International Journal of All Research Education and Scientific Methods (IJARESM),

ISSN: 2455-6211, Volume 12, Issue 5, May-2024, Available online at: www.ijaresm.com

Drip Feed DNC Using USB Port

Atharva Joshi1, Noopur Joshi2, Pratik Kalwankar3, Harshada Burande4, Rajeshwari Malekar5,
Mahesh Navle6
1,2,3
Student/Electronics and Telecommunications/Pune University/India
4,5,6
Assistant Professor/ Electronics and Telecommunications/Pune University/India

-----------------------------------------------------------------------****************----------------------------------------------------------------

ABSTRACT

With advancement in technologies, it is suggested that the DNC’s must have a USB port so as to make it like a mini
computer to work in industries. For this to happen we need very challenging codes to be successful for all the
features to work properly.

Generally, there are several DNCs in market which have the feature of taking data from the USB port. In this
project we proposed that whenever there is power cut-off, the DNC will stop at the code line which it last worked on.
After, starting of the machine the user can start the working of DNC from his desired code line so as to save time of
the CNCs.

India, many DNCs do not have the USB port for data transferring. The data transferring is done from the
computer and the code is been transferred at first via the RS232 port. The model we are making is capable to take
codes from the pen drive and edit it on the DNC. The codes are being transferred via the pen drive to the DNC and
to the CNC via the RS232 ports at the same time.

DNC model handles two or more CNC machines i.e., it is readily used in the automotive industries, medical
equipment manufacturing.

Keywords: DNC, Drip Feeding, CNC, Code Loader

INTRODUCTION

Direct Numerical Control – A process of controlling a number of CNC equipped machines from a mainframe computer
handling the scheduling or work and downloading complete programs into the machine’s memory. Nowadays wireless
DNCs are used in the industry. It is also used in place of hard-wired versions. Controls of this type are very widely used in
industries with significant sheet metal fabrication, such as the automotive, appliance, and aerospace industries.

The automatic manufacturing devices which operate on pre-programmed commands sequentially are known as CNC and
are mostly in the form of G-code. These commands are responsible for movement and operation of the machine’s tools. G-
code is a language which is used to train CNC machines on how to function, and perform operations such as cutting and
drilling. It consists of alphanumeric codes series that represents specific parameters. DNC software is the main and central
component of DNC systems. It manages the storage, retrieval, and transmission of CNC program files between the central
computer and individual CNC machines. The communication infrastructure of connection between central computers to
CNC machines is the DNC network. This network can be wired or wireless, depending on implementation. The DNC
server hosts the DNC software and manages the CNC program files. It is the storage device for all program data and it
controls the distribution of programs to the CNC machines. DNC client communicates with the DNC server to request
program files and receive them for execution. It is the module on each CNC working as an interface.

DNC is used to manage two or more CNC machines. The user can use the DNC mode and thus the CNC is allowed to take
commands from DNC.CNC machines usually use FIFO method. Sometimes DNC works for several days on single
program. The older machines cannot handle large amount of data hence the program needed to be sent from PC to the CNC
in small packet. The CNC machine executed each move received directly from the computer. But this drip-feeding process
needed computer and not the machine memory. Drip feeding is method of sending a CNC program to the machine with few
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 International Journal of All Research Education and Scientific Methods (IJARESM),
ISSN: 2455-6211, Volume 12, Issue 5, May-2024, Available online at: www.ijaresm.com

instructions at a time. There is a handshake process so that the sender knows when to stop sending and when to send more
data to the CNC.
Drip feeding is usually used when the machine doesn’t have required memory to store the machine code. The user needs to
split the program code into small packets and send it to the CNC machine line to line. It thus saves the time and utilizes the
machine memory efficiently. Drip feeding process is used in many industries including aerospace, medical device
manufacturing and automotive. If there is load shading in the area then this DNC has a feature that after the power restarts
the DNC need not start from the 1st line of the code fed to it, rather it will start from the desired point where the code
stopped due to power cut-off.

If the computer is connected to a number of machines, it can distribute programs to different machines as required. Usually,
the manufacturer of the control provides suitable DNC software. However, if this provision is not possible, some software
companies provide DNC applications that fulfil the purpose.

SYSTEM DESCRIPTION

Detailed Explanation:
There are two main sections in the block diagram:

CNC:
 LCD will show the commands to be operated, which will function with help of keyboard.
 There are two RS232 Ports for transferring data to CNC. The RS232 port will be connected to the CNC machine and
it will thus operate the functioning of that machine.

DNC:
 USB port is connected to Raspberry Pi for transferring data. Pen-drive will be connected to the USB port for
transferring the code files and further to the Raspberry Pi.
 To manage all the communication in the DNC Ethernet port will be used.
 The network will be provided from the Ethernet port to the Raspberry Pi.
 Keyboard has been interfaced to the microcontroller to edit or delete and operate all functions of the DNC.
 In case of power cut-off LCD will show the number of code line.
 Whenever the machine will start again the screen will show the code line number and ask for the user input which
will be operated by the keyboard.

