USB Connect Operation Guide
Overview
This KB is intended as an operation manual for the USB Connect devices. This will apply to both the pendant mount and portable model.
Requirements
The USB Connect device will work with a CNC control with a standard DB25 RS-232 serial connection to the control box for the purposes of input/output of CNC data. Typically, the CNC manufacturer refers to this as read and punch tape functions. For the portable model, access to an AC power wall outlet will be required to power the unit.
If you own a Mazak Model, review LAN-USB and USB Connect Mazak Model Settings for more information.
Navigating the Menus
There are three buttons on the panel of the USB Connect device. The outer buttons are used to control the cursor in order to highlight options from a menu or file selection. The cursor is typically shown bracketing items with > and < symbols. The center button typically selects the options or files highlighted with the > and < symbols.
The USB Connect does not support long Windows type file names. Use a DOS type
8.3 file format with the USB Connect. 8.3 filenames have at most eight characters, optionally followed by a "." and a filename extension of at most three characters, e.g. part1234.txt.
Main Menu
The following is the main menu displayed upon application of power. The outer buttons are used to adjust the item to be selected either up or down. The center button is used to select the function that is highlighted with the > < symbols. The descriptions of each function are described later in the KB.
USB Flash Drive Removal
It is important to leave the USB flash drive connected when in use. Otherwise, corruption of the USB flash drive may occur. Typically, a blinking USB flash drive indicates files are being used and the device should not be disturbed. The USB flash drive may be removed safely when the USB Connect unit is at the Main menu and the USB flash drive is not blinking.
CNC to USB Menu Selection
With this selection, CNC data can be sent directly to the USB flash drive. The file name used to transmit CNC data is generated automatically*. If a different name file name is desired, select ‘Dir’. ‘Dir’ will display the directory. A different file name can be typed in by selecting [type File].
Shown in the above screen display, the file name CNC16.TXT has been automatically generated by the USB Connect control. Press the button under the Start option to prepare the USB to receive a file from the CNC. Press the button under the Cancel option to return to the main menu without creating a file. Once the “Start” has been pressed, a file send operation (punch) from the CNC should be initiated.
Automatic File Name Selection
All files saved to the USB use a file name with the following structure: CNC####.TXT. The number will be the next number in the sequence of the files found on the USB. If the largest sequence numbered file name number found is CNC15.TXT, then the next file name created will be CNC16.TXT.
Naming a File
Use the Dir button if the operator wishes the save the file using a unique file name. Pressing the Dir button will display [type file] along with a list of files already on the USB flash drive. If you wish to overwrite an existing file, select one of the files from the list. A warning will appear as shown below
Confirm that you want to replace an existing file by selecting Yes. Selecting No will take the operator back to the main menu.
Using the [type file] function
Directory listings on the USB Connect always have a [type file] option in the directory list. This function allows the operator to insert characters to various functions. When selected in CNC to USB mode, a user may specify the name of the file on the USB flash drive that is being saved. The Scroll function is used to increment to another letter or number. Use the Next function to accept that character and move to the next character in the file name. Use the Cont. function to accept this as the file name. A character can be deleted by pressing the Left and Right buttons at the same time. In the example below, the USB Connect will save a file on the USB flash drive named 110808.NC. Press Cont. and then have the CNC punch/send the file to the USB flash drive.
USB to CNC Menu Selection
With this menu selection, a file on the USB flash drive can be sent directly to the CNC. The first files shown on the display are files on the USB flash drive from the last selected directory. Use the buttons on the right and the left to highlight a particular file, highlight [type file] to type in a file name, or select a new sub directory to display. Press the center button to make the selection desired.
Shown in this example screen above, the MOLD.TXT file is highlighted. Select the center key to prepare the file to be sent. A new screen will appear showing the file to be sent along with a Start and Cancel display. Before pressing the Start button, prepare the CNC control to receive a file. When the CNC is ready to accept a file, press the center button associated with the Start button on the screen. Press the right button to cancel this operation and return to the main menu. Use the View option to view the contents of the file selected before sending the file to the CNC.
