Re: bandit interface

--- In CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@y..., "conmach" <conmach@y...> wrote:

> i would like to connect my pc to a ab bandit control.

By ab bandit, are you referring to an Allen Bradley 8400 controller?
Also known as a Bandit IV?

If this is the controller, it has a fairly standard rs-232
interface. Go to your local computer store and buy either a Null
Modem cable for about $10, or buy a straight thru 25 wire cable and a
Null modem box ($15). Either setup will connect between a standard
serial port on a PC based laptop. Use Xon/Xoff for software
control. If you have "issues" with 9 pin vs 25 pin, get a "hydra"
head null modem cable, (also known as a laplink), it will be
correctly wired for program up and down load, and has 9 and 25 pin
connectors on both ends.

On mine, I can use this set-up to up and download program files, and
can on a limited basis also drip feed programs. If you are trying to
do serious drip fed machining, you will need to connect the cable to
have hardware handshaking. There are seldom cables on the shelf to
correctly match a machine for this. I have not troubled to do this
for my machine, as I just slow transmission down (with line delays)
enough that I always starve rather than overrun the controller input
buffer. My machine has about 256K ram, but a 64K single program size
limit. I have run programs with several million characters this way
with no problem. Subroutines are not allowed within the drip feed,
but I believe that you can call other subprograms from the controller
memory while you dripfeed.

ShopfloorAutomations.com in California sell custom cables and are
very knowledgable about RS-232 interfacing. They used to sell a
grizzley cable for about $50-$75. I have not priced them for awhile.

Best Regards, Fred Smith- IMService

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