Emcoturn 365- Sinumerik 310C trouble with PCIN

[mmclaughlin]

We have 2 emco 365's and need to be able to download program files onto a laptop to transfer them between the CNCs. As of right now, when something needs to be switched our operator writes the program down on a piece of paper and then types it into the other CNC. We had been able to tranfer files but the last time that was done was over 3 years ago, long before I came or the operator.
We had a guy come in yesterday to help us with this. We tried to use both of our laptops as well as his. used the cable that we had as well as one that we made up yesterday. We tried to use 2 different programs, on that was run in DOS and a Setrans one. Nothing that we tried to do seemed to work.
After hours of looking through all of this and reading the manual we discovered that our serial port was listed as inactive. does anyone know how we would be able to activate the serial porta?

[Sinumeriko]

If the comm settings are ok in both Sinumerik and laptop, just go to the screen of DATA IN/OUT, select interface RTS=LINE (can be #1 or #2), after that hit the DATA IN START key twice, until the word DIO appears, now send your program from laptop withing seconds before you get a TIMEOUT message.

Keep us posted, you may need more help, and check the exact model of Sinumerik.

[mmclaughlin]

Sorry it was a Sinumerik 810C. We also have and 810T but we arent working with that one yet. We currently do not have any programs resident on the laptops. The Emcoturns with Simumerik 810C are #2 and #3. We need to get the program that is inside of #3 onto the laptop so that we can put it into #2. we are having the same problem on both of them where it says inactive next to Serial Port 1. I'm assuming according to the book that you can have multiple serial ports, but this is the only one that is listed for our machines.

We know that we are working with the right cables and programs on the laptop. The baud and other settings are all the same between the two also. Is it safe for me to assume that the problem is with the serial port saying that it is inactive?

[Sinumeriko]

Is your Sinumerik similar with the one in the picture?

Exactly where does it say "inactive", I know you mentioned next to Serial Port 1, but is this on the Sinumerik side, on what specific screen?

There are 2 interfaces on the 810's, number one is called RTS LINE and is used with PCIN and similar softwares to transfer and receive text and ascii files, number two is called PLC PROG, is used with a Siemens programmer to receive and view the status of the machine´s program (not part programs).

The Sinumerik has 2 female DB-25 connectors at the back, coming from the interface board, one stays there and the other goes with an extension to the front side, the operator's side. You can make any of these connectors (ports) be RTS LINE or PLC PROG.

Right now you need to work only with RTS LINE. Where did you connect your comm cable, upfront or in the rear side?

[mmclaughlin]

i attached a picture of our Sinumerik. I have only been using the serial port that is on the front side of the machine. i am putting a picture of where it says inactive. it is on the sinumerik side when i click on services, on the screen where you are able to push data in/out.

I'm sorry i dont have a whole lot of experience with these. This task was just thrown on me to figure out how to get it working.

[Sinumeriko]

Ok, forget everything I said before, your Sinumerik belongs to another family, nothing to do with the model I was talking about.

Please look at the rear side of the display and tell me the exact number it has on the white label, as in the attached picture, now that is the model, even tought the components inside the main electrical cabinet say 810.

[mmclaughlin]

You are correct. It is an 840C.

[Sinumeriko]

Did you try going to the DEVICES screen and changing Serial 1 port to ACTIVE with the SELECT key?

If you can´t get access to changing this option is because your machine uses a set of different colored keys for different levels of permissions, or you need to be logged with any of the higher passwords. Either way, look and see if it uses colored keys for a permission switch. And I also can give you the passwords if you don´t have them already.

[mmclaughlin]

I dont remember seeing anywhere where i could switch Serial Port 1 to active. I will try this and see what happens.

I personally do not have any of the passwords without searching trough our files or asking if anyone else would know what they are.

[mmclaughlin]

Originally Posted by Sinumeriko

Did you try going to the DEVICES screen and changing Serial 1 port to ACTIVE with the SELECT key?

If you can´t get access to changing this option is because your machine uses a set of different colored keys for different levels of permissions, or you need to be logged with any of the higher passwords. Either way, look and see if it uses colored keys for a permission switch. And I also can give you the passwords if you don´t have them already.

it doesnt seem to let me do anything to change the serial ports. i included the devices screen below. i see that there are standard and user devices. under the user devices we have been trying to use PCIN and under the standard devices the STANDARD setting. i see that it say Serial 1 next to the Interfaces on the top of the screen. are you saying that there is a way to go into that to activate it?

[Sinumeriko]

Yes, you should be able to activate it or even change it to Serial port 2. Perhaps if you go back a step or two you will see the option. What manual do you have for this, is it a Siemens pdf you could upload here?

[mmclaughlin]

I showed you the screenshot of the first screen that you go into, SERVICE. It is the one that shows Serial Port 1 with the inactive next to it. From what i can tell, it is at this point where there should be the Serial Port 2 below it that you should be able to choose but there is no Serial Port 2 option.

