RG Utilities

[rider47]

Hi All,
I just have a quick question with respect to trying to download parameters, programs, etc. off my RG controller. Where exactly do I plug in my 25-pin connector on the robot controller? There are two ports on the cabinet (PORT 1, PORT 2) that are 25-pin RS232, but I wasn't sure if these were them. If so, how many connectors are supposed to be on the back of that interface board? There is currently one Honda connector on it. Which board is it that actually allows me to interface to the RG controller in order to download my information?

Any help you have would be greatly appreciated!
AC

[Lbase]

Port 1 and 2 on the front of the RG are assigned under the Functions menu. Try F2 for device. You need software that can emulate a Fanuc floppy to save and load programs and parameters. I think it is called RGUtil... It is an unsupported freebie at this point. I have one port assigned as a floppy for backups and the other as a printer. I use a serial port program to capture the printer output.

[rider47]

Thanks, Lbase!
I will try that this week. I didn't know about the setup on the RG controller (Functions menu). I will set that up and should be good to go, as I have RGUtil for RG/RG2 controllers. I'm making up a serial cable to communicate from my laptop to the RG controller, as per the diagram that I was supplied by Fanuc, when they emailed the software.

Just one clarification...on the back of the Port 1/2 interface, there are solder points. Should these have wires connected to them, or is the Honda connector that is ALSO on that circuit board all I require? I'm just concerned that the Ports 1/2 won't allow me to communicate with the robot if these solder points are unused.

Thanks again for your reply,
AC

[Lbase]

I haven't looked closely at the back of the board for serial port 1 and 2.  I'll take a look and tell you what I see. Of course you will know pretty quickly if they aren't connected...

[rider47]

Hi Lbase,
I've tried to communicate, but with no luck (and I know why). I'm unable to access the DEVICE area of the Function menu. Do you happen to know which parameter(s) need to be turned on in order to communicate with the robot via a laptop? I can see how to do it as per the user manual, but since I'm not able to assign either of those ports, I can't communicate (we do have a connector on PORT2, so that's a good sign).

See, we had an issue with this robot a month or two ago; at that time we lost absolutely everything, so I'm not sure what parameters may be missing. The back of the book tells a little bit about the parameter listing, but nothing to get the DEVICE menu up (and I'm sure I'd seen that option before the crash).

I have the cable made up and it's pinout is correct. So I am at the point where I need to assign my ports, but I have no access to the DEVICE menu...if you could help me with that, I would extremely appreciate it. Also, do you konw the port settings that need to be used (baud/stop/parity), by chance?
Thanks very much,
AC

[Lbase]

It's either setting N000 or N004 in parameters that turn on different devices. Try N004 - make a note of what you have now and try toggling some ones on and off and see if a device shows up.

For backups you want a floppy - use the software on your laptop to emulate a floppy.
Once you can see a device you will be able to get to settings and setup the comm port. I left it at default and set my laptop to correspond.  I think default is 9600,8,N,1 and of course you want to set the port to 2 if you think this is the only one working.

hth