thunderskunk
Cast Iron
- Joined
- Nov 13, 2018
- Location
- Middle-of-nowhere
Hey folks...
So... I can’t get my stinkin robodrill to connect to my stinkin computer.
I have a D21iDL with 16i-MB control. My first attempt was to try the organic RS232 port on the front. I bought a PCIe card with 25 pin interface and installed with drivers on my win10 PC. I’ve installed NC Link, NCnet, and a sample version of Cimco edit. I have several old RS232 cables sitting around, which I’ve jumpered pins 4-5 and 6-8-20 together. My initial attempt was pins 2, 3, and 7 directly connected, but I found a diagram on the Cimco website that said swap 2 and 3, so I did on one end. Diagram is attached, though I’d already jumpered 4-5 since I don’t have any cables with five wires.
My problem starts here I think. Did I wire my cable incorrectly? Are my parameters on the DNC program wrong? (See screenshot) I have stuck with NC Link for now. It keeps saying I have the wrong com port, but I’ve tried them all with both versions of my cable with no success.
So what I’m used to is to get on the program screen, get into edit mode, then just hit “program in” in one form or another. No dice, it’s not there. I can see the directory, but there’s no clear choice to input or output a program or select how that program gets moved. Maybe the “Read” button? I’m obviously missing something here.
Then I got into the QUICK/NC screen, which was almost helpful. I was able to see and change the parameters for program I/O; baud rate is 4800, stop bit is 2, etc. I can even change it to accept ethernet, which I will get to in a moment.
Regardless, when I select “program” from the quick screen, I get a program list and a read/write soft key. Great... except the title says something about a floppy drive. I don’t have a floppy drive... and it’s still not writing.
OK, next try. I have the embedded Ethernet port in the back, and my manual has a whole section on connecting to the embedded Ethernet. Great... except it doesn’t quite match up. I go to the program screen in edit mode. I hit the plus key until I see a soft key for “conect.” I hit OPTR. I hit EMBED... and I get the screen shown below. It has a list for something or other, then you can switch to a directory... Now I’m lost. The manual is clear as mud on this. I got an IP address by hitting the “BOARD” soft key, though I’m not sure if it’s the machines or the computers... did I mention I’m lost here? I know that when I connect, the machine is supposed to send an interface program of some sort. Install it and I think my problems would at least mostly be solved...
I tried to have someone come take a look at it but he bailed on me, and I’m at my day job when the guys at methods are available. I input and output programs from older machines every day, but I can’t make any headway with this. I’d really like to not hand jam stuff anymore. Gets me into trouble.
As a summary: I’m dumb and can’t get programs on and off my robodrill.
My theory for why RS232 serial coms don’t work:
• I wired the cable wrong
• My computer side parameters are wrong
• My machine side parameters are wrong
• I’m not selecting the right dialogue for RS232 program I/O
For the Ethernet connection:
• I’m pushing the wrong buttons...
• The Ethernet port in the cabinet is a cruel joke by fanuc and a group of engineers is laughing at my pitiful existence.
Feel free to laugh at me. It has long since evolved from a sad joke to depressing fits of wondering how I got this far but can’t do something so simple.
EDIT: I know the attachments aren't lining up with my descriptions and some are missing. I will work on it in the morning; took me an hour to figure out how to get pictures on a post.
So... I can’t get my stinkin robodrill to connect to my stinkin computer.
I have a D21iDL with 16i-MB control. My first attempt was to try the organic RS232 port on the front. I bought a PCIe card with 25 pin interface and installed with drivers on my win10 PC. I’ve installed NC Link, NCnet, and a sample version of Cimco edit. I have several old RS232 cables sitting around, which I’ve jumpered pins 4-5 and 6-8-20 together. My initial attempt was pins 2, 3, and 7 directly connected, but I found a diagram on the Cimco website that said swap 2 and 3, so I did on one end. Diagram is attached, though I’d already jumpered 4-5 since I don’t have any cables with five wires.
My problem starts here I think. Did I wire my cable incorrectly? Are my parameters on the DNC program wrong? (See screenshot) I have stuck with NC Link for now. It keeps saying I have the wrong com port, but I’ve tried them all with both versions of my cable with no success.
So what I’m used to is to get on the program screen, get into edit mode, then just hit “program in” in one form or another. No dice, it’s not there. I can see the directory, but there’s no clear choice to input or output a program or select how that program gets moved. Maybe the “Read” button? I’m obviously missing something here.
Then I got into the QUICK/NC screen, which was almost helpful. I was able to see and change the parameters for program I/O; baud rate is 4800, stop bit is 2, etc. I can even change it to accept ethernet, which I will get to in a moment.
Regardless, when I select “program” from the quick screen, I get a program list and a read/write soft key. Great... except the title says something about a floppy drive. I don’t have a floppy drive... and it’s still not writing.
OK, next try. I have the embedded Ethernet port in the back, and my manual has a whole section on connecting to the embedded Ethernet. Great... except it doesn’t quite match up. I go to the program screen in edit mode. I hit the plus key until I see a soft key for “conect.” I hit OPTR. I hit EMBED... and I get the screen shown below. It has a list for something or other, then you can switch to a directory... Now I’m lost. The manual is clear as mud on this. I got an IP address by hitting the “BOARD” soft key, though I’m not sure if it’s the machines or the computers... did I mention I’m lost here? I know that when I connect, the machine is supposed to send an interface program of some sort. Install it and I think my problems would at least mostly be solved...
I tried to have someone come take a look at it but he bailed on me, and I’m at my day job when the guys at methods are available. I input and output programs from older machines every day, but I can’t make any headway with this. I’d really like to not hand jam stuff anymore. Gets me into trouble.
As a summary: I’m dumb and can’t get programs on and off my robodrill.
My theory for why RS232 serial coms don’t work:
• I wired the cable wrong
• My computer side parameters are wrong
• My machine side parameters are wrong
• I’m not selecting the right dialogue for RS232 program I/O
For the Ethernet connection:
• I’m pushing the wrong buttons...
• The Ethernet port in the cabinet is a cruel joke by fanuc and a group of engineers is laughing at my pitiful existence.
Feel free to laugh at me. It has long since evolved from a sad joke to depressing fits of wondering how I got this far but can’t do something so simple.
EDIT: I know the attachments aren't lining up with my descriptions and some are missing. I will work on it in the morning; took me an hour to figure out how to get pictures on a post.