Floppy Connect Emulator Guide for Okuma Model

Floppy Connect Emulator Guide for Okuma Model

Overview

Our Okuma Floppy Drive Emulator works on virtually all Okuma controls.  If you have an existing OEM floppy drive in your CNC, this solution will eliminate the hunt for floppy disks and data lost found using your existing system.  If you’re manually typing in part programs because your floppy drive failed, we have the solution for you.

All units come complete with the mainboard and floppy drive to insure 100% functionality.  While some sites provide might provide a generic floppy drive, your mainboard is likely the cause of data loss as well.  You will receive the mainboard (CORE) with an Okuma Floppy Drive Emulator in it.

Software is included to run on a Windows computer to format the USB drive for multiple disks if desired.  Support for 1 to 100 floppy disks can be created.

Support for MS-DOS formatted and OSP format files. Enjoy simplified data backup, user-friendly software, quick installation, and no more floppy disk-related issues in the shop.  No need to modify your system settings.  Retyping programs after data loss or corruption takes precious time and effort – all while exposing you to user errors, inaccuracies and further delays.

Package Contents

  1. Floppy to USB Conversion Unit
  2. Formatted USB Drive
  3. User Manual

Features

  1. Uses ordinary USB stick as the medium for transfer design.
  2. Same size and interface as floppy drive unit, easy to install.
  3. Connects through floppy drive interface, no need to modify system settings.
  4. 1.44 MB/720 KB built-in flash memory used for conversion of file system between USB stick drive and format of floppy disk.
  5. All files in root directory and 99 folders can be searched.

Installation Instructions

  1. Power off machine completely; main disconnect on the machine needs to be turned off. Follow all lockout/tagout procedures per OSHA standards.
  2. Open the control unit to access the floppy drive connections and mounting hardware.
  3. Remove the two connectors to the floppy drive unit as shown below
  4. Remove the four nuts holding the floppy drive unit as shown below
  5. Remove entire floppy drive unit from the control panel.
  6. Remove screws from the sides of floppy drive casing.
  7. Remove ribbon cable and power connector from the floppy drive.
  8. Connect ribbon cable and power connector to it.
  9. Attach the metal casing to floppy to USB conversion unit using the provided screws.
  10. Make sure power to the machine is off.
  11. Install floppy to USB conversion unit in existing space, using original mounting nuts (make sure orientation is as shown below).
  12. Connect interface connector and power connector to the Okuma interface board as shown in Figure 8.
  13. Insert provided USB drive and refer to operating instructions.

Operating Instructions

  1. Insert included USB drive into Floppy to USB conversion unit. If using a new USB drive, it must be formatted with “USB-floppy-format-tool” prior to use.
    2. The retrofit kit comes with a pre-formatted USB drive. To format additional USB drives, refer to Software Manual.
  2. FD No. LED will display “00.” Use buttons to select a "floppy disk" (00-99). ** Button # 1 increments the tens digit, and button # 2 increments ones digit.  “00” is the root directory
    3. Each partition = (1) 1.44MB floppy disk.
  3. Read and write operation performs the same as it did with the old floppy drive.
    Wait until the green light on the floppy to USB conversion unit is off before removing the USB drive or data will be lost!

Software Installation

  1. Connect a USB drive to computer.
  2. On the computer, click on start then click on “My Computer.”

  3. Find USB drive and double-click to open.

  4. A new window will appear. Double-click on Floppy Emulator installation file.

  5. On the new dialogue box "Setup-Floppy Emulator", click “Next” to install Floppy Emulator 1.31T on the computer.

  6. Select a location to install Floppy Emulator or keep default location. Click “Next.”

  7. Verify settings and click "Install".

  8. Click "Finish" to exit Setup. USB_Floppy_Manager II_V1.31T is now installed.

Formatting USB Drive

  1. Click on the Windows “Start” button, and then right click on the “USB_Floppy_ManagerII_V1.31T” file and choose “Run as administrator.” If option doesn’t appear, click on “Properties,” then go to the “Compatibility” tab and click on the “Run this program as an administrator” option.

  2. Click on the Windows "Start" button again and open “USB_Floppy_Manager II_V1.31T” to format USB drive. The following window will open up.

  3. Click “USB Flash Drive” at the top left corner of the window and select “Format”.

  4. On the new dialogue box, select floppy format “1.44M.” Set “The number of floppy disks" to create to “100.” Make sure “Quick Format” is not selected. Click “Begin to Format”.

  5. A pop-up will warn that the format will erase all data from the drive. Select “OK".

  6. The USB drive will be formatted. Do not remove until formatting is complete.

  7. Click “OK” when the formatting is complete. The 100 floppy disk blocks will be displayed on the screen.

Saving and Deleting Data from Floppy Emulator

  1. Open “USB_Floppy_Manager” software.
  2. Go to “Options” and select “Set.”

  3. A new dialogue box “Set” will pop-up. Select the destination where the floppy disk folders will be created. Choose Desktop. A new folder will be created at the chosen destination. Make sure the marked options in Figure 2 are checked, then click OK.

  4. Double-click the floppy disk block to save to.

  5. A new folder with the corresponding block name will open up. Files already on the floppy disk will be shown in the folder. Copy and paste the files to the desired floppy disk.

  6. Go back to “USB to Floppy Manager” window and click on “Download Floppy Disk Block.” The files will then be saved to the selected floppy disk. Notice the percentage change in used space.

  7. To delete a file from the floppy disk block, double-click on the block. Delete any files, and then go back to “USB to Floppy Manager” window and click on “Download Floppy Disk Block.”
  8. To edit multiple floppy disks at the same time use the “Bulk” menu. Hold “Ctrl” while clicking to select multiple floppy disks. To select all press “Ctrl + A.” Once multiple floppy disks are selected, click “Bulk” and select “Bulk Open.” Once files are copied to appropriate folders select “Bulk Save.”

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