Brother D Series CNC: Ethernet & OPC UA Setup Guide

This step-by-step guide explains how to configure Ethernet settings, assign a static IP address, enable OPC UA, and save your settings on a Brother D Series CNC machine.

It includes important notes on formatting and screenshots to guide you through each step.

📍 Step 1: Access the Communication Menu

1. From the machine’s main screen, press the DATABANK soft key at the bottom.

2. In the menu, select 7. Communication parameter to open network settings.

🌐 Step 2: Configure IP Address and Network Access

Inside the Ethernet/FTP settings screen:

1. 0202 - Use DHCP → Set to No
   This enables manual input of a static IP address.

2. 0203 - IP address → Enter your desired static IP.

   💡 Important Format Note:

   • The machine does not accept standard dot notation (e.g., 172.22.3.34) directly.

   • Instead, enter the IP address as a 12-digit numeric string without dots.

   • Example: 172.22.3.34 → Input as 172022003034

3. 0204 - Mask bit → Typically set to 255.255.255.0

4. 0004 - Display slave command alarm → Set to No
   Prevents unnecessary command display alerts.

5. 0216 - Restrict Ethernet access → Set to No
   Ensures full network accessibility.

🔐 Step 3: Enable OPC UA and Configure Security

Navigate to the final Ethernet/FTP menu screen and set:

1. 0235 - OPC UA server function → Valid
   Enables OPC UA functionality.

2. 0236 - Security communication for client → 2: Type2
   Commonly used secure mode for client connections.

3. 0237 - OPC UA security communication (optional):

   • 0: No → No username or password required

   • 1–5 → Enables varying levels of RSA/AES encryption with authentication
     Choose based on your environment’s security needs.

💾 Step 4: Save and Finalize Settings

After configuring all required parameters:

1. Press Save and end at the bottom left.

2. Use Overwrite save if prompted and you don’t want to exit yet.

⚠️ If you do not save, all changes will be lost on shutdown or reboot.

✅ Summary of Key Parameters

📡 Step 5: Verify Ethernet & OPC UA Connectivity

To confirm your Ethernet settings and OPC UA communication are working:

1. Press the MONITR soft key at the bottom of the screen.

2. Select 3. Communication monitor.

In the Communication Monitor:

• Look under the Port column for activity such as Ethernet (OPC UA).

• The Message column will show success indicators like:

  • Sending completed

  • Data sent

  • Output request received

This confirms OPC UA is transmitting data correctly.

For detailed IP and Ethernet status:

1. In the MONITR menu, select Ethernet information.

This screen displays:

• IP Address

• Subnet Mask

• Gateway

• MAC Address

• DHCP status

Sample OPC-UA Script - Download here

version: 2
type: opc-ua
read-mode: polling

tags:
MEM:
path: ns=3;s=NC/MemoryOperation/MEM
wkcntr:
path: ns=3;s=NC/ProductionMonitor/WKCNTR
pdsp_data:
path: ns=3;s=NC/System/PDSP
panel_data:
path: ns=3;s=Panel/Data/PANEL
alarm_data:
path: ns=3;s=NC/Alarm/ALARM
optional_stop_in:
path: ns=3;s=Panel/Keys/OP.STP
block_skip_in:
path: ns=3;s=Panel/Keys/B.SKIP
single_block_in:
path: ns=3;s=Panel/Keys/SINGL
dry_run_in:
path: ns=3;s=Panel/Keys/DRY
machine_lock_in:
path: ns=3;s=Panel/Keys/M.LCK
variables:
execution:
- source: MEM
- pattern-match:
pattern: /^(?:[^,]*,){3}\s*([^,]+)/
group: 1
- state:
- ACTIVE: this == 1
- READY: true
program-name:
- source: MEM
- pattern-match:
pattern: /^(?:[^,]*,){2}\s*'([^']+)'/
group: 1
part-counter:
- source: wkcntr
- pattern-match:
pattern: /^(?:[^,]*,){2}\s*([^,]+)/
group: 1

program:
- source: program-name

# D01 Door variables
outer_door:
- source: panel_data
- pattern-match:
pattern: /D01,([^,]+)/
group: 1
- state:
- CLOSED: this == "0"
- OPEN: this == "1"

inner_door:
- source: panel_data
- pattern-match:
pattern: /D01,[^,]+,([^,]+)/
group: 1
- state:
- CLOSED: this == "0"
- OPEN: this == "1"

side_door:
- source: panel_data
- pattern-match:
pattern: /D01,[^,]+,[^,]+,([^,\s]+)/
group: 1
- state:
- CLOSED: this == "0"
- OPEN: this == "1"