After
pressing Start, the CNC will receive the data file selected. In the example
above, file data contained in MOLD.TXT will be sent to the CNC. When the
transmission is complete, the display will return to the main menu. On some
machines, the operator may have to press cancel to return to the main menu
after transmission of a file.
Using the [type file] function
Directory listings on the USB Connect always have a [type file] option in the directory list. This function allows the operator to insert characters to various functions. When selected in USB to CNC mode, a user may avoid scrolling down the list of files and simply specify the file to be sent. The Scroll function is used to increment to another letter or number. Use the Next function to accept that character and move to the next character in the file name. Use the Cont. function to accept this as the file name. A character can be deleted by pressing the Left and Right buttons at the same time. In the example below, the USB Connect will send the file on the USB flash drive named PART5.NC.
DNC Menu Selection
DNC, i.e. Direct Numerical Control, may not be available on all CNCs. Check with the machine’s User manual to determine if this is available on the CNC control.
With DNC selection, a file on the USB flash drive can be sent directly to the CNC while the control is in Automatic mode. This function provides a way to ‘run’ a program off the USB flash drive. The first files shown on the display are files on the USB flash drive from the last selected directory. Use the buttons on the right and the left to highlight a particular file, highlight [type file] to type in a file name, or select a new sub directory to display. Press the center button to make the selection desired.
Shown in this example screen shot, the MOLD.TXT file is highlighted and selected.
If the user would like to start DNC from the beginning of the file, press the center button that is associated with Start on the screen. Press the right button to cancel this operation and return to the main menu. After pressing the Start button, prepare the CNC for DNC or “drip feed operation” and place into start DNC mode.
In software handshaking mode, the USB Connect will wait for a start command before sending the file. If the CNC is placed into DNC mode before setting up the USB Connect, the start command will be sent prematurely. The USB Connect will miss the start file command and will wait indefinitely in a wait state unless the user presses cancel.
Auto-rewind
Once a file has been sent to the control, the USB Connect will “rewind” to the beginning of the program. In order to repeat the file, simply press start again to machine another part as many times as desired. Press the right button to cancel this operation and return to the main menu.
DNC Mid-Tape Start
Select Options from the DNC mode as shown above. A screen with DNC options will appear as shown below in the example. The options menu allows for mid-tape starts and preparatory lines to be added to the file that has been selected.
Use the Mid-tape start option to do a block search of the file selected. Press the button below Mid-tape. A new menu will appear as shown below.
An N will automatically be inserted. The scroll button will increment the last character by one allowing the user to specify either letter or numbers. The Next button will move the cursor over allowing additional text to be inserted. Holding the left and right buttons at the same time will delete the last character.
In the example above, the operator would like to start DNC from line N1000.2.
Once the operator is satisfied that the text desired is on the display, press Cont. This will bring the display back to the DNC Options Menu.
Pressing Cont. again will bring the USB Connect into DNC mode showing the file name along with the text string that will be searched. Using the example above, the display will show
Using the example, by pressing Start DNC will begin when a block that contains "N1000.2" is found. Note: An N word can be added to a single line of the file in order to establish a starting block number.
DNC with Preparatory Data
Use the Prep-data option from DNC Options to insert text prior to file data that has been selected for DNC. For example, the operator might want to make a tool change prior to running a file. To do this, the operator would enter the appropriate NC codes to make a tool change like T4M6.
The mid-tape or preparatory text can be typed using the left and the right buttons under the display. The Scroll function is used to increment to another letter or number. Use the Next function to accept that character and move to the next character in the text. Use the Cont. function to accept this as the file name. A character can be deleted by pressing the Left and Right buttons at the same time.
Once satisfied with the data that should be sent ahead of the data file, press Cont. This will bring the display back to the DNC Options Menu. Pressing Start from there will initiate the preparatory data being sent prior to the file data. In our example, T4M6 will be sent to the CNC followed by the rest of the file.
The Preparatory Data and Mid-Tape start can be used together to quickly resume operation in DNC mode without having to modify DNC files.
Setup Menu Selection
The Setup selection allows settings to be established for the RS-232 serial communication with the CNC. Highlight the parameter option from the list. Press the center button to select the highlighted option.
