Ethernet, USB, Portable Units, PDAs and HHTs

Shop Floor has arange of portable units for your shop needs. Our portable units can be used for day in and day out commincations. They also make great backup solutions for your your shop needs. Our HHT's will help with Remote Request on your CNC machine that has an limited keyboard.

Ethernet, Portable Units, PDAs and HHTs

LAN Connect

    - LAN Connect

• Drag and drop files to and from Windows Explorer to CNC
• Ethernet connection using standard FTP protocol
• No special software required
• 10/100 Ethernet Speed. Low cost wireless option available
• DNC – drip feed operation from data server
• Tape input for file loading into CNC memory
• Punch current program and tooling

The LAN Connect controller brings Ethernet functionality to any CNC machine tool with serial capability. Program files can be sent to/from the LAN Connect data server and any CNC. Large files that will not fit in the memory of the CNC can be drip fed (DNC) directly from the data server. The standard capacity is 2 GB with options for additional memory storage. The LAN Connect has been designed to operate with standard software that comes with a PC such as Internet Explorer from Microsoft. There are no additional licenses or additional interface software requirements. The data server looks like a FTP hard drive on your network. A programmer can simply drag and drop a file from his PC to the data server. Once loaded on the server, an operator can load the file into CNC memory or drip feed a program directly from the file server without using network resources. The data server can be easily made wireless by adding low cost off the shelf wireless routers.

File data is stored locally on a standard SD memory card. In the event of a network crash, data can still be accessed by the CNC which eliminates risk due to network outages. Files can be added manually without the network if required by removing the SD card and updating on a PC

Portable Units

    - USB Connect

• Portable Rugged aluminum enclosure
• USB directory listing
• DNC (drip feed) operation with single button repeat operation
• Tape input for file loading into CNC memory
• Mid-tape start with search function
• 4 line LCD display
• Hardware and software flow control
• End of block character control
• Optional end of block delay
• Start of transmission character
• End of transmission character

• Pendant mount
• All features included of Portable USB
• Support Mazak CMT Files
• Includes 2GB USB Thumb Drive
• Easy to install on any CNC

The USB Connect disk reader control acts as an interface between commercially available USB flash memory and any CNC control with an available RS-232 port. Machine tool files can be sent from CNC memory to the USB key, USB key to CNC memory or drip fed (DNC) from the USB key. Flexible DNC firmware is built into the USB Connect unit allowing connection to just about any machine tool CNC control.

Many CNC machines have limited memory capacity. In most cases, memory upgrades are prohibitively expensive and in other cases memory upgrades are not available at all. As an alternative to memory upgrades, the USB Connect allows job shops to store large libraries of part programs on a single USB key and to send them to their CNC machine as needed.

The USB Connect integral DNC software eliminates having to place a computer with DNC software in a machine shop environment where it can get damaged. Many job shops try to avoid this and place their PC’s in a safer location. Doing so, however, increases the risk of communication errors and forces many operators to run at lower baud rates due to long cable runs. Positioning the USB Connect controller close to the control allows the machine to run at its maximum baud rate and eliminates an operator from having to run back and forth from PC to machine to begin machine operation.

PDA's

    - PDA Connect

• Palm TX
• Palm T3
• Palm m130

PDA Connect is an application that allows you to transfer any NC Program from your desktop computer to your CNC Machine. The transfer is binary, so an exact copy of the original file is stored on your handheld. Use it for backup of NC programs, parameters or just simply uploading and downloading (drip feed too!). Store multiple CNC Machine "profiles" in the PDA Connect to accommodate various machine communication parameters. Configure new machines to run at 9600 baud, while still working with old controls at 2400 baud.

Unlike our competition, there is no limit on the file size, so you can copy large files to your handheld assuming you have space. You can also extend the memory on our PDA Bundles to move from internal memory to external memory if desired (Note: you can not send from the external memory). Our units are at least 25% less expensive and come with a protective case and BONUS Software! Our competitors burn the software into their units, forcing you to rebuy the software and unit when it fails. With PDA Connect, just reinstall software!

PDA Connect works with several models of CNC Control, such as Fanuc, Mazak, Okuma, Haas, Mori-Seiki, Cinncinnati, Fadal, and more! Supports various baud rate settings from 1200 baud to 115K, handshank settings like NONE, XON/XOFF (Software Flow) and RTS/CTS (Hardware Flow) control, Data Bits 7 or 8, Parity of None, Even, Odd, and Stop Bits of 1 or 2. Most control parameters can be configured for (7, 2, Even), (7, 1, Even) or (8, 1, None).

HHT

    - Hand-Held Terminals

• 256 Character Filenames for older CNC Controllers
• Allows Remote Request™ from older CNC's
• RS-232 Interface
• Rugged Construction

Shop Floor Hand Held Terminals (HHT's) are designed to work with older NC and CNC controls with limited displays and keyboards. HHT's breath new life into older controls by supporting long filenames and directories common in most shops using Windows 2000 or Windows XP. Limited alpha-numeric keypads, controllers without punching capabilities, or controllers without the ability to edit comments can significantly limit your use of Shop Floor's Remote Request™ functionality. With Shop Floor HHT's you can initiate file transfers, request long filenames, create advanced Remote Requests, and much more all with the use of a rugged, shop hardened hand held terminal.

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