![]() ![]() – “Pull Mode”: While DNC software is often used in a “push” mode, meaning the download is initiated from the DNC Server, it is also possible with the right setup to “pull”. The answer is to Drip Feed, where the g-codes come to the machine a few at a time when the machine is ready to execute them. Complex g-code programs will often exceed the limits of that memory. – Drip Feed: Older CNC machines may have very limited RAM memory. Sophisticated DNC software opens the door to a lot of interesting capabilities: ![]() Typically, either a piece of hardware (in the case of stringing many physical cables) or the right software makes it look to the DNC server PC like it has a whole bunch of serial ports ready to pipeline g-code back to the CNC machine on the other end. To make the connection requires either stringing an RS-232 cable from the server to each machine, or there are many WiFi to RS-232 boxes available in the market. Newer machines have protocols that work entirely over Ethernet (cabled or WiFi), but this is typically an expensive option, so even newer machines may still be using RS-232. This is traditionally done using RS-232 serial connections, like the cable on the right. ![]() A menu can be called up on the DNC software on that machine that causes a particular part program to be sent to a particular machine.ĭNC requires connecting every machine back to the DNC Server that’s going to manage that machine. The idea is to control what g-code winds up on a group of CNC machines from a central server. These methods are all fairly manual, but there’s a more automated way to transfer g-code to your CNC machines that is called “DNC,” which stands for “ Distributed Numerical Control.” Some controllers, like Tormach’s PathPilot, can even interface with Dropbox to make file transfer super easy. Newer machines can connect to your WiFi or cabled Ethernet and access folders on a server. These involve plugging some sort of media into the machine temporarily to transfer the code. There’s the old stand bys–usb key, floppy disk, PCMCIA, and so forth. How does your shop go about getting g-code part programs on to the various CNC machines on your shop floor? ![]()
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March 2023
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