Baud Rate
Set the Baud Rate to communicate to the CNC. The baud rate is the number of bits per second the RS-232 serial port will communicate. The available choices are:
- 1200
- 2400
- 4800
- 9600
- 19,200
- 38,400
- 57,600
- 115,200
Data/Parity/Stop
Set the number of Data, Parity and Stop bits used for serial communication. This setting is typically fixed on a CNC. Refer the CNC’s manual for the proper combination. The following choices are available:
- 7 data, Even parity and 1 stop bit
- 7 data, Even parity and 2 stop bit
- 8 data, no parity and 1 stop bit
- 8 data, no parity and 2 stop bit
Flow Control
Flow control sets the streaming method of data to and from the CNC. This is typically a fixed method. Refer to the CNC manual to determine which type is used by the CNC. Hardware flow control uses two RS-232 signals (CTS and RTS) to start and stop data transmission. Software flow control uses XON/XOFF
characters to start and stop data transmission. Software flow control is the preferred and easiest method to implement. This method is recommended.
When the Software flow control method is used, the current XON or XOFF that has been received during transmission will be displayed on the right of the display. Use this feedback to determine if the USB Connect unit is receiving XON or XOFF characters.
End of Block Char
End of block sets the format for end of block characters. The most common end of block is the carriage return/ line feed used by most PC computers. The next most common is the Teletype end of block, which is line feed/carriage return. This parameter value will be the end of block that is used when sending data to the CNC. When data is received from a CNC, a carriage return/line feed end of block is always used so the file can be viewed when using the USB flash drive on a computer.
The following choices are available:
- CR LF
- LF CR
- LF CR CR
- LF
- CR
- None/binary
Use the ‘None/binary’ for controls that do not use text files or a file that does not contain control characters. For example, Mazak has an optional non-G code file system that will not work in text mode. The USB Connect will transfer those files when the binary option is selected.
End of Block Delay
Delay set a pause at the end of a block of data. Typically, this is set to ‘no delay’ to ensure the fastest data communication at the selected baud rate. Choose a delay if the CNC manufacturer requests a delay at the end of a block or if the CNC is losing blocks of data in the program. This feature is typically used for older CNC’s with low communication and baud rate capability.
Start of Tx
This sets the character that will be sent prior to sending data in the selected file. The most common character used is the percent, %. Choose a setting as specified in the CNC manual. If your file already contains a % at the beginning, set to none so duplicate % signs are not sent.
The following choices are available:
- %
- null char
- none
End of Tx
This function sets the character that will be sent after sending data in the selected file. The most common character used is the percent, %. Choose the setting as specified by the CNC manual.
The following choices are available:
- %
- null char
- none
Use the null character for controls the need an ASCII char 0 to be used as the end character.
Probe RS-232
This function shows the current RS-232 levels present. This can be used to help diagnosis serial issues.
Start Rx
This sets how the USB Connect will initiate receiving a file. Some machines require an initial XON to begin the transmission. Most machines do not, so the ‘automatic’ setting will work for most machines.
File Name
Example - O7001(COMPANY A12345 REV B OP100)
- O-word- This will rename the received file to the O word at the beginning of the file. For the example file, the file name will be O7001.NC
- 1st word- This will rename the received file to the first word in the comment of the O word line at the beginning of the file. For the example file, the file name will be COMPANY.NC
- 2nd word- This will rename the received file to the second word in the comment of the O word line at the beginning of the file. For the example file, the file name will be A12345.NC
Save Setting
Multiple machine settings can be saved using this function. When this is selected, the current USB Connect setup parameters can be saved as a file using a name chosen by the operator. Typically, this name is associated with a specific machine. The parameter files created will be saved on the USB flash drive in the INI directory. This function is useful to save communication settings for a particular machine should the USB Connect need to be reconfigured for connection to multiple machines.
Load Setting
Use this function to load a previously saved machine setup for easy recall. The parameter files saved in the INI directory on the USB flash drive will be displayed. If multiple USB flash drive are used, copy the INI directory to all USB flash drive used.
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