Predator Editor Support

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Predator DNC (21 posts)

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cheezewiz said 1 year, 5 months ago ago:

Two questions:

1. Does BobCAD offer the Predator DNC package with the wireless hub and transmittors?

2. If I purchase directly from Predator, will this affect my software licensing through BobCAD? Predator DNC (as far as I know) is a completely separate upgrade to Predator Editor. I understand I’ll have to launch it separately but I want to make sure nothing gets goofed up.

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burr said 1 year, 5 months ago ago:

Hey Cheeze,
Not that I know the answer to either, but there is a licensing manager loaded with the predator software. You can review it from the start menu-programs listing.

May be a call to both BobCad and predator?

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cheezewiz said 1 year, 5 months ago ago:

Aha, I remember that now. You can probably change them at will with no issues. Thanks for bumping the noggin Burr. Rest assured, I will ask Predator for sure. I do not believe BobCAD offers the Predator DNC package.

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cheezewiz said 1 year, 4 months ago ago:

UPDATE – A local Predator reseller contacted me after my info request at the predator-software.com

Cost for turn-key total wireless machine networking is roughly $8,100 for 7 CNCs. The software (Predator DNC) was quoted at $2,000. The rest was for the wireless transmitters, hub, access point, installation (2 days????), and support. Plus hotel, meals, etc. I might buy the software and do everything else my self. Anyone been down this road before? I’ve found much cheaper replacement hardware than what I was quoted, the software appears to be all I need.

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cheezewiz said 1 year, 4 months ago ago:

Also, for anyone that ever wanted to know what the FULL version of Predator Virtual CNC costs, about $5,000. $1000 of that is for the all the files necassary (STLs, RVPs) to duplicate the machine environment (a Haas 3 axis mill in this case)

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burr said 1 year, 4 months ago ago:

I had figured this to be a must for larger shops with employees running stuff. But setting the whole thing up wont be for the faint of heart…. But you Cheeze, have a large heart! Let us know!

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shoptalk said 1 year, 1 month ago ago:

Anyone on here ever have any luck with using one of those usb to rs232 converter plugs for uploading/downloading nc code to their machines? If so which brand works? I am using predator cnc editor 2005 for bobcad v24.

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cheezewiz said 1 year, 1 month ago ago:

Your timing is good. I’ll be ordering one from these folks this week. They come recommended from my Fadal service guys. If you beat me to it, let me know how they work!

http://www.usconverters.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=67

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cheezewiz said 1 year, 1 month ago ago:

If the cable works (and I’m confident it will) I will be well on my way to networking the shop. I don’t even need the software, I did my own with off the shelf hardware and lots of coffee and cigarettes

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ssoptical said 1 year, 1 month ago ago:

hey cheese, where i work i use a usb to a db9 to communicate with 7 cnc mills. the only problem was downloading the proper driver for the adapter.

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a1cnc said 1 year, 1 month ago ago:

Just wondering, Did you go wireless or wired to the 7 mills? What did you use for software?

Thanks

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burr said 1 year, 1 month ago ago:

“”"hey cheese, where i work i use a usb to a db9 to communicate with 7 cnc mills. the only problem was downloading the proper driver for the adapter.”"”"”

It seems that this is the issue to pay attention to. The cheaper adapters will be cheaper mostly because of the driver investment. So dont skimp on the adapter. You are paying for driver development (And some hardware)

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ssoptical said 1 year, 1 month ago ago:

a1cnc, its wired and use edgecam communication software.
i do not use the above mentioned cam software anymore because i like bobcad better.

It seems that this is the issue to pay attention to. The cheaper adapters will be cheaper mostly because of the driver investment. So dont skimp on the adapter. You are paying for driver development (And some hardware)

good point burr.

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don said 1 year, 1 month ago ago:

The experience I had with a cheap usb to serial adapter was that it would not support 7 bit. Not a problem on new machines but many old ones are 7-2-even and difficult to change.

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cheezewiz said 1 year, 1 month ago ago:

I was in a Radio Shack a few weeks ago and saw a serial to usb converter made by Gigaware. It wasn’t inexpensive but cheap enough to test. It worked right out of the gate for communicating from my WindowsXP machine to the Fadals. Communication only, no drip feed. I haven’t tested my Vista laptop yet.

It doesn’t offer much in the way of configuration but it must be just enough. Baud rate, data bits, parity, stop bits, handshaking etc. It also has an advanced buffering setup but I didn’t need to dig into that.

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