I do not have an electronic version for the manual. It is a Siemens Sinumerik 840C Software Version 4. I can only find pdf versions of SV5 and SV6 on Siemens website. the pdf is too big for it to be attached to the thread.

h ttp://www.automation.siemens.com/DocsOnWeb/showpdf.asp?item=20&cd=840c_1101_e&scope=all&Resul tSet=198&CurrentItem=198&ResultType=content

Interestingly enough when i just looked at the screenshot that the manual has, i inserted below, it shows that this serial port is also listed as inactiv. this is also on page 207 of the pdf. on page 245 it does show the interface as Serial 1, Device as STANDARD, and the Status as active. on mine, the device SP is selectedbut is inactive. we had tried using different devices including STANDARD with nothing working.

[Sinumeriko]

Try this: Services > Devices > Highlight WS800A > Copy to clipboard > Select PCIN at the lower part of the screen (for this you need to use the key that has an arrow in its upper-left corner) > Paste from clipboard > Ok. You can also use the EDIT function to check that the comm settings of the copied interface are ok, if everything is ok in EDIT confirm with Store > Selection.

The above instructions are intended to get your interface out of its INACTIVE status and re-configured with those from the WS800A, however, you should need a password prior to perform the process, password is 1111, you can try to enter it where you see the ENTER PASSWORD option, even if not requested.

I went to the link you posted but couldn't get into, but instead I found the above instructions. Hope it helps.

[mmclaughlin]

Originally Posted by Sinumeriko

Try this: Services > Devices > Highlight WS800A > Copy to clipboard > Select PCIN at the lower part of the screen (for this you need to use the key that has an arrow in its upper-left corner) > Paste from clipboard > Ok. You can also use the EDIT function to check that the comm settings of the copied interface are ok, if everything is ok in EDIT confirm with Store > Selection.

The above instructions are intended to get your interface out of its INACTIVE status and re-configured with those from the WS800A, however, you should need a password prior to perform the process, password is 1111, you can try to enter it where you see the ENTER PASSWORD option, even if not requested.

I went to the link you posted but couldn't get into, but instead I found the above instructions. Hope it helps.

I was able to go in and copy WS800A from the top. i switched to the lower part of the screen and pasted WS800A down there. it didnt seem to matter if selected PCIN down there or not. It just created a new one at the bottom. i clicked on edit and all of the settings appeared to be the same.

i never saw a place where i would have needed a password. i didnt see an ENTER PASSWORD option on any of the screens.

i did all of this on our #2 machine, and i was told to just try it on #3 for the hell of it so i will go do that now, but am not sure that it will be any different over there.

[mmclaughlin]

Just got finished trying that on #3 and it does exactly the same thing. no trouble copying the program and moving it. never asks for a password and it doesnt do anything to activate the serial port. i hope you have some more ideas to help.

[mmclaughlin]

any other ideas on what could be going on here?

[Sinumeriko]

Sorry, I have been a little too busy these last days, but have been thinking also about your issue and have a couple more questions: What version of PCIN are you running? What OS on your laptops? Do they have serial ports or are you using a usb to serial converter? And finally, have you consider the possibility that the inactive "status" that you have right now could be the result of PCIN and Sinumerik not communicating and NOT a precondition for these two to communicate? In other words, we think they don't communicate because the status shows an inactive port, but we got to think the other way around, what if something were missing to start the protocol between them, like a SEND>RECEIVE command, handshake or whatever, and until that missing step appears, the inactive port will wake up and show the ACTIVE status? Do you understand what I'm trying to say?

[mmclaughlin]

I am not sure what version of PCIN it is. We have 2 laptops that we have tried on. Both of them have the serial ports built in. I believe that one is running on 98 and the other is 2000. We had a guy come in to try to figure this out and we tried using his computer (XP with a serial port card). We were trying an older DOS program on the computer to recieve the files, not exactly sure what that program is called. We then got Sertrans Comm. Software for Windows that we have been trying with the same results.

When I hit the OUTPUT button on the CNC you can see the characters counting up as if it is actually sending the files but we are not getting anything into the computers with any combination of computers and software. Where do i find the PCIN version?

[Sinumeriko]

I think I got it, you are not using a computer software named PCIN in your laptop, are you?
Let me know if you don't have it, I can send it to you right away.

[mmclaughlin]

No i am not actually using a program named PCIN

[Sinumeriko]

Send me an email address asap, use your private message options, just click on my username.

[mmclaughlin]

ok i will do that

[mmclaughlin]

it says that i need to have 15 posts first

[mmclaughlin]

here is #15

[Sinumeriko]

Private message received, software and manual sent, please follow the instructions there. I'll be back at night or sooner if I can. Good luck to you.

[mmclaughlin]

thank you!

[mmclaughlin]

Well this program is not working for me either. It looks the same as when i use the other programs. I went to data in on the computer and chose a file name to save it as. I went to data out on the CNC and selected the program. The CNC shows the character transfer but i am getting no response from the laptop.

[Sinumeriko]

From the attached image, exactly wich one of the pin configurations are you using to communicate? You can find this image inside PCIN>V24-INI>Wire layout.

[mmclaughlin]

We are using the 9 to 25 pin cable and i think i see the problem. we had someone come in and he made a new cable for us as he was helping. it seems as if he were looking at one of the other configurations where 2 goes to 3 on both sides. I am going to make a new cable where 2 goes to 2 and 3 goes to 3. This should hopefully work.

[mmclaughlin]

i found the problem and it works now. we had an issue with the cable. i thought that an electronics guy would know what he is doing when making us up a new cable.