Subnet Mask: Have your IT support personnel set this to be the same as the controller.

Ping Test: To do a ping test, open a Command Prompt window and type "ping" followed by the IP address of the controller. When you press ENTER, the test will attempt to establish a temporary connection to the controller. If it fails you will see a "request timed out." message displayed in the command prompt window.

# Appendix A - Fanuc Configuration

Configuration of NcGage is normally done by the person who installs the probe hardware. These steps are for their reference. An NCGage Configuration Tool has been provided to help with the configuration of either a Fanuc or Okuma controller. It can be accessed from your NCGage program directory.

### Files

- The machine setup for NC Gage is contained in a text file NcGage.dat.
  NcGage.dat is used by NcGage for the machine configuration.

- The Monitor CNC Macros are contained in FanucMonitor.cnc.
  This file is to be loaded onto the control.

- The file used to restore the Configuration Tool settings is FanucMonitor.cnc.dat.

- The Header Script File and Controller Script File are defined for the Fanuc controller configuration and should not need to be changed.

The NcGage.dat name is fixed. The output file name may be changed in the Output File field of the tool. The restore file name is derived from the Output File name by appending '.dat'.

### Using the Tool

This page describes the NcGage Machine Configuration Tool (MCT) for the controller. The MCT will generate a set of probing macros for use on a Fanuc or Okuma Controller depending on which one is selected from the initial dialog screen. The machine tool will require the FOCAS over Ethernet and Macro B options.

The machine configuration tool is available in the program group for NC Gage after installation of the NC Gage software or by clicking on FanucGui.exe in the NC Gage installation directory. A screen capture of the machine configuration tool is shown below:

Machine Name - This name may be any text without spaces or special characters. Use an underscore if you want separation between words

IP Address – This is the Internet Protocol (IP) address of the controller. This unique address identifies the controller on your computer network. You must ensure that the computer uses the same subnet mask
as the controller by using a ping test
to verify connectivity. This can be tested by pinging the controller if NC Gage is installed on a separate computer. On some systems, the IP address of the computer must be only one digit different than the IP address of the machine tool. For example, if the machine tool's IP address is 192.168.0.1, then the computer's IP address will need to be set to 192.168.0.2.

Port – This defines the port number of the controller. Ports control what information is allowed from connected computers.

Controller Type - Use this list to select the type of controller that NC Gage will be interfacing with. Ethernet controls with the FOCAS interface are currently supported.

Comments Language - This changes the language of the comments included in the generated macros. Comments should eliminated for fastest operation but included for debugging problems or following the flow of the program.

Maximum Traverse Speed - This is in MM/Minute. This is the maximum speed the probe will move when Not probing. MM/Minute is used regardless of controller operation in inch or mm.

Probing Speed - This is in MM/Minute. This is the speed the probe will move when searching for a surface.

Max Rotary Speed - This is in degrees/Minute. This is the speed for all rotary axes including spindle heads and rotary tables.

Variables Base - This is the starting address for variables used by NcGage to transfer information. Currently, NcGage uses 31. The information in these variables need not be saved after loss of power.

Settings Base - This is the starting address for variables used by NcGage which establish constants for motion, probing and tools. NcGage currently uses 11. The information in these variables is expected to be saved after loss of power.

Program Number - This is the address for the generation of the monitor macro.

Tool Number > 200 - Mark this check box if the tool number is larger than 200.

G68 - Mark this check box if the G68 code is available on the controller.

Probe Bit PLC Address - (Future Option) This is the address of the Probe Trigger PLC bit.

MM or Inch - These are the units setting on the machine. Note that NcGage will work in the unit settings of the controller.

Tool Offset Type - For Fanuc controls; A, B or C.

Spindle Positioning- Put the machine code here to orient the spindle. If the machine does not have the capability, clear out the contents of this field. A variable will be appended to the supplied code and will contain the angle. For example:

Supplied Code: M19S

Generated Code: M19S#1

Output File - This is the name of the output macro file that will be created when Generate is pressed. Note that this file name with .dat extension is also the data file for the Restore button operation.

Read Machine - When supported, pressing this button will attempt to read machine variables from the control. The control must be connected via Ethernet to the NcGage computer. The Focas option must be enabled on the controller in order for this function to work (and for NC Gage to work). The IP address and FOCAS port number must be correct in Connection Parameters section.

Parameters that are read:

Tool Offset Type

Number of Axes

Axis Letters and Offset

Controller Type

Communication Status & Directory - The top field is the Communication Status field. It will show messages regarding the success or failure of pressing the Read or Upload buttons. The bottom field is the Directory field. On controllers that support loading macros into multiple directories this lets you specify which directory to use by typing the directory's pathway here.

Upload Program- When supported. pressing this button attempts to upload the generated macro set to the controller. The controller connection must be properly set as referenced in Read Machine and Connection Parameters. The controller must be in Edit mode. The Macro area chosen for generation must be able to be written.

Load Probe - Enter in this box the macro codes required to load the probe.

Enable Probe - Enter in this box the macro codes required to enable the probe.

Disable Probe - Enter in this box the macro codes required to disable the probe.

Move Test - Enter in this box the macro codes required to test that the probe is turned on and able to move.

Axis Enable Fields - For each axis, an Axis Enable Field must be set with a minimum of 3 axes are required. The known axes and axis letters will be populated by Read Machine when supported. The X, Y, and Z axes are always set and cannot be removed.

Axis Type - These may be Linear, Rotary Table, or Wrist. Only linear axes are supported in NcGage V1.0.

Axis - Axis Identifier XYZABC.

Offset - This sets the offset in the axes map. For example, if a machine has XYZ linear axes and a B axis rotary table, the offsets might be 1,2,3,4. Often, there are slave axes not included in the configuration which cause skips in the axes map so the same machine may have a map of 1,3,4,5.

Limit - The limit information is in machine coordinates. If these are not known, then they should be left blank. These are not used in V1.1.

Unlock/Lock Codes - These are used for rotary axes if required.

Generate - This will create a macro set in the file named in the Output File field.

Comments - Mark this check box to include comments in the selected language in the generated macro file. Comments are useful for debugging problems or following the flow of the program. Comments take extra space and slow the execution on limited controllers.

Save - This will save the current parameter set for FanucGui.exe in <Output File Name>.dat or FanucMonitor.cnc.dat by default.

Restore - This will recall the saved parameter set in <Output File Name>.dat or FanucMonitor.cnc.dat by default.