Raspberry Pi 4: Used as logic unit in CNC code loader. It has 2 USB ports and 1 Ethernet port as input through which user
can put ASCII code in code loader. It has two inputs through which user can feed the ASCII code in Ras-pi and Ras-pi
sends it towards CNC machine using rs232 cable. It is provided with battery power supply to handle power cut offs. It has
different features like ASCII code editor and send and receive mode for uninterrupted data flow.

RS232 Expansion Hat: It is used to interface RS232 ports with Raspberry Pi. It is used to connect CNC code loader
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 International Journal of All Research Education and Scientific Methods (IJARESM),
ISSN: 2455-6211, Volume 12, Issue 5, May-2024, Available online at: www.ijaresm.com

with CNC machine. It is used to send data to CNC machine through CNC code loader using RS232 cable. It provides
uninterrupted data flow to CNC machine.

Fig. 2.1 RS232 Expansion Hat

USB input: The USB port takes input from the pendrive. All the code files are received from the pendrive and fed to the
Ras-pi via the USB port. The files are then stored in the machine memory and further used for operation of DNC machines.

Fig. 2.2 Taking input from USB

Serial RS-232 interface represented a standard in PC - peripherals communication for years and it was, and still is, being
embedded in CNC machine tool controllers. Data bits transfer in sequence through a single conductor. The bits are
represented by voltage levels referenced to a common signal ground [17]. It is so-called unbalanced (single-ended) system
where only one line is switched. Because of capacitive noise and cross talk formation, maximal cable length of RS-232
cable was limited to 15 m and data rate to 20k bits/second. In later revisions these limits were moved [2].

The earliest communication technologies like Centronics and RS-232 communication were used for online transfer of part
programs between computer and CNC machine. Most PC and CNC controllers had and still have serial RS-232 port (COM
port) built in. [2]

PROPOSED SYSTEM

Flowchart Description:
 Step 1 - CNC code loader is connected with CNC machine using RS232 cable. CNC code loader is battery powered
so it gives uninterrupted data flow.
 Step 2 - Required code is being copied to USB and it is connected to CNC code loader as input.
 Step 3 - The first four lines of ASCII code are displayed on LCD display to inform user about line-to-line
transmission of code. User can change or update the code as per requirements
 Step 4 - The code is transferred to CNC machine through CNC code loader using RS232 cable.
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 International Journal of All Research Education and Scientific Methods (IJARESM),
ISSN: 2455-6211, Volume 12, Issue 5, May-2024, Available online at: www.ijaresm.com

DNC: The earliest DNC systems were used for part program data transfer between host computer and machine tool mainly
through the serial RS-232 interface [2].

Remote file management often include features like allowing operators to upload, download, and organize CNC program
files in DNC system. There are some version control capabilities in DNC systems which allows users to monitor the
changes to program files and manage the revisions effectively to protect against unauthorized access or tampering of
program files security of the system is the important part. Some of the common measures are encryption, user
authentication and controlling the access to track the status of CNC machines, monitor job progress and generate reports on
production activities DNC systems provide features likewise.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Fig. 4.1 Wireless options to select from

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International Journal of All Research Education and Scientific Methods (IJARESM),
ISSN: 2455-6211, Volume 12, Issue 5, May-2024, Available online at: www.ijaresm.com

Fig. 4.2 GUI

Fig. 4.3 Files to be send

Fig. 4.4 Wireless Transmission

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 International Journal of All Research Education and Scientific Methods (IJARESM),
ISSN: 2455-6211, Volume 12, Issue 5, May-2024, Available online at: www.ijaresm.com

CONCLUSION

According to the design proposed in the report we come to a conclusion that we are able to display text on the screen. We
are also able to send code from the USB port to the microcontroller. This DNC will help the industries in editing the code
easily and the DNC will be handier and more efficient.

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

We are thankful to MMM’s College of Engineering, for giving all required support for accomplishing this work. We would
like to express deep sense of gratitude to Mr. Deepak Bodhani (Digitech Engineers, Pune) for providing the support for
DNC machine and accomplishing the present work. We are extremely indebted to Prof. Harshada Burande (Assistant
Professor, MMCOE) for constantly supporting and guiding us for completing the work.

REFERENCES

[1] CNC and DNC Systems: A Future Approach Abhishek Dixit, Vikas Dave 3 March-2015.
[2] Communication with CNC machine through DNC interface Simo Jokanovic Faculty of Mechanical Engineering
University of Banja Luka, Bosnia and Herzegovina 24 June 2016.
[3] Design of Control unit for CNC machine tool using Arduino based embedded system by Dev P. Desai and Dr. D.M.
Patel, 2015, International Conference on Smart Technologies 8 May 2015.
[4] CNC Machine Based on Embedded Wireless and Internet of Things for Workshop Development Dr. Ibtesam R. K.
Al-Saedi, Dr. Farag Mahel Mohammed, Eng. SAIFALDEEN S. OBAYES 19 January 2017.
[5] The Application of Data Transmission in the CNC Machine Tools Fault Warning and Diagnostic System
Development Guo Zhiping, Song Zhiyong, Yan Jiming, Shi Rongbo 10 November 2012.
[6] Study and Implementation of WLAN Network in DNC System Li Boquan, Pan Haibin, Wang Xiaofei, Tian
Hongsheng 2010.

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