CIMCO Tips & Tricks
Correct cables
'Hardware' handshake is all time the best solution to a perfect transmission, if you have the option to set the machine
parameters to 'DTR/RTS', do that.
Because the response time is close to 0, this is perfect for drip feeding.
Otherwise you must use software handshake 'Xon/Xoff'. This handshake is not as fast as hardware handshake, but it works on 98% of all machines |
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ASCII Chart
Here is an ASCII chart, that you can print out:
The following is a more detailed description of the first 32 ASCII characters, often
referred to as control codes.
NUL (null)
SOH (start of heading)
STX (start of text)
ETX (end of text)
EOT (end of transmission) - Not the same as ETB
ENQ (enquiry)
ACK (acknowledge)
BEL (bell) - Caused teletype machines to ring a bell. Causes a beep in many common terminals and terminal emulation programs.
BS (backspace) - Moves the cursor (or print head) move backwards (left) one space.
TAB (horizontal tab) - Moves the cursor (or print head) right to the next tab stop. The spacing of tab stops is dependent on the output
device, but is often either 8 or 10.
LF (NL line feed, new line) - Moves the cursor (or print head) to a new line. On Unix systems, moves to a new line AND all the way to
the left.
VT (vertical tab)
FF (form feed) - Advances paper to the top of the next page (if the output device is a printer).
CR (carriage return) - Moves the cursor all the way to the left, but does not advance to the next line.
SO (shift out) - Switches output device to alternate character set.
SI (shift in) - Switches output device back to default character set.
DLE (data link escape)
DC1 (device control 1)
DC2 (device control 2)
DC3 (device control 3)
DC4 (device control 4)
NAK (negative acknowledge)
SYN (synchronous idle)
ETB (end of transmission block) - Not the same as EOT
CAN (cancel)
EM (end of medium)
SUB (substitute)
ESC (escape)
FS (file separator)
GS (group separator)
RS (record separator)
US (unit separator)
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Installing CIMCO Software
Always remember to change your login or rights to 'Administrator'.
This is because CIMCO installs some DLL's vital to make our software function correct.
Don't worry about the short-cut, all CIMCO software will place the short-cut under the profile 'All Users', making it available to everybody.
Contact your system administrator for access during installation.
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Error in transmission
How to lower or disable your 'fifo-buffer' on the com-port in question.
Depending on the Windows version you are using:
Windows NT 4
Go to 'Control panel', if 'ports' is available execute the link.
Choose the port in question
Press 'Settings'
Press 'Advanced'
Unmark 'Fifo enable'
Windows 95-98 (all versions)
Go to 'Control Panel', execute 'System'
Find the port under 'Serial ports'
Press 'Properties'
Press 'Advanced'
Lower the transmit and receive buffers to 1 or disable fifo
Windows 2000
Go to 'Control Panel', execute 'System'
Click the 'Hardware' tab
Click 'Device Manager...'
Click 'Ports (COM & LPT)' Click the com-port in question, e.g. 'Communications Port (COM1)'
Click the tab 'Port Settings'
Click 'Advanced'
Set both the Receive Buffer and Transmit Buffer sliders to 'Low'
WindowsXP
Go to 'Control Panel', execute 'System'
Click the 'Hardware' tab
Click 'Device Manager...'
Click 'Ports (COM & LPT)' Click the com-port in question, e.g. 'Communications Port (COM1)'
Click the tab 'Port Settings'
Click 'Advanced'
Set both the Receive Buffer and Transmit Buffer sliders to 'Low' or "Off"
If this does not help, your cable might be too long, or it is placed next to a power cable, giving a lot of noise.
Setting the FIFO Buffer low in Windows 2000
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CIMCO Edit v4 with DNC link to Okuma
machines
Some Okuma models need a ASCII 0 at start of transmission to accept a NC program and
also at end of transmission to close the RS232.
What to do:
Start CIMCO Edit v4
Choose 'Transmission'
Choose 'DNC Setup'
Choose Machine in question (Okuma)
Press 'Setup'
Press the 'Transmit' tap
In both 'Send at start of feed' and 'Send at end of feed' you must enter '\0' The 'Send at end of feed' could me something else, because this may be different in the Okuma's parameters, please consult the machine manuel for the correct 'EOT' character.
When you send a NC program to the Okuma with this editor setting, your program will be named A.MIN on the controller.
The reason that the NC program will be called A.MIN, is that CIMCO Edit v4 does not currently support the full Okuma protocol.
If this is a must, then you must buy DNC-Max v4
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Configuring any MS Windows for DNC
How to lower or disable your 'fifo-buffer' on the com-port's
Depending what version of Windows you are using.
Windows NT 4
Go to 'Control panel', if 'ports' is available execute the link.
Choose the port in question
Press 'Settings'
Press 'Advanced'
Unmark 'Fifo enable'
Windows 95-98 (all versions)
Go to 'Control Panel', execute 'System'
Find the port under 'Serial ports'
Press 'Properties'
Press 'Advanced'
Lower the transmit and receive buffers to 1 or disable fifo
Windows XP
Go to 'Control Panel', execute 'System'
Select the "Hardware Tab" then "Device Manager"
Find the port under 'Ports'
Select COM1 and then "Port Settings' Tab
Press 'Advanced'
Lower the transmit and receive buffers to 1 or disable fifo
If this does not help, your cable might be too long, or it is placed next to a power cable, giving a lot of noise.
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Configuring CIMCO FTP v1.5+
The IP address, you can enter in the FTP software is the CNC machines IP address.
The User name and password you must enter in the software is the same user name and password you have set on the CNC machine.
It can be a necessity, manually to create the 'home directory'.
Remember to press 'Start now'.
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