In This Article

• Introduction
  • Preconditions
  • Assumptions
• Machine Configuration
• Configure the machine in MachineMetrics

Introduction

The Brother CNC Connector allows machine data to be collected directly from the machine's ethernet port with three different configuration options.

This Brother Connector is compatible with the following Brother Control Models:

• CNC C00 Control
• CNC D00 Control

Brother CNC Connector Configuration options:

The Brother Connector provides the following data points depending on the connection mode.

*Program Header is required for Production Monitoring. Learn more about Production Monitoring in Machine Metrics.

IMPORTANT NOTE:

It is recommended that firmware version of 12.026+ is installed. Earlier versions may not report properly.

Preconditions

These instructions assume that any edge device arriving at a customer has gone through our provisioning process and that the customer IT has taken the required initial steps to allow the edge device to operate.

Assumptions

• The customer has an edge device installed and configured on their network
  • Learn more about Edge Management
• The machine to be connected has been added to MachineMetrics but has not been connected to report data.
  • Learn more about adding a machine

Machine Configuration

Step 1: Confirm whether your Brother CNC has the "Ethernet/FTP" tab.

Press the "DATA BANK" hardkey, followed by the "Communication Parameter" softkey.

Step 2: Set the IP address on the machine

When you have reached the Communication Parameters page, find the "Ethernet/FTP" tab. From here you will need to set an IP address on the machine. This address is what MachineMetrics will use as the connection address to the machine, so make sure the edge device can communicate with whatever IP range in this field:

Depending on your control type, you may be required to enter the IP/Subnet/gateway using these instructions:

Step 3: Disable "Display slave command alarm"

The "Display slave command alarm" option should be set to 0 (off)

Step 4: Disable "Restrict Ethernet Access"

On machines with firmware 12 or newer, "Restrict Ethernet Access" should be set to 0 (off)

Step 5: Configure the machine's FTP server (Mixed-Mode and FTP Mode Only)

The machine's FTP server username and password can be configured on the machine control

Step 6: Connect the machine to the network

Plug the ethernet connection into the port in the machine's main electrical cabinet:

Configure the machine in MachineMetrics

Step 1: Determine the Brother CNC Connector Configuration to use

Brother CNC Connector Configuration options:

• Mixed Mode (Default)
  • Utilizes HTTP and FTP 
  • Requires FTP server username and password in the machine configuration

•  FTP-Only mode
  • Utilizes FTP to gather additional data items
  • Requires FTP server username and password in the machine configuration
  • Not recommended for customers utilizing FTP to transfer programs

• HTTP-Only mode
  • Utilizes HTTP to gather a limited set of data items
  • Recommended for customers utilizing FTP to transfer programs

The Brother Connector provides the following data points depending on the connection mode.

The FTP Server user name and password will be used in the configuration script section when adding the machine if the Mixed mode or FTP mode is selected.

The mode used by the Brother CNC Connector can be selected in the adapter script by using the following configurations.

• Mixed Mode (Default)

  • collection-mode:mixed

• FTP Mode

  • collection-mode:ftp

• HTTP Mode

  • collection-mode:http

Step 2: Navigate to the Machine's Edit Page.

Step 3: Add the Brother Data Collection Method

Step 4: Configure the Brother Data Collection Method

• Select the Edge Device to connect to this machine
• Select the Connection Address
• Configure the adapter script based on the desired configuration method

Example: (For a machine running the Brother Connector in Mixed Mode)