Communicating with Older CNC Machines
Recently I worked on a project modernizing communications with some 1980's era CNC milling and wire EDM machines. Here are some things I took away from the project.
Network Infrastructure
Depending on the scope of the project, the budget, and size of the company, etc, it may make sense to keep the network switch connecting the machine tools to the workstations which will be used for programming from the rest of the company's networking equipment. Electrically isolate t
If possible, run fiber optic cable from each machine tool to the network switch. This serves to electrically isolate other network attached equipment and workstations.
Serial to Ethernet
Use a serial to Ethernet adapter for connecting each machine tool to the network. Digi International makes a line of serial to Ethernet adapters that I have found to work well for communicating with CNC machines.
Serial Port Settings
A time consuming part of the project is determining the correct serial port settings to use. Many older CNC machines use unusual terminology when referring to serial port settings.
Depending on the scope of the project, the budget, and size of the company, etc, it may make sense to keep the network switch connecting the machine tools to the workstations which will be used for programming from the rest of the company's networking equipment. Electrically isolate t
If possible, run fiber optic cable from each machine tool to the network switch. This serves to electrically isolate other network attached equipment and workstations.
Serial to Ethernet
Use a serial to Ethernet adapter for connecting each machine tool to the network. Digi International makes a line of serial to Ethernet adapters that I have found to work well for communicating with CNC machines.
Serial Port Settings
A time consuming part of the project is determining the correct serial port settings to use. Many older CNC machines use unusual terminology when referring to serial port settings.
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