Adding Server folder to device with only USB connection
Is there such an animal that we can plug into a machine that only has a USB thumb drive load in programs on to it but instead to be able to have the folder it accesses thought to be on a thumb drive but is actually a network folder that we can feed info to without having to walk thumb drive back and forth from computer to machine?
ASKER
yes...that would have been a much clearer way of explaining what I am looking for.....lol. thanks for deciphering that!
It is not a standard computer running an OS it is a CNC machine controller, only capable of listing and reading from folders on a USB drive.
It is not a standard computer running an OS it is a CNC machine controller, only capable of listing and reading from folders on a USB drive.
I'm not aware of how to directly accomplish what you want.
One option to avoid walking the drive back and forth would be to get a long USB cable (you'd need an actively powered one) to allow the USB drive to be close to a USB cable connected a computer on the network. You'd have to physically move the connector between the CNC machine and the computer, but that would save some walking.
I've worked with CNC machines that use a serial connection for uploading and downloading files. Does your machine have that capability?
One option to avoid walking the drive back and forth would be to get a long USB cable (you'd need an actively powered one) to allow the USB drive to be close to a USB cable connected a computer on the network. You'd have to physically move the connector between the CNC machine and the computer, but that would save some walking.
I've worked with CNC machines that use a serial connection for uploading and downloading files. Does your machine have that capability?
ASKER
Thanks for the response. This machine may have serial capabilities, was just hoping to have a solution from this century...lol
I can add network option to it, but thanks to HAAS our controller is considered obsolete and so want us to upgrade our 40K controller for a $500 network card!
I can add network option to it, but thanks to HAAS our controller is considered obsolete and so want us to upgrade our 40K controller for a $500 network card!
"This machine may have serial capabilities, was just hoping to have a solution from this century "
I agree, though RS-232 serial, once you sort it all out (communication parameters, wiring, etc.), can do the job well enough and can run long cable lengths.
The few times I've run into CNC machines, I've been amazed at how much they can charge for things such as serial cards or network cards. I don't know how the current CNC machines are, but I've run into other systems where they use a PC for the "brains". MUCH less expensive than a custom controller.
I agree, though RS-232 serial, once you sort it all out (communication parameters, wiring, etc.), can do the job well enough and can run long cable lengths.
The few times I've run into CNC machines, I've been amazed at how much they can charge for things such as serial cards or network cards. I don't know how the current CNC machines are, but I've run into other systems where they use a PC for the "brains". MUCH less expensive than a custom controller.
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If so, it may be possible, depending on the type of machine. If it is a computer running a common OS then you can get a USB-Ethernet or USB-WiFi adapter that would allow it to connect to the network.