# K01 Variables
mode:
- source: panel_data
- pattern-match:
pattern: /K01,([^,]+)/
group: 1
- state:
- MANUAL: this == "0"
- MDI_OPERATION: this == "1"
- MEMORY_OPERATION: this == "2"
- PROGRAM_EDIT: this == "3"
- MDI_MANUAL: this == "4"
- OPERATING_EDIT: this == "5"

block_skip:
- source: panel_data
- pattern-match:
pattern: /K01,[^,]+,([^,]+)/
group: 1
- state:
- OFF: this == "0"
- ON: this == "1"

opt_stop:
- source: optional_stop_in
- state:
- OFF: this == "0"
- ON: this == "1"

single_block:
- source: single_block_in
- state:
- OFF: this == "0"
- ON: this == "1"

dry_run:
- source: dry_run_in
- state:
- OFF: this == "0"
- ON: this == "1"

machine_lock:
- source: machine_lock_in
- state:
- OFF: this == "0"
- ON: this == "1"

coolant_pump:
- source: panel_data
- pattern-match:
pattern: /K01,[^,]+,[^,]+,[^,]+,[^,]+,[^,]+,[^,]+,([^,]+)/
group: 1
- state:
- OFF: this == "0"
- ON: this == "1"

chip_shower:
- source: panel_data
- pattern-match:
pattern: /K01,[^,]+,[^,]+,[^,]+,[^,]+,[^,]+,[^,]+,[^,]+,([^,]+)/
group: 1
- state:
- OFF: this == "0"
- ON: this == "1"

machine_light:
- source: panel_data
- pattern-match:
pattern: /K01,[^,]+,[^,]+,[^,]+,[^,]+,[^,]+,[^,]+,[^,]+,[^,]+,([^,]+)/
group: 1
- state:
- OFF: this == "0"
- ON: this == "1"

pallet_select_key:
- source: panel_data
- pattern-match:
pattern: /K01,[^,]+,[^,]+,[^,]+,[^,]+,[^,]+,[^,]+,[^,]+,[^,]+,[^,]+,([^,]+)/
group: 1

table_light:
- source: panel_data
- pattern-match:
pattern: /K01,[^,]+,[^,]+,[^,]+,[^,]+,[^,]+,[^,]+,[^,]+,[^,]+,[^,]+,[^,]+,([^,]+)/
group: 1
- state:
- OFF: this == "0"
- ON: this == "1"

door_unlock_1:
- source: panel_data
- pattern-match:
pattern: /K01,[^,]+,[^,]+,[^,]+,[^,]+,[^,]+,[^,]+,[^,]+,[^,]+,[^,]+,[^,]+,[^,]+,([^,]+)/
group: 1
- state:
- OFF: this == "0"
- ON: this == "1"

door_unlock_2:
- source: panel_data
- pattern-match:
pattern: /K01,[^,]+,[^,]+,[^,]+,[^,]+,[^,]+,[^,]+,[^,]+,[^,]+,[^,]+,[^,]+,[^,]+,[^,]+,([^\s]+)/
group: 1
- state:
- OFF: this == "0"
- ON: this == "1"

