RS-232 Communications Checklist

Introduction

This topic explains the setup required for RS-232 communication.

Communications Checklist

In order to establish RS-232 Communication with a CNC Controller the following must be known.

 

1. What COM PORT at the PC is the cable connected to? COM_________
   
   
2. Is the CABLE correctly configured for the machine? Yes _______ No_______
   
   
3. Does the machine control use hardware or software flow control?   Software Xon - Xoff / Hardware RTS-CTS
   
   (DTR/DSR is a hardware handshake less-commonly used, however, it is used on some older machines and BTR units.  This must be active to use this hardware handshake.)
   
   

4. What is the BAUD RATE  set at your machine tool? Baud_______________
   
   

5. What DATA BIT value is set at your machine? Data_______________
   
   

6. What PARITY is your machine tool set to? Parity_______________
   
   

7. What STOP BITS value is your machine set to? Stop________________
   
   

8. Are the above baud rate , stop bits and parity set up in the editor ?  Yes / No
   
   

9. Are the above baud rate , stop bits and parity  set up in the windows device manager ? Yes / No
   
   
10. Are there any beginning, end or end of line codes that the machine controller requires ?

Example

%  percent symbols are a typical start and end code.  ;  semicolon symbols are common end of line codes.

 

%

 G0 G90 G40 G20;

 G00 X0.0 Y0.0;

 G00 X10.0 Y10.0;

 M02;

 %

 

Start Code               ___________

 

End Code                 ___________

 

End Of Line Code ___________