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Need info on wiring up laptop to CNC

IronReb

Stainless
Joined
May 26, 2011
Location
Shreveport/Louisiana USA
I am sorry if this has been addressed before so please forgive me for asking again.

We have a 1999 HAAS SL30 lathe that I wanna do away with using floppy disk for program storage.

I have all ready got the machine and DNC setting from easy DNC web page.

What I need to know is if I ordered the right cables to use with Dnc Software for Windows connected to a laptop with Windows XP.

1.25pin male into serial port of machine-9 pin into Null Modem adapter serial cable
2.Null Modem adapter
3.9pin to USB RS232 adapter

I assume I will use serial port 1 on the machine?
Also,we have a mill with Anilam 1100 series control thats has a serial port.Will the same hardware work on it also?
 
I am sorry if this has been addressed before so please forgive me for asking again.

We have a 1999 HAAS SL30 lathe that I wanna do away with using floppy disk for program storage.

I have all ready got the machine and DNC setting from easy DNC web page.

What I need to know is if I ordered the right cables to use with Dnc Software for Windows connected to a laptop with Windows XP.

1.25pin male into serial port of machine-9 pin into Null Modem adapter serial cable
2.Null Modem adapter
3.9pin to USB RS232 adapter

I assume I will use serial port 1 on the machine?
Also,we have a mill with Anilam 1100 series control thats has a serial port.Will the same hardware work on it also?

Null Modem is a fairly generic term; there are a few configurations of Null Modem. However, if your cable has the following pin out included in its configuration then it will work.

Cable for Software Handshake (Xon Xoff)

Machine Side ------------------------------------- PC Side
DB25 Male connector ------------------ DB25 Female ------- DB9 Female
1 Shield Ground ---------------------- Not Connected ---- Not Connected
2 ----------------------------------------- 3 ------------------ 2
3 ----------------------------------------- 2 ------------------ 3
4
| bridged
5
6
|
8 all bridged
|
20
7 ---------------------------------------- 7 ------------------- 5

With the control on-screen menus, set the following:
XON/XOFF Handshake
Baud Rate = 9600
Parity = Even
Data Bits = 7
Stop Bits = 2

Set the PC software as follows:
Handshake Method = Xon Xoff
Baud Rate = 9600
Parity = Even
Data Bits = 7
Stop Bits = 2

Ensure that your Win XP is installed as a 32bit system, otherwise you will have issues with the USB to Serial adapter if installed as 64bit OS.

Regards,

Bill
 
Wouldn't it be:

Machine Side ------------------------------------- PC Side
DB25 Male connector ------------------ DB25 Female ------- DB9 Female
2 ----------------------------------------- 2 ------------------ 3
3 ----------------------------------------- 3 ------------------ 2

3 on the PC goes to 2 on the machine. Not 2 to 2 (parallel) as you have it.
 
Wouldn't it be:

Machine Side ------------------------------------- PC Side
DB25 Male connector ------------------ DB25 Female ------- DB9 Female
2 ----------------------------------------- 2 ------------------ 3
3 ----------------------------------------- 3 ------------------ 2

3 on the PC goes to 2 on the machine. Not 2 to 2 (parallel) as you have it.

No.

1. DB25 pin 2 is TX (Transmit)
2. DB25 pin 3 is RX (Receive)
3. DB9 pin 2 is RX (Receive)
4. DB9 pin 3 is TX (Transmit)

Accordingly, if you were to wire the cable as you suggested, you would be trying to both Transmit and Receive on the same signal line.



Regards,

Bill
 
so I use a laptop with XP pro connected to my Haas TM-1P to load all my programs into the mill. I use hyper terminal. I think the manual for my mill had the wiring for the cable. I made the cable myself.

Do you have your manual? And did you look in it for a schematic? If you don't have a manual, I will look thru mine for the wiring.
 
Here are a couple pictures that should help:

Hardwarehandshaking.jpg


Softwarehandshaking.jpg
 
the Haas mill manual has a section titled RS232 that has the wiring for the cable I made. If you don't have a manual, i think you can access them on their web site. If that does not work for you, I can fax you a couple pages from my manual.
 
I'm glad I saw this post because I am working on getting my Fanuc 0M control hooked up to my laptop. I am good with computers and good with CNC, but have never made a cable before. Do you have to make an RS-232 cable for each machine or can you buy a cable? Do you have links for the parts you purchased as a reference?

Marc
 

As intimated in mt first post of this thread, the term Null Modem refers to more than one configuration.

