Cimco DNC-Max

[JakeL]

I've sifted thru the manuals for long enough and came up empty handed. I think I'm looking for a single button, but I can't seem to find it. Figured I'd start here before contacting CIMCO.

We recently had Cimco DNC-Max setup and I'm working on getting it up and running. We have a Quaser MV184E with a Fanuc 0i control and a few Matsuura H.Plus-630's with Fanuc 16i / 30i / and 2x 31i.

When I go to send a file from the PC to the Quaser, the split window view pops up and I can navigate around all the folders in the machine directory so I can pull or put files into any of the folders. However, when I do the same thing with the 630's, none of the folders in the machine directory show up. I can change the "Default CNC Directory" in the port configuration, but this does not seem to have an effect on what is shown in the split window view on the PC.

I was hoping there was a button in the port configuration, something like "allow pc folder view", but I haven't found anything. Now I'm wondering if there are settings on the cnc machine? And if so, maybe those are setup differently?

Any information or help is appreciated.

Dropbox link to a couple screenshots of the split window view on the PC.

[JakeL]

Solution back from our reseller Cimquest:

What Cimco is able to show in the machine side of the split window is dependent on the version of Focas on the machine.

You can check in the machine port config and see if it is 'Limit to Focas 1' or that is not checked. You could try using the opposite state of the check box and see if it helps. If the box is not checked, checking it might help. If it is checked, then un-checking may make communication not work correctly. So either way, if you experiment with this switch, be sure to check uploads and downloads.

Port > Configure Port > Advanced > Protocol > Fanuc FOCAS > Limit to FOCAS 1

One of our HPLUS-630's is significantly older than the rest (Fanuc 16i control). That one needs the "Limit to FOCAS 1" checked, while the others need it unchecked.

[JParis]

Working with Steve Biehl I'd guess... he's a great resource for this stuff.

[JakeL]

Working with Steve Biehl I'd guess... he's a great resource for this stuff.

That's the guy. Hopefully everything will run smooth from here. If it doesn't, good to know he's a good guy.

[JParis]

That's the guy. Hopefully everything will run smooth from here. If it doesn't, good to know he's a good guy.

He is one of my old bosses from my time at Services 4 Automation, Frank & him, he stayed on when bought by Cimquest...
He was the one involved when another company I worked for back in 2004/05 bought the DNC system....

He was in my currently facility doing our install before I got hurt and was out for 2 months, when I got back into the office, he came out an did some more...we still have a couple machines outstanding but that's on "us" not him...

He'll be back out at some point here in the not too distant future...

Everything here is up & running smoothly, 60+ machine installation....DNC is all set, NCBase is working as I intended it to do with the header setup...

He knows a lot about the system and has great contacts if or when he has questions.

A good guy for sure.

[TSmcam]

Stephen Biehl has far reaching capability. He installed and configured DNC Max for my last employer down here in New Zealand. I dealt with him when I ran the programming office there.

I agree, a good guy for sure!

[JakeL]

I've heard other shops put a barcode on their setup sheet and the machinist scans the barcode to download a program, I'm curious how others have this setup?

1. is the barcode scanner at a shop floor computer or one at each machine?

2. is the barcode just the file name? and is it just input somewhere to transfer the program file?

3. does the machinist transfer programs from the machine or from a shop floor pc?

I've finally got everything setup to switch from using cards to using the DNC. But the way the DNC was originally setup seems like it kind of sucks.

Currently the machinist goes to a shop floor computer and looks through a list of all programs to find the one they want to transfer. Then they can select the program and transfer it to the machine. But the list of programs is currently 500+ long and growing fast.

What I was thinking of doing is setting up a barcode scanner at the computer and a barcode on our setup sheets. Then instead of sifting thru all the programs, you could just scan the barcode and transfer.

But if there's a way better way to setup this all up I'd love to hear it.

[Newbeeee™]

But the list of programs is currently 500+ long and growing fast.

So....how have you configured the file name?
Prog number, plus component part number and rev plus component description?
Because....the guys can "search"?

[TSmcam]

I've heard other shops put a barcode on their setup sheet and the machinist scans the barcode to download a program, I'm curious how others have this setup?

1. is the barcode scanner at a shop floor computer or one at each machine? Can be either. The trigger to call the program to the specific machine can be incorporated into the barcode

2. is the barcode just the file name? and is it just input somewhere to transfer the program file? See above. It can be just the filename if a seperate trigger is used for the machine

3. does the machinist transfer programs from the machine or from a shop floor pc? The DNC Server is triggered to transmit the NC program to the machine by the barcode scan. All the operator does is scan the barcode, and then go to the machine and press read

I've finally got everything setup to switch from using cards to using the DNC. But the way the DNC was originally setup seems like it kind of sucks.

Currently the machinist goes to a shop floor computer and looks through a list of all programs to find the one they want to transfer. Then they can select the program and transfer it to the machine. But the list of programs is currently 500+ long and growing fast.

What I was thinking of doing is setting up a barcode scanner at the computer and a barcode on our setup sheets. Then instead of sifting thru all the programs, you could just scan the barcode and transfer.

But if there's a way better way to setup this all up I'd love to hear it.

[JakeL]

So....how have you configured the file name?
Prog number, plus component part number and rev plus component description?
Because....the guys can "search"?

I've contacted our reseller because the search functionality is not working as I would expect (honestly not working at all). If I select a program in the list, I can then transfer it. If I search for a file in the "File name" field, it never actually selects the program so I can't transfer. Dropbox Pic For Clarity

Our file format is (Part# OP# VER# Mach#)

[Newbeeee™]

I've contacted our reseller because the search functionality is not working as I would expect (honestly not working at all). If I select a program in the list, I can then transfer it. If I search for a file in the "File name" field, it never actually selects the program so I can't transfer. Dropbox Pic For Clarity

Our file format is (Part# OP# VER# Mach#)

Even if you want to progress the barcode process, you need the search to work....!

[JakeL]

Even if you want to progress the barcode process, you need the search to work....!

Ya I'm kinda trying to do two things at once here. The search function does need to be working, but if someone said "at our shop you just scan the barcode and the program shows up at the machine" then I'd want to start looking into that at the same time.

Seems like you can simplify with the barcode, but you still need to hit at least a button or two at either the machine or the computer to get the program transferred.

[TSmcam]

Ya I'm kinda trying to do two things at once here. The search function does need to be working, but if someone said "at our shop you just scan the barcode and the program shows up at the machine" then I'd want to start looking into that at the same time.

Seems like you can simplify with the barcode, but you still need to hit at least a button or two at either the machine or the computer to get the program transferred.

Are you running NC-Base in conjunction with DNC-Max or just DNC-Max on its own?

[JakeL]

Are you running NC-Base in conjunction with DNC-Max or just DNC-Max on its own?

DNC-Max on its own

[TSmcam]

DNC-Max on its own

Are you trying to use a search function within the DNC Max client for a file, or is this a search from a PC based NC controller?