are no line numbers.

What am I doing wrong?