READ & WRITE DATA | MITSUBISHI

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For machines equipped with Mitsubishi CNC's this diagnostic tool enables to perform reading and writing operations by using all available commands for these devices. It also allows to execute file related operations and helps to quickly setup customized Mitsubishi IIoT Adapter INI files for CNCnetPDM.

The program can be executed on a PC with MS Windows OS (>= XP SP3) connected to your controller via Ethernet. It can be used for machines other than from Citizen or Mazak.

SOFTWARE DOWNLOAD | SETUP | READ DATA | WRITE DATA | FILE RELATED OPERATIONS | REMOTE CONTROL | LICENSING | CONTROLLERS

• Mitsubishi commands overview

SOFTWARE DOWNLOAD

SETUP

• Download and extract all contents of mitsubishicommands.zip to a folder on your PC
• In this folder open file melcfg.ini with a text editor and scroll down to section [HOSTS] (1).
• melcfg.ini comes with predefined entries for up to 54 machines, every line in section [HOSTS] contains Mitsubishi machine number (the number after TCP), IP Address and TCP Port of a single machine.
• Replace the default IP Address 192.168.1.100 with the IP Address of your controller (2), note down the machine number (3) and save the file. If, for example, the IP Address of your first controller is 192.168.1.2 the line should look like
  TCP1=192.168.1.2,683

FIG 1: Adjust melcfg.ini file

READ DATA

After setup of your melcfg.ini file double click MitsubishiCommands in Windows Explorer.

In field ‘Mitsubishi Machine Number’ (1) enter the machine number as defined in melcfg.ini.

Initially the program starts with Mitsubishi M70 M80 Command M_SSEC_EXST_NC_RUN_STATUS (2) which returns the running status of the machine. You can also copy a command from a specific section f.i. 'Program execution status' and paste it into the input field by clicking on the button with 3 dots.

Clicking on button ‘Execute’ (3) shows the result of the operation, here 2, in the right area:

FIG 2: Output of MitsubishiCommands (Read Running Status)

Dropdown 'Data Type' (5): Allows you to adjust the data type for the command according to the ‘Default Data Type’ mentioned in the documentation of the respective command.

Input field 'Parameter Value (X)' (6): For commands that require a parameter value e.g. a common variable number M_SSEC_CMVRS_DAT(x) you can enter it’s number here. Input this parameter for commands that end with (x).

Input field 'Axis number' (7): For axis related commands e.g. Axis Name M_SSEC_AXISPRM_NAME a specific axis number has to be entered here.

Input field 'Part System' (8): If your machine has two or more part systems you can input it's number here and query data from the selected system. To detect the number of part systems on your controller execute MitsubishiM70M80 and note down the value of 'Nr. Part Systems'.

• Note: Command M_SSEC_CUR_ALARMS (1) with Data Type T_COMMAND (2) can be used to query up to 10 active alarms from each part system. Input of 0 in field 'Part System' (3) outputs all alarms from all part systems (4).

FIG 3:    Query active alarms from Mitsubishi CNC

WRITE DATA

MitsubishiCommands also allows you to change data at the controller by using commands with note ‘W’ or ‘RW’ in column R/W of their documentation e.g. M_SSEC_CMVRS_DAT(x).

To change the value of common variable 100, proceed as follows:

In field Mitsubishi Command (1) type in M_SSEC_CMVRS_DAT(x). You can also copy the command name and paste it into this field by clicking on the button with 3 dots right of the input field.

As Data Type (2) select T_DOUBLE.

In field Parameter Value (3) enter 100.

Activate checkbox ‘Write to Controller’ (4) and enter the new value for variable 100 in the input field below, here 677.9.

If your machine has more than 1 part systems and you'd like to write to a part system other than 1 you can target it by input of it's number in field 'Part System'.

Clicking on button ‘Execute’ changes the variable value and shows the result in the right area (5).

You can verify the new value for common variable 100 at the controller (6).

FIG 4:    Change common variable 100 with MitsubishiCommands

FIG 5:    Verify the new value for common variable 100 at the controller

FILE RELATED OPERATIONS

MitsubishiCommands enables to perform various file related operations including listing, selecting, opening, copying and deleting NC-Programs at the controller or PC.

FILES & DIRECTORIES (CONTROLLER) | LIST FILES | SELECT PROGRAM | OPEN PROGRAM | DELETE PROGRAM | COPY PROGRAM

• Note: To execute file related commands data type T_COMMAND has to be selected

Files & DIRECTORIES (CONTROLLER)

Series M70/M700

Series M80/M800

LIST FILES

Commands M_READ_FOLDER or M_READ_FOLDER_M700 can be used to list the content of a specific directory at the controller. M_READ_FOLDER can only be used to list all files located in a selected folder. Output includes full path and file name:

M01:\PRG\USER\1002.PRG
M01:\PRG\USER\1003.PRG

M_READ_FOLDER_M700 additionally allows to use wildcards to list specific file names or extensions e.g. if you input M01:\PRG\USER\*.PRG in field ‘Input Folder / File’ only files with extension .PRG are output. It can also be used to check if a specific exists f.i. if M01:\PRG\USER\9002.PRG outputs no result the file does not exist.

SELECT PROGRAM

By using command M_SELECT_PROGRAM or M_SELECT_PROGRAM_EX you can select a NC-Program to be executed at the controller. If you input M01:\PRG\USER\1022.PRG in field ‘Input Folder / File’ and 1 in field ‘Part System’ program 1022.PRG is selected for execution in part system 1.

• As selection only works if the program exists in location MEMORY and no program is currently executed in the desired part system it is a good idea to make sure that the program exists followed by checking the execution state before performing this operation.