The cable configurations shown in Dave's post all fall into the category of Null Modem, but you could have either success or failure with both depending on how the comms parameters were set at the machine and PC end. Dave's Fig2 shows a Null Modem cable with partial handshaking; partial because the Data Set Ready, Data Carrier Detect, and Data Terminal Ready lines are wired Loop Back. This cable will work for some machines using either Xon Xoff (Software) or RTS/CTS (Hardware), but its dependent on how the machine control handles the RTS/CTS (pin 4 and 5) when set in Xon Xoff mode.

Dave's Fig1 cable configuration and the configuration I've shown in my first post, is a typical Null Modem cable with Loop Back handshaking, and is the cable of choice if you use Software Handshaking. In this case pins 6 and 8 on the Machine side are held in a logic1 state by power being supplied from pin 20. Bridging 4, 5 and 6,8 and 20 gives the illusion of full handshaking, when in fact there is no hand shaking at all. When set to Xon Xoff at the control, control characters DC1 (Xon ASCII 17) and DC3 (Xoff ASCII 19) are transmitted to control the data flow. If Xon Xoff handshaking is set at the PC software, these characters are not seen by the software, but are interpreted at system level by the UART. You will sometimes experience Data Overflow errors using Software Handshaking if the comm port on the PC can't react quickly enough when interpreting the Xon Xoff. If this happens, you can often resolve this issue by adjusting the FIFO setting, accessible via, Device Manager > Ports > Select the Port Num > Port Settings > Advanced.

The above is why you just can't ask for a Null Modem cable, unless the sales person understands your application and the Handshake Method you will be using, and is the reason why I make my own cables; I know exactly what the cable configuration is. Making your own cable also allows you to source lower capacitance cable than what is generally supplied in a ready made cable. This allows you to span longer distances without going beyond the limitations of the standard.

Regards,

Bill
 
I'm glad I saw this post because I am working on getting my Fanuc 0M control hooked up to my laptop. I am good with computers and good with CNC, but have never made a cable before. Do you have to make an RS-232 cable for each machine or can you buy a cable? Do you have links for the parts you purchased as a reference?

Marc

Marc,
Just go to any reputable electronics store, I don't know any names of same on your side of the world, and purchase the following:
1. DB25 solder connection Male connector
2. DB9 solder connection Female connector
3. Back Shells for both above.
4. Low capacitance, shielded data cable with at least 3 wires. (Software Handshake only if only 3 wires).
5. If your laptop does not have a Serial Port, you will need a USB to Serial adapter. As stated in my first post, make sure that the OS is installed as a 32bit system, otherwise you will have issues with the adapter, and Serial Ports in general.
6. Configure cable as in Dave's Fig1 DB9 to DB25 illustration and my first post.

The maximum length over which data can be sent is set out in the Standard as 50ft, or a cable length equal to a capacitance of 2500 pF, using the Baud Rate of 19200. Accordingly, by using a lower capacitance cable than that used in the standard will allow longer spans to be achieved. For example, using cable with a capacitance of 17 pF/ft, will stretch the maximum allowed cable length to 147 feet when using a Baud Rate of19200.

Deceasing the Baud Rate dramatically effects the span length. For example, halving the speed from 19200 to 9600, increases the allowable cable length ten fold (50ft to 500ft) whilst still using the same capacitance cable used in the Standard.

Regards,

Bill
 
Also of note is that some people have reported trouble using various USB to RS232 adapters. You may need to try several before you find one that works.

For reference, I am using a USB to RS232 cable to drip feed my Hurco at 19200 baud with no trouble at all - Windows XP on my laptop. The USB to RS232 cable that I have I bought at Radio Shack a few years ago. It identifies itself as "Y. C. Cable USA, Inc." to linux using lsusb with a device identifier of 05ad:0fba. I'm not sure how to get its USB identifier through Windows. It's based on the Prolific PL2303 USB converter chip. I think it's been discontinued, though. It also doesn't work on Windows 7.
 
OHHH God,I was sure hoping for a plug and play :(

I had called HAAS and the service tech made it sound like it was no big deal,told me to order the cables and null modem off the net and with a DNC program I would be good to go.

Thanks for the help,hope it happens to work.
I did send the sales guy at M2cables this link to wiring diagram http://www.dncsetup.com/,he seemed to think to configuration I am getting will work.It looked like Egyptian to me.
At first he wanted me to go straight from the serial port to a RS232 USB adapter,after he saw the link above he said he thinks I need the NullModem after all,something about it reversing or flipping the pins.

