LAN-USB Connect Operation Guide

LAN-USB Connect Operation Guide

Overview

This KB is intended to provide a description of the LAN-USB Connect network FTP data server. The LAN-USB Connect is an FTP server with at least 2 GB of local memory stored on a removable SD card. Data can be accessed over a LAN network as well as directly off the SD card when the card is used with a computer. Additionally, this unit comes with a USB port, in case at any point you prefer to use a USB flash drive instead.

Requirements

The LAN-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 this as read and punch tape functions. Power is obtained from the CNC machine tool.
If you own a Mazak Model, review LAN-USB and USB Connect Mazak Model Settings for more information. 

Operation Overview

The LAN-USB Connect acts as an FTP server for file storage that an operator can access at the control panel on a CNC. Connection to the FTP server can be done with standard software tools that are provided with most PC’s. No logon is required as the LAN-USB Connect FTP Server accepts anonymous logins. Special software is not required. The most popular of these are Explorer and Internet Explorer from Microsoft. Anyone on the network can drag and drop files to the CNC server where they can be transferred to machine memory or drip fed (DNC). Conversely, files residing in CNC memory can be sent to the data server where they can be accessed by anyone on the network.

File information is stored on an SD card resident on the LAN-USB Connect.  A 2 GB SD card is provided as standard. Other sizes may be substituted. In the event of a network outage, the SD card may be removed and inserted into a PC. Files can be added or stored at the PC and replaced in the LAN-USB Connect.
The LAN Connect does not support long Windows type file names. Use a DOS type
8.3 file format with the LAN 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.

LAN-USB Connect FTP Server

The LAN-USB Connect defaults to IP address 192.168.1.111.  If a different IP address is desired, use a PC to create a text file on the SD card with the file name LANCNC.INI in the root directory.  This file must be text only and have carriage returns at end of each line.

To change the IP address of the LAN-USB Connect to 192.168.2.101, the contents of the LANCNC.INI file should look like this:

IP address=192.168.2.101
IP mask=255.255.255.0
IP gateway=0.0.0.0
IP DNS=0.0.0.0

Remember the last number on the IP address will be that CNC’s “number.”  To access the files on that CNC’s LAN Connect FTP server, type in “ftp://192.168.2.101” in a web browser to view the directory contents stored on the machines 2GB SD card.

Navigating the Menus

There are three buttons on the panel of the LAN-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.

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.

CNC to File Menu Selection

With this selection, CNC data can be sent directly to the local FTP server memory. 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].



Press the button under the Start option to prepare the FTP server memory storage 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 FTP server memory storage 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 FTP server. If the largest sequence numbered file name number found is CNC15.TXT, then the next file name created will be CNC16.TXT.

File to CNC Menu Selection

With this menu selection, a file on the ftp server memory can be sent directly to the CNC. The first files shown on the display are files on the ftp server memory from the most recently accessed directory. First you will need to select [SD Dir] or [USB Dir] depending on whether you wish to pull the file from the SD Card (LAN side) or the USB stick. 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 should now 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.

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 FTP server memory 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 FTP server memory. The first files shown on the display are files on the FTP server memory from the most recently 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. Press the Start button. This will prepare the LAN-USB Connect for DNC or “drip feed operation”. Next, place the CNC in Automatic or DNC mode. The LAN-USB Connect will begin sending the file when the CNC is put in DNC or Automatic Mode.
It is important to prepare the LAN-USB Connect first when using software handshaking.
Auto-rewind
Once a file has been sent to the control, the LAN-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.


Select Options to display the options menu 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 for DNC. DNC will start at the block of NC code that contains the mid-tape text entered. For example, suppose the operator were to type in N1000.2. DNC will begin when a block that contains "N1000.2" is found. 
An N word can be added to a single line of the file in order to establish a starting block number.

Use the Preparatory data option to insert text before the file that is selected for DNC.  For example, the operator might want to make a tool change prior to running a file or position the Z axis.  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.

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:
  1. 1200
  2. 2400
  3. 4800
  4. 9600
  5. 19,200
  6. 38,400
  7. 57,600
  8. 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:
  1. 7 data, Even parity and 1 stop bit
  2. 7 data, Even parity and 2 stop bit
  3. 8 data, no parity and 1 stop bit
  4. 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 LAN-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 view the file using a computer.

The following choices are available:
  1. CR LF
  2. LF CR
  3. LF CR CR
  4. LF
  5. CR
  6. 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 LAN-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:
  1. %
  2. null char
  3. 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:

  1. %
  2. null char
  3. 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 LAN-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.

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