# S01 Variables
rapid_traverse_override:
- source: panel_data
- pattern-match:
pattern: /S01,([^,]+)/
group: 1

feedrate_override:
- source: panel_data
- pattern-match:
pattern: /S01,[^,]+,([^,]+)/
group: 1

spindle_override:
- source: panel_data
- pattern-match:
pattern: /S01,[^,]+,[^,]+,([^,]+)/
group: 1

emergency_stop:
- source: panel_data
- pattern-match:
pattern: /S01,[^,]+,[^,]+,[^,]+,([^,]+)/
group: 1
- state:
- ON: this == "0"
- OFF: this == "1"

data_protection:
- source: panel_data
- pattern-match:
pattern: /S01,[^,]+,[^,]+,[^,]+,[^,]+,([^,]+)/
group: 1
- state:
- ENABLED: this == "0"
- DISABLED: this == "1"

door_interlock_mode_right:
- source: panel_data
- pattern-match:
pattern: /S01,[^,]+,[^,]+,[^,]+,[^,]+,[^,]+,([^,]+)/
group: 1
- state:
- OFF: this == "0"
- ON: this == "1"

door_interlock_mode_left:
- source: panel_data
- pattern-match:
pattern: /S01,[^,]+,[^,]+,[^,]+,[^,]+,[^,]+,[^,]+,([^,]+)/
group: 1
- state:
- OFF: this == "0"
- ON: this == "1"

enable:
- source: panel_data
- pattern-match:
pattern: /S01,[^,]+,[^,]+,[^,]+,[^,]+,[^,]+,[^,]+,[^,]+,([^,]+)/
group: 1

master_on:
- source: panel_data
- pattern-match:
pattern: /S01,[^,]+,[^,]+,[^,]+,[^,]+,[^,]+,[^,]+,[^,]+,[^,]+,([^\s]+)/
group: 1
- state:
- OFF: this == "0"
- ON: this == "1"
feedrate:
- source: pdsp_data
- pattern-match:
pattern: /X01,([^,]+)/
group: 1

spindle_speed:
- source: pdsp_data
- pattern-match:
pattern: /X01,[^,]+,([^,]+)/
group: 1

inner_pallet:
- source: pdsp_data
- pattern-match:
pattern: /X01,[^,]+,[^,]+,([^,]+)/
group: 1
- state:
- NOT_INDEXED: this == "0"
- PALLET_1: this == "1"
- PALLET_2: this == "2"

spindle_tool_number:
- source: pdsp_data
- pattern-match:
pattern: /X01,[^,]+,[^,]+,[^,]+,([^,]+)/
group: 1

next_tool_number:
- source: pdsp_data
- pattern-match:
pattern: /X01,[^,]+,[^,]+,[^,]+,[^,]+,([^,]+)/
group: 1
# Alarm Variables
alarm_number:
- source: alarm_data
- pattern-match:
pattern: /E01,([^,\s]+)/
group: 1

alarm_type:
- source: alarm_number
- pattern-match:
pattern: /^(\d{2})/
group: 1
- state:
- EX: this == "01"
- EC: this == "02"
- SV: this == "03"
- NC: this == "04"
- IO: this == "05"
- SP: this == "06"
- SM: this == "07"
- SL: this == "08"
- CM: this == "09"
- ES: this == "10"
- FC: this == "11"
- OM: this == "90"
- UNKNOWN: true

alarm_code:
- source: alarm_number
- pattern-match:
pattern: /^\d{2}(.+)/
group: 1

# Combine type and code for display
alarm_display:
- expression: concat(string(alarm_type), string(alarm_code))
has_alarm:
- source: alarm_number
- expression: this != "" and this != "0" and this != null
conditions:
system:
- code: emergency_stop
message: Emergency Stop Active
value:
FAULT: emergency_stop == "DISABLED"

- code: alarm
message: ${alarm_display}
value:
WARNING: has_alarm

data-items:
#- test
- execution
- program-name
- part-counter
# - feed-ovr
#- nc-mode
- program

# D01 Door items
- outer_door
- inner_door
- side_door

# K01 Items
- mode
- block_skip
- opt_stop
- single_block
- dry_run
- machine_lock
- coolant_pump
- chip_shower
- machine_light
- pallet_select_key
- table_light
- door_unlock_1
- door_unlock_2

# S01 Items
- rapid_traverse_override
- feedrate_override
- spindle_override
- emergency_stop
- data_protection
- door_interlock_mode_right
- door_interlock_mode_left
# X01 Items
- feedrate
- spindle_speed
- inner_pallet
- spindle_tool_number
- next_tool_number