The editor organizes its communications features around “machines” and “files”. A “machine” is usually a CNC controller but can also be another computer or even a tape punch. A “file” is usually a CNC program.

 

 

Start the editor and select the Options menu. Click on DNC Configuration and then Machine List. You should see the following dialog.

 

 

Click on Add Entry and fill in the name of your first machine. They are easy to delete later, so make something up. Then click OK

 

 

Now that we have our first machine, we can configure it. Click on the Options menu, then DNC Configuration followed by Machine Configurations. The machine you entered in Step 1 should be listed. Select it and you will see the following window.

 

 

This is where we set the basic communication parameters. Click the Show on Send menu checkbox. This tells the editor that the machine has the ability to receive files from us. Review the possible settings but make sure you end up with a Character Code and Protocol of “ASCII” and Handshaking value of “None”. Note that the Port setting can range from COM 1 through COM 9. Set it to a port that actually exists on your PC.

 

What if you don't know what ports are present? Do the following.

 

Click OK on the configuration window. Then click on the DNC menu item and select Port Explorer. Examine the ports listed in the drop down list at the lower left corner of the window. These ports exist on your PC, although they are not necessarily connected to anything. Decide on one to use for this exercise – it doesn't need to be connected although it shouldn't have a mouse attached. Then close the window.

 

Open the communication settings window again (Options – DNC Configuration – Machine Configurations) and set the Port to your chosen number. Click OK.

 

At this point, you can probably send data to the port.

 

 

For this part of the exercise, it's probably better if you are using a port that has nothing attached. With some communications settings, such as the ones we've selected, the computer will send data to the port even if nothing is connected. We're sending it even though no one is receiving it.

 

Select the DNC menu item. Then click on Send, then the name of your machine. If you've followed these instructions exactly, you can't do this because the machine name is not enabled.

 

The problem is – there's no file loaded to send. Go to the File Open menu and load a file into the editor. Then select DNC, Send, and your machine name.

 

A DNC panel should open at the bottom of the window that looks like this:

 

 

Click the Start button. If all goes according to plan, you should see the editor sending the file. If it's a small file, this will only take a second or two. You might want to use a large file, or go back and set a very slow line speed, to slow things down for review. If enough transmission time elapses, the Characters/Sec and Estimated Finish displays will appear – it takes the editor several seconds to determine these. Note that Estimated Finish time is wall clock time.

 

 

Click the Close button and return to the configuration window. (Options – DNC Configuration – Machine Configurations) Click on the Send tab at the top.

 

 

 

Let's assume that your CNC controller expects a percent character (%) to make it start receiving data. You could include this at the start of every CNC program file, or you could enter a percent sign into the text box labeled Start command character(s). This will cause the editor to send a percent character before sending a file. Click on the text box – the top left box in the array of sixteen – and then find the percent character in the list and click on it. A % will appear in the text box.

 

You can try sending more files now and experimenting with various settings. When finished, you can call up the Machine List Maintenance window and delete the test machine you entered earlier. Options - DNC Configuration - Machine Configurations. Click on the machine name and select the Delete Entry button.