[NitroCH3NO2]

I looked at a used mill today. It has a Fanuc 0M controller. All of the main features of the controller seemed to work we ran a small program that was already on the controller. Did some manual jogging etc.

I was not able to transfer a program to the Fanuc from PC when I looked at the machine. My main question is how large of a GCode file can the Fanuc 0M controller take before I have to drip feed the gcode to the machine?

Also what type of support is there for this controller. What do I do when the controller starts to act up or I have problems with it. Can you repair the controller or how difficult is it to retrofit with easy stepper and mach. Would I have to gut all of the electronics and replace all of the servo drives?

[Al_The_Man]

There is absolutely no comparison between Fanuc 0 and Mach!
Fanuc is a world wide industrial control.
Do you know the version A,B,C OR D?
The amount of program memory can sometimes be enlarged by a option parameter set to 1.
check the status of the 901 parameters.
What error did you get when trying to transfer a Pgm?
Al.

[NitroCH3NO2]

Al,

I do not know the version of the controller. How do I determine the version? I will not be able to check it unless I go back to look at the machine again. I also don't know the 901 parameters.

We did not try to transfer a program as I was not sure of the proper method. I have since found the information provided by you and others on this forum on how to transfer programs to the Fanuc 0M from a current pc.

Are these controllers still repairable? If something were to go wrong with it can I still get replacement parts? If I buy the machine I will definitely keep the Fanuc control until it goes bad then I will have to weigh replacement parts or switch out the system to a different system.

[fordav11]

Fanuc controls are rock solid and hell reliable. you would never want to put in some PC-based piece of crap once you get to know Fanuc. it would probably be very difficult and expensive anyway. if something does go wrong Fanuc have a worldwide network of authorized repairers. you would only need to call Fanuc and they will send out someone local to where you are. Fanuc is the #1 CNC manufacturer and has always been #1 from the beginning. their after-sales and repair service is top rate and second to none.
for memory you can check it in the controller when powered on, on the program directory screen. it shows how many characters are free.
2048 = 2k, 16384 = 16k, 65535= 64k etc
the control has many cycles and other functions to reduce the size of the program so it will easily fit in standard memory.
I think the 0-series can max out at 1MB (with memory expansion options). that's a million characters. you would have to do 3D multi-axis machining using CAM software like MasterCAM to max that out. you can DNC from a PCMCIA memory card if the control has that fitted.
if you are buying a used machine take someone with you who knows Fanuc. either a CNC machinist/CNC programmer or someone very knowledgeable on Fanuc CNCs. that way he can do the checking/testing and you will get the correct answer to your questions.

[Heavy_Metal]

Hi Nitro,

On a Fanuc-OM(D) 128K (320M) is the limit, see attachment.
For normal use 64K is enough, when you want to engrave/lettering or simple 3D you need at least 128K.
As for as I know the OM has no PCMCIA available.
Check always for 2-way communication, receive and transmit/send nc-code.
Sometimes IC's for communication or damaged, 75188 (driver-ic) and 75189 (receiver-ic).
You need a [ DNC/Tape ] mode on the machine for dripfeed (large programs).
Also check for backlash on X- and Y-axis.
Never change 900 - Option parameters, it can lost all other parameters.
Only when you know what you are doing you can change them.

Regards,
Heavy_Metal.

[memoryman]

1: 128k is the upper limit for FS0 (such as yours).
2: no communication other than RS232.
3: parts and service are plentyful for years to come.
4: save all important data such as parameters, programs, offsets.
Lots of help on how to do this.
5: When the control powers up, it will display the software version; that's all we need.

[Al_The_Man]

Never change 900 - Option parameters, it can lost all other parameters.
Only when you know what you are doing you can change them.

Regards,
Heavy_Metal.

This is why a back up of ALL parameters etc should be done and also a hard copy kept.
Especially on recent acquired machines.
Al.

[Heavy_Metal]

Hi Nitro,

For 0M alarms check;
Fanuc 0/00/0-mate Control Alarms | CNC Alarms.com.

Like I said before, first check everything before you buy a cnc-machine.
There are big fans of Fanuc here on the forum but in Europe you don't want Fanuc-technicians in your shop.
All cnc-control manufactures create there own domain and they are sometimes very expensive when you want to repair things.

