Link to us from your website and promote the community!... Then email us to receive a Free CNC cheat sheet from the CNC Specialty Store!

Facebook Group

Share your CNC information?
...Procedures
...Macro programs
...Articles
...and more

Suggestions or comments?
Please Email Us

Thank you for all your contributions and supporting the CNC community.

   

RS232, Ethernet, Wireless, pcmcia or ATA memory card, and USB communications

These are the different ways to load programs and data to your machine tool. The most common is RS232. Many machine tool companies are now going to windows based operating systems with hard drives and USB ports. Below you will find communications with RS232 information. There will be more on the other communications devices to come.

 

BUY a RS232 cable or USB to serial port converter from the cnc store
RS232 cable fanuc
USB to serial port adapter laptop
PC card for downloading programs
CNC cheat sheet


Hardware set up for RS232 communications

You can purchase a cable through the cnc store. The non-handshaking is the most popular and is made to the Fanuc and Mitsubishi RS232 specifications. This has been fully tested on many controls including Mitsubishi, Fanuc, Brother, Yasnac and many others. We also offer the standard RS232 cable which has the handshaking capabilities as well as custom built RS232 cables..

Most laptops now do not come with a serial port. In this case you must purchase a PMCIA to serial or a USB to a serial port adapter. There are a lot of mixed reviews on the USB to serial converters, though I have found one that seems to work for every application I have thrown at it. Its been tested on many CNC machines as well as automation devices such as PLC's, light curtains, Servo drives and more. The only thing about using a USB to serial adapter is to make sure you plug it in the same USB port every time. This will enable you to keep the same COM Port number that you have set up in your RS232 software programs.
See how to find out what COM PORT number or communication port your device is registered as in windows.

Standard RS232 Fanuc serial port : (DB25 Female to honda)

I am surprised at the few people that actually understand on how to set up all the different parameters for communications. Once you get it to work most people write them down and use it on all of their machines. I myself still do not understand the full purpose of all the different settings, but I am usually able to get communications working without a problem. Unfortunately, there is little documentation on how all of the different settings are used. I will be adding a troubleshooting section on RS232 communications in the near future. I will also include some recommendations on software and parameters for the different controls. Lastly, it will include the use of ATA or SRAM, cards and how to configure computers and read them.

For free RS232 software see free CNC software

DB25 DB9 RS232 connector

RS232 Cable wiring connections

Communications standard non handshaking cable
For more wiring diagrams check out the RS232 cable wiring pinout

6 = Data Set Ready
7 = Signal Ground
8 = Carrier Detect
20 = Error (Data Terminal Ready)
25 = Power

Baudrate-Feet
2400-400ft
4800-200ft
9600-100ft
19200- 50ft
38400-25ft
57600-16ft
115200-8ft

 
Fanuc ISO Protocol communication settings: (E,7,X)

The standard protocol for Fanuc controls is 4800 or 9600 Baud, Even parity, 7 data bits and either 1 or 2 stop bits (XON/XOFF, PUNCH ON/OFF). This is standard setting that will work in most conditions. Depending on environment and cable type and distance to DNC if used.

Fanuc Control Parameter settings RS232

Fanuc-3 RS232

Fanuc-3
Parameter Value Comments
0014
0069 4800 Baud rate
TV CHECK 0 0: Off; 1: On
Punch code 0 0:ISO; 1:EIA

Fanuc 6 and 9 series RS232

Fanuc 6 and 9 series
Baud rate Parameter
50 00010000
100 00010001
110 00010010
150 00010011
200 00010100
300 00010101
600 00010110
1200 00010111
2400 00011000
4800 00011001
9600 00011010
Parameter Value Comments
311 00011000 Baud rate 2400
340 2  
341 2  
TV CHECK 0 0: Off; 1: On
Punch code 0 0:ISO; 1:EIA
Input unit 0 RS232C
Input device 1 1  
Input device 2 1  

Fanuc 0M RS232

Fanuc 0M

On the SETTINGS screen, set the following:
TVON =0
ISO = 1
I/O = 0 (port 1), I/O = 2 (port 2)
PWE = 1
TAPEF = 0

CNC
Parameter

Port 1
(M5)

Port 2
(M74)

0002 1xxxxxx1 no effect
0050 no effect 1xxxxxx1
0038 01xxxxxx xx01xxxx
0552 9-Baud rate: 2400 no effect
0253 no effect 10
X means can be 0 or 1

Fanuc-
0i-M/0i-T RS232 communication

Fanuc 0i-M/0i-T
Parameter Value Comments
0000 00000010
0020 0
0100 00100000
0101 10000001
0102 0
0103 11 Baud rate
5=150
6=300
7=600
8=1200
9=2400
10=4800
11=9600
TV CHECK 0 0: Off; 1: On
Punch code 0 0:ISO; 1:EIA
Input device 0 RS232C

Fanuc RS232-10/11/12/15

Fanuc 10/11/12/15
Parameter Value Comments
5001 1  
5002 2  
5003 3  
5110 4  
5111 2  
5112 9 Baud rate 2400
5120 4  
5121 2  
5122 9 Baud rate 2400
5130 4  
5131 2  
5132 Enter 5-11
in parameter
depending on
baudrate
Baud rate
5=150
6=300
7=600
8=1200
9=2400
10=4800
11=9600
 
TV CHECK 0 0:Off; 1:On
Punch code 0 0:ISO; 1:EIA
Input device 1 RS232
Output device 1 RS232
Fanuc-16/18/21
(M,T,I series)

To change parameters- Press the offset settings hardkey, then press settings softkey. To turn on PWE. To get to parameters press system hard key then the parameter softkey

Fanuc 16/18/21(M,T,I series)
Parameter Value Comments
0000 00000010  
0020 0  
0100 0  
0101 10000001  
0102 0  
0103 11 Baud rate
5=150
6=300
7=600
8=1200
9=2400
10=4800
11=9600
TV CHECK 0 0: Off; 1: On
Punch code 0 0:ISO; 1:EIA
Input device 0 RS232
See Fanuc

Parameter backup procedure

ATA and SRAM card setup for more information

RS232 Communications Parameters settings

RS232C, RS232-c,USB to serial, Serial communications and protocol, pcmcia, Ethernet switch, and ATA communication


Questions about RS232? Ask the experts from the CNC Specialty Store!
RS232 cable fanuc
USB to serial port adapter laptop
PC card for downloading programs
CNC cheat sheet