Portable Unit

• $700.00
•  
• Features:
• USB directory listing
• DNC (drip feed) operation with single button repeat operation
• Tape input for file loading into CNC memory
• Punch CNC memory file to USB key
• Baud rate configurable
• Data bit, parity and stop bit configurable
• Hardware and software flow control
• End of block character control

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.