FANUC - Ethernet Connections

[champshire]

You are correct... too many parameter windows open.


You can ping the CNC and you still get that message?

No worries James, it happens to all of us.

I went back onto the shop floor and hooked everything back up to the xp host computer. i then tried to ping the CNC machine from the xp computer with it hardwired and got "Request Timed Out". I then confirmed I had all the settings correct, by then transferring a program out of the CNC to the XP host. Evidently, all communications must start and end with the CNC? Seems like this is a lost cause.

[CNCAppsJames]

Evidently, all communications must start and end with the CNC?

It's been a minute since I worked on a non i series control... I would not say all is lost... just need to find the right info.

Here's something I wrote BITD... (last modified 1999 )
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/juue0wwmlfd3i3srzb6mg/Dataserver-Manual.doc?rlkey=jcseq5sz5i4n2wybplgbvc0c2&dl=0

Here's pictures... (not great quality but hopefully will be helpful.
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/bmg53984qyb10c1eo7uwv/Dataserver-Pictures.zip?rlkey=yau8b5vr7am6uwib8xqmrjav4&dl=0

[champshire]

Thanks James, I am going to print this stuff out and see if I can ping the machine from the PC. I will let you know, it may be a couple days.

[SuperHoneyBadger]

We are using the FANUC Transfer Tool to send programs to our VX660 with Data Server. Just got a new PC on the shop floor, and having trouble getting set up. Our AE set up the machine for transfers when we bought it and it works great, but he doesn't remember the password used in the Transfer Tool for this machine (we think that's the issue), and we don't have it written down.

Is it possible/safe to change it at the machine, then use that network password moving forward? The bosses don't want it down and out while we figure out how to reset it or something.

[MIL-TFP-41]

Is it possible/safe to change it at the machine, then use that network password moving forward? The bosses don't want it down and out while we figure out how to reset it or something.

Yes, you are safe to change it on the machine (I forget if you have to power down the machine when changing the password, Fanuc's are picky about changing certain settings on the Dataserver). FWIW, I keep all the usernames/passwords the same. Example, all of our mills are named M01, M02, M03, etc. All of the usernames and passwords are named those inside the dataserver. Makes life easy down the road.

[SuperHoneyBadger]

Yes, you are safe to change it on the machine

Beauty! Thanks. We only have the 1 machine that we access with the Transfer Tool, will add a note to the machine so we don't forget later

[YoDoug]

Networking machines can be a challenge. There are straight forward, easy, and cost effective solutions for connecting your Ethernet equipped FANUC controlled machine.

*LEGAL... I'm not responsible for what you do to your machine. That's on you. THis is for imformational purposes. If you have questions your first line of questioning shoudl go to your machine tool dealer/builder. In the event they are incompetent, as your questions here and we'll try to help. Or skip the incompetence all together and ask your questions her.  

You do not have to string network cable all through your shop to accomplish networking your FANUC controlled CNC Machines.
You only need a few items;

• TP-Link TL-WA801N WiFi Access Point - Cost as low as $18.99 ( https://www.amazon.com/TP-Link-TL-WA801N-Supports-Multi-SSID-Extender/dp/B09JZPXSBJ/ref=sr_1_4?crid=2TMGX2E3BRRC8&keywords=TP-Link%2BTL-WA801N%2BWiFi%2BAccess%2BPoint&qid=1707953015&sprefix=tp-link%2Btl-wa801n%2Bwifi%2Baccess%2Bpoint%2B%2Caps%2C228&sr=8-4&th=1 )
• Necessary length Ethernet cable
• FANUC Program Transfer Tool software - Cost about $25 - ( https://www.fanucamerica.com/products/cnc/cnc-software/programming-simulation-software/program-transfer-tool )

Setup and configuration on WAP and machine

• Setup and configure the Wireless access point near the machine you wish to connect.
• Run your ethernet cable from the WAP to your "Embedded" Ethernet port on your CNC. If you see more than 1 Ethernet port, pick the one that isn't on a card. Typically this is in the electrical cabinet, though not always. It could be behind your control interface also.
• Get a static IP address from your IT dept... or figure one out if you're in a small shop.
• Go to the CNC and get into the parameters screen.
• Right Arrow Softkey to ETHERNET
• Select COMMON soft-key
• Set the IP Address
• Set the Subnet Mask
• Set the Router IP Address
• Page Down (most likely)
• Set DNS IP Addresses
• You may see a "RESTART" soft-key. If you see one, press it. This will cycle the adapter in the CNC.