OPEN PROGRAM

With command M_OPEN_PROGRAM you can open a NC-Program or file at the controller e.g. M01:\PRG\USER\1002.PRG (Field ‘Input Folder / File’) and display it’s content in the output window of MitsubishiCommands.

• Opening programs requires that the file exists and is located in one of the accessible folders at the controller.

DELETE PROGRAM

Command M_DELETE_PROGRAM or M_DELETE_PROGRAM_M700 allows you to delete the program specified in field ‘Input Folder / File’.

• To succeed the program must not be executed. Deleting a selected program results in an empty window at the operation panel.
• M_DELETE_PROGRAM_M700 can also be used to delete programs located at the PC.

COPY PROGRAM

By using command M_COPY_PROGRAM you can transfer files from the controller to a folder at the PC or vice versa. For example if you input M01:\PRG\USER\1022.PRG in field ‘Input Folder / File’ and C:\TMP\1022.PRG in field ‘Output Folder / File’ NC-Program 1022.PRG is copied to directory C:\TMP at the PC after you press [Execute].

• For successful execution the program must not exist in the desired output folder.

FIG 8:    Copy NC-Program from PC to Mitsubishi CNC

In the example above target is Mitsubishi machine number 1 (1), command is M_COPY_PROGRAM (2), data type is T_COMMAND (3), input file is C:\TMP\3000.PRG (4), output file is M01:\PRG\USER\3000.PRG (5) and result is 'COPIED' (6).

REMOTE CONTROL

By using MitsubishiCommands you can also remotely control your machine, e.g. switch between operation modes or start and stop NC-Programs. For remote control PLC output signals (Bit type: Y) have to be used. These signals act as switches (0/1), target the NC and allow to perform the same operations as pressing keys at the operator panel.

M70/700 PLC OUTPUT SIGNALS | M80/800 PLC OUTPUT SIGNALS | SWITCH OPERATION MODE | CHANGE RUNNING STATUS

PLC output signals (Bit type: Y) M70/M700

PLC output signals (Bit type: Y) M80/M800

• Note: Column 'Device' in the PDF documents contains PLC output signals. For remote control replace leading 'Y' with 'H' e.g. YC08 -> HC08.

SWITCH OPERATION MODE

To switch to a specific operation mode you first have to identify the current operation mode and running status of the desired part system of the machine. For mode this can be done by sending M_SSEC_EXST_NC_RUN_MODE (Data Type T_SHORT). If output is 0 the current mode is MEMORY, for details see: Mitsubishi CNC Status & Mode

As operation mode can only be switched if no program is currently executed next you have to check the running status of the target part system, command M_SSEC_EXST_NC_RUN_STATUS (Data Type T_SHORT). If output is 2 (Ready) mode can be switched.

To do so you first have to invalidate the current mode. This can be done by sending command M_SSEC_PLBIT_Y_1SHOT(x) (Data Type T_CHAR). According to M800_PLC_Output_Signals_Bit_Type_Y.pdf page 11 for M80/M800 part system 1 ($1) parameter value has to be hC08 (1). ‘Write to controller’ has to be checked, write value has to be set to 0 to disable the current mode. The operation panel shows ‘NON MODE’ (2).

To switch to MDI mode send M_SSEC_PLBIT_Y_1SHOT(x) with parameter hC0B (3). Write value in this case has to be 1. The operator panel shows MDI mode (4). 

To switch back to memory mode invalidate MDI mode by sending hC0B (5) with write value 0. Mode at the operator panel switches to NON MODE (6). Sending hC08 (7) with write value 1 changes mode to MEMORY (8).

FIG 9:    Change Operation Mode Mitsubishi M80/M800 from MEMORY to MDI and vice versa

CHANGE RUNNING STATUS

To change the running status you first have to determine the current status with command M_SSEC_EXST_NC_RUN_STATUS (Data Type T_SHORT). If output is 3 (in Automatic running) you can stop the program by sending M_SSEC_PLBIT_Y_1SHOT(x) (Data Type T_CHAR) with parameter hC11 (Feed hold) and write value 0 (1). Cycle stops at the machine (2). To resume operation send parameter hC10 (Cycle start) with write value 1 (3). Cycle again starts at the controller (4).

FIG 10:    Stop and Start NC-Program (Cycle) Mitsubishi M80/M800

LICENSING

If you have installed CNCnetPDM on your PC with a license other than a ‘free license’ and run this program from the folder where CNCnetPDM is installed you get unlimited functionality. Otherwise you can only read data and execute commands for part system 1 that require no additional input parameter (x). For file related operations only field 'Input Folder / File' can be adjusted. Please see licensing for details or contact us if you have any questions.

• Note: If you have a valid license and you'd like to run this program from a different folder on your PC you can simply copy your CNCnetPDM.ini file to this directory.

CONTROLLERS

The program was tested and works with the following controllers in production environments, others may work as well:

Series M800 M80

Machining center & Lathe system

• M850W
• M830W
• M850S
• M830S
• M80W
• M80 TypeA
• M80 TypeB

Series E80 C80

Machining center & Lathe system

• E80 TypeA
• E80 TypeB
• C80 TypeA
• C80 TypeB

Series M70

Machining center & Lathe system

• FCA70P-2A
• FCA70P-4A
• FCA70P-2B
• FCA70P-4B

Series M700

• 720M
• 730M
• 750M
• 720L
• 730L
• 750L

Series C6/C64 Series

• C6L
• C6T
• C64M
• C64L
• C64T

Series C70

• M system
• L system

Series M70V

Machining Center & Lathe system

• TypeB
• TypeA

Series M700V

Machining Center & Lathe system

• M720VS
• M730VS
• M750VS
• M720VW
• M730VW
• M750VW