I will know next week when the cables get here,if I need more help I will bring a Dr Pepper for everyone :)
 
I'm glad I saw this post because I am working on getting my Fanuc 0M control hooked up to my laptop. I am good with computers and good with CNC, but have never made a cable before. Do you have to make an RS-232 cable for each machine or can you buy a cable? Do you have links for the parts you purchased as a reference?

Marc

I bought the cables here M2Cables- Computer Cables HDMI Cables, Audio Video, SCSI-3 Cables, Cat5E, Networking Solutions Call 800-407-8011 for wholesale pricing I called the 1 800# at the top of page and talked to a sales guy,all the parts were $31.00 plus shipping.

If mine works out maybe it will work for you also.
 
OHHH God,I was sure hoping for a plug and play :(

I had called HAAS and the service tech made it sound like it was no big deal,told me to order the cables and null modem off the net and with a DNC program I would be good to go.

IronReb,
It really is quite easy. You could say that its about one step down from Plug and Play. The important thing is attention to detail; have one thing wrong and you will be scratching your head. Ensure that the cable is configured as in Dave's Fig1, or my first post, and the comms settings as described in that first post and you won't have any trouble.

Fasto,
The reason why the USB to Serial adapters don't work with Win7 is because that system is a true 64bit OS and installs that way by default. It can be installed as a 32bit system and it will work. I just don't particularly like Win7 though.

Regards,

Bill
 
Thank you Anglew for the support,it's great to know I have back up here at PM.
No one at my job knows jack crap about CNC or computers,so when ever an issue comes up with our HAAS I am all on my own.All my boss wants to know is when can he deliver the job.

Again,much thanks for the support.
 
HAAS SL30...Easy DNC program

I got the hardware in and hooked up right before quiting time today.
Soon as I plugged in the USB to the laptop Windows found new hardware wizard popped up,is there drivers I need on the PC for it to see the port for windows XP?

Also,in the DNC program it is telling me Port #1 is unavailable or is in use by another DNC.

Thought I would post this to see if it rings a bell to anyone while I search the web later tonight.
Thanks in advance very much.
 
HAAS SL30...Easy DNC program

I got the hardware in and hooked up right before quiting time today.
Soon as I plugged in the USB to the laptop Windows found new hardware wizard popped up,is there drivers I need on the PC for it to see the port for windows XP?

Also,in the DNC program it is telling me Port #1 is unavailable or is in use by another DNC.

Thought I would post this to see if it rings a bell to anyone while I search the web later tonight.
Thanks in advance very much.


Mostly the Driver and Install software is held in the USB to Serial adapter, or you should have received drivers with the unit. Installing the device should be Plug and Play. Initially Windows will detect the device and then install the Driver, and finally report that the device is ready to use.

You can check if the device is installed and working correctly by looking for the device in the Device Manager. I've just installed a USB to Serial adapter I have here so that you can see how it will appear in the Device Manager (see the attached picture). In this case its a Belkin adapter and its installed on COM10. You will need to know what COM port its installed as to be able to use it with your CNC Transfer software. Even though your Laptop may have no real physical Serial Port, when you install the USB to Serial adapter, it won't necessarily be installed as COM1. If you don't see the device in the Device Manager, then its not installed.

Make sure your XP OS is not installed as a 64 bit system. One way of check this is as follows:
1. Click Start, and then click Run.
2. Type sysdm.cpl, and then click OK.
3. Click the General tab. The operating system appears as follows:
* For a 64-bit version operating system: Microsoft Windows XP Professional x64 Edition Version < Year> appears under System.
* For a 32-bit version operating system: Microsoft Windows XP Professional Version <Year> appears under System.
<Year> is a placeholder for a year.

USB_Serial1.JPG

Regards,

Bill
 
Mostly the Driver and Install software is held in the USB to Serial adapter, or you should have received drivers with the unit. Installing the device should be Plug and Play. Initially Windows will detect the device and then install the Driver, and finally report that the device is ready to use.

Bill

What worries me is windows didn't find drivers for it nor did the USB adapter come with any software.Will check the device manager but I am sure it isn't installed because the New Device wizard couldn't find drivers for the "new device".
Will give it another go later,I believe the first hurdel is gonna be getting the PC to see the new port.
 
The USB-RS232 adapter I installed/use required a visit to the manufacturers web site to download the driver. Installation instructions for it were there as well.

Is that possibly what you need to do for your installation?
 








 
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