dataZen

P-Connector presents a simplified alternative for gathering data from Okuma P200 controls. Leveraging the power of the THINC platform, the P-Connector delivers machine status information and MacMan™ historical data over the network. This eliminates the need for file-based transfers, serial connections, or hooking up to a PLC.

What it Does

The P-Connector installs and runs directly on an Okuma P200 control as a lightweight webservice. There, it utilizes Okuma's THINC API to collect a variety of machine data, including:

• CNC Status
• Axis positions and feedrates
• Alarm History
• Operating Reports, including cumulative operating, non-operating, and cutting times
• Machining Reports, including cumulative part count and cutting time for each part program
• Operation Panel Keystroke History

The data is then served as an XML SOAP webservice. By serving the data through a webservice, P-Connector makes the data accessible to any device or platform familiar with SOAP. The data can even be viewed in an ordinary web browser.

Its Uses

MacMan-Net 2010, the latest version of DataZen's machine monitoring solution, uses the P-Connector for collecting data from Okuma P200 controls. This allows for easier and more efficient data collection than the previous file-based approach.

Since the machine data is served as XML, it may be used on a wide variety of platforms. DataZen has used P-Connector to create a simple machine status viewer for mobile devices, such as iPhone or Android smartphones. The XML data can also be transformed via XSLT and fed into other systems capable of reading XML, greatly simplifying integration with these systems.

The Future

DataZen continues to develop P-Connector based on the needs it foresees, as well as feedback from clients. Future versions of P-Connector will include enhanced security options and a greatly expanded set of data items.

Setter functionality will also allow a feedback loop to be created: data from the machine can be processed on a server, and the results fed back to the P200 control to adjust the machine configuration.

If your company is interested in any of the features currently in development, contact DataZen for details about our release schedule. For more information about P-Connector, please contact us.