[rsfairman]

Now that I have a PC hooked up to my FANUC OM machine, I want to back everything up that I can. I've never done this before, so want to be sure that I've got everything I will need in case of a catastrophe -- batteries going dead seems the most likely scenario, but maybe other things could happen too.

So far, I've downloaded two sets of data. First, I did
EDIT
PARAM (once)
hold EOB + hit Output Start

On my terminal, I then get a series of lines of the form
N#### P xxxxxxxx
where #### ranges from 0000 to 8399, with many gaps but including values in the 900 range.

Next I did
EDIT
PARAM (twice)
Output Start (without EOB)

This gives me values in the range 10300 to 10399.

Is there anything else I should download? What about the ladder? Is there a way to get a copy of that?

I don't care about programs stored in the machine or the tool table (H-values). I just want to get back to a machine that works if something really bad happens.

[Al_The_Man]

There is Macro's if you have them and any timer/counter values you can record manually.
The parameter values including the 900's you can see by viewing the file.
The ladder you cannot download without a terminal, it is stored in eeprom.
Al.

[rsfairman]

I don't care about macros -- at least I don't think I do. I take it you mean G-code that's simply a bit more sophisticated than usual. Not sure what "timer/counter values" are though. If the ladder is in eeprom, then it should be safe, even without batteries.

Thanks

[fordav11]

he means the PMC parameters.

if your machine is a mill it will be using some hidden 9xxx programs. they are macro programs and without them the ATC won't work. They are always custom and extremely difficult to get if deleted, normally resulting in the machine losing that functionality and becoming a boat anchor.
there is a parameter that makes them hidden. change that to 0 to 'unlock' the 9xxx range programs then save them as usual.

[rsfairman]

The machine is a mill. I don't think there are any 9000 programs though.

The machine came from a school and when I got it there were numerous programs in it, most of which I deleted. A few of them were in the 9000 range, and I recall that I had to turn off bit #4 of parameter 10 to delete them. I looked at these before I deleted them, and they were clearly student programs. Other than this handful of programs in the 9000 range, no others are visible. This is an OM machine from about 1991, so maybe the software is less sophisticated and that's why there aren't any of these. If I'm off-base here, I'd like to know.

Randall

[fordav11]

it would be extremely unlikely that students would make 9xxx programs then protect them. so likely you deleted something that was put there by the machine manufacturer.