FANUC Program Transfer Tool

• Install Software
• Launch Program Transfer Tool Settings App
• Go to Serial No tab
• Input Software License Key (24 digit code - 6 groups of 4 alpha-numeric characters)
• Follow the prompts
• In Program Transfer Tool Settings app, there are 4 tabs; Machine Info, Program Memory, Data Server, and Display. Select Machine Info.
• In the Machine Name Field, give your machine a UNIQUE name, on the CNC Type Pull Down select the control type (the list in my version 19.0.0 has 0i-B/C, 0i-D, 0i-F, 16i, 18i, 20i, 21i, 30i, 31i, 32i, 35i, Power Mate i-D, Power Mate i-H, Power Motion i, and Other). If you are unsure, go to the next step.
• Program Memory Tab, check Communicate with Program Memory. Eternet Type is Embedded Embedded by default. Leave this. Input the IP Address, leave the TCP Port and timeout settings default. Select the O number digits setting (usually 4). If you were unsure of your CNC Type, Click the Set Machine Info by Communication button.
• Display Tab, if you desire a specific PC folder to display when you open up Program Transfer Tool you can set it here. Otherwise it will default to C:\
• Click Save. That completes this section.

FANUC Program Transfer Tool

• Launch FANUC Program Transfer Tool
• On the left there are two panes; PC FOlder Tree and Machine List
• Select the machie you wish to see the program contents of
• You can now drag and drop programs between your workstation and your CNCs)

This is the basics. Program Transfer Tool has other options (set up default editor, listing options, etc...).

If your machien has a Data Server, you can connect to both the CNC_MEM and DATA_SV by selection in the configuration). For detailed DATA_SV connection information/instructions go here; https://youtu.be/UDMWHAVIU6M?si=iS4kZb9x0bEKNKqz 

If nothing else, hopefully this sparks some "can we" discussions in your organization.

If you have any questions, please feel free to post here.

HTH

That's a lot of steps! If only there was a control that was as easily to network as a pc...  

[YoDoug]

Don't mind me just strolling through this thread......

[CNCAppsJames]

That's a lot of steps! If only there was a control that was as easily to network as a pc...  

The VAST majority of customers do not wish to use DHCP on their CNC's. If they did, it's 1 parameter per device and setting the router IP address.

Some people like Apple (Okuma). Most like Android (FANUC).

[YoDoug]

The VAST majority of customers do not wish to use DHCP on their CNC's. If they did, it's 1 parameter per device and setting the router IP address.

Some people like Apple (Okuma). Most like Android (FANUC).

I don't use DHCP on any of my Okuma machines. They have static IP's In a subnet range that goes through a separate router for protection. You know, simple IT stuff.

[neurosis]

I don't use DHCP on any of my Okuma machines. They have static IP's In a subnet range that goes through a separate router for protection. You know, simple IT stuff.

I just assign them all an ip on a different subnet and modify the routing tables on the PC's you need to access them from.  Not quite as good as a different router but the machines don't have access our local network and only the PC's that have their routing tables modified can connect to the machines. 

[CNCAppsJames]

Then there are no more steps for your Okuma than there is for a FANUC. It's just your perception or reading comprehension that's fucked up I guess.

I've got TWO customers with Okumas that said after our training session, the FANUC was just as simple and straightforward as their Okumas. 🤷�♂️

There's just a shit ton of incompetent Applications Engineers out there claiming FANUC experience/expertise. Kinda like there's a shit ton of incompetent programmers out there

 

[neurosis]

Then there are no more steps for your Okuma than there is for a FANUC.

I've never run an Okuma before so nothing to compare, but our Fanuc (and mitsubishi with hmi's made to look like fanuc) controls were super simple.   And we don't really know what we're doing.   

[Jeff]

Some people like Apple (Okuma).

How dare you compere Okuma to Apple!
lol

[Jeff]

Question on the Embed Ethernet transfer TO the computer.
We use Filezilla as our FTP for uploading from the machine.
Zero issues there.

We have a program that we would like to transfer TO the computer.

What is the procedure?
For example to grab a file from the pc (after navigating to the correct folder on the pc), it's something like File Input, File Get, File Set, Execute.

For File Output I can go multi screen and have one of them set to the destination and the other the machine library.

File Output, then there is F set, P set, F get and P get (iirc).
No combination seems to work and throws an alarm.

This is most likely a one-off dilemma so it's not super important, but it's bugging me.