Regards,
Heavy_Metal.

[drolia]

hello,
i am abhishek drolia from india i have a miyano tsv 21 machine which is running on fanuc om series but its atc is not working upon inspection it was found that the 9 series has some problem so i am looking for backup software so that i can restor back the 9 series for my atc to keep running can you help me do mail me back it will be great help.

regards
[email protected]
9193two80two3two80

[fordav11]

ah yes 128k. I was getting my bits and bytes mixed up. 1MBits (i.e. 1024000 bits) = 128k ;-)
I suppose the 0 is the cheapest control so they have to limit it somehow.

[NitroCH3NO2]

Thanks for the information guys. Do you think I should try to transfer a file to the machine before I buy? Is there much of a risk there? I cannot spend much time at the machine where it currently sets. I don't have the usb to serial converter yet and I don't have the DB9 and DB25 connectors to make the custom patch cable.

To do a drip feed do I need special software on the PC or will any serial terminal work?

I am sorry for all of the questions. I have only used Mach based CNC prior to this. Old Fanucs are not my specialty, Yet...

[memoryman]

i used Hyperterminal for years with no problems; almost any comm. software should work.

[Al_The_Man]

There is also Cadem Lite which is a very good free pgm.
To drip feed on the 0 some versions require that a PMC/ladder change be to turn on a enable bit (G127.5).
If your version of the 0 shows the ladder, you can check for it.
Make sure you either get the current parameters or back them up ASAP.
I always just use the three wire cable with the handshake jumpered.
Al.

[NitroCH3NO2]

Al,

I assume that by Cadem Lite you are referring to NClite by cadem. It says on their webpage that it does not support drip feeding. Can you confirm this?

[NitroCH3NO2]

I tried looking at the memory value in the program library but I cannot get to the library. I don't have a LIB softkey in the program menu. Any ideas on this one?

[Heavy_Metal]

Hi Nitro,

You don't need soft keys on a 0M to transfer programs, to receive on CNC just type Oxxxx [INPUT] and send from pc-side.
To transmit from CNC to PC; first receive on PC-side then Oxxxx [ OUTPUT] on CNC-side.

Regards,
Heavy_Metal

attachment;
-----------------
Fanuc 0M - Operator's manual
Fanuc 0M - Parameter manual
Fanuc 0M - Hardware Connection manual
Fanuc 0M - key pad

[NitroCH3NO2]

Ok, I downloaded NClite by cadem and it does not allow selection of drip feeding. I assume that they removed this option somewhere along the line. Does someone have the previous version of the program "Cadem Lite" that they would like to share since it was freeware.

[NitroCH3NO2]

Nevermind, I see after doing more research that the cadem lite never had the ability to drip feed. Full version is not overly priced. May have to invest in it. I will see how the lite version works first.

[cjfisher]

Nitro,

For what it is worth I have found Dnc4u to be a good dnc program (dnc4u.com). It has a 60 day trial with no limitations and is priced around US$149 to unlock. The first time I used it I ran a 3 Mb program. I know NClink doesn't work in dnc mode as it kept dumping after a random number of lines were sent. Predator CNC was annoying as I couldn't run enough code to verify that it really worked - not to mention that they wanted an arm and a leg for it.

Charles

[fordav11]

there are several programs out there that can do dnc. better to wait until you have a machine first and figure out the basics as getting dnc to work is normally not a simple task.
you dont need to test a transfer. just buy a machine and transfer will work. if it doesnt it wont cost much to repair it anyway.
most of the time a non-working rs232 is due to operator/cable issues. we have machines that have been in constant use for 30 years and never had any kind of rs232 problem. its not a common issue on a cnc machine. sure it can happen, but its not common. more likely it will work fine.
if you really want to do a test on the machine buy a $10 rs232 tester with LEDs on ebay and then punch out a simple 1-line program and watch the little LEDs flicker. you dont need a laptop, cable, adapter or anything, just plug in the little LED tester thing.
if the machine punches a program with no alarms that will tell you good enough that its working
RS232 DB25 Male Female 18 LED Multi Line Status Tester Adapter TS R18 | eBay