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How to Change the Order of User Input Variables in CIMCO Edit Professional

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For this Wednesday’s product related content we’re going to update you on a feature within the Editor that controls the order of user input variables. You may have at one time had to write a macro to modify this, but with CIMCO Edit Professional Version 7 it is no longer necessary. The function to change the order of the user input variables is in the Macro Definitions. You can find this in the NC Functions Tab under the Macro Setup selection. In the example below a new user input variable has been added $11 and we want it to appear as the second input when we run the macro:

Creating a new input $11 and re-ordering (CIMCO Editor 7)

Creating a new input $11 and re-ordering (CIMCO Editor 7)

When the macro is run $11 Programmer is the second input in the dialog:

The $11 Programmer is the second input in the dialog.

The $11 Programmer is the second input in the dialog.

You might also find the CIMCO Editor Professional Formulas in Macros Guide helpful, you can find the latest version in this local path on your machine with CIMCO Editor installed: C:\CIMCO\CIMCOEdit7\Samples\Formulas\formulas.pdf

The post How to Change the Order of User Input Variables in CIMCO Edit Professional appeared first on Managed Solutions.


How Does CIMCO Software Maintenance Work?

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One question we get asked frequently is how maintenance works with CIMCO Software products. The best way to think of the maintenance cost of your software is as an entitlement to receive all software updates for the duration of the term. It doesn’t matter if the updates are just that, an incremental update of an existing version or a completely new version of the software; a user with valid maintenance can always install the new version of the software with their existing license. Right now as of the writing of this article, the current version of CIMCO Software (DNC Max, Editor, MDC, etc) is 7.0048. If you have valid maintenance and an incremental version 7.0049 or completely new version 8 where released, you would be able to download and install the software.

Via Bill Abbott - Creative Commons

Via Bill Abbott – Creative Commons

Reasons to keep CIMCO Software maintenance active

CIMCO does very active development of their products, that means that the products are improving all the time. Maintenance generates the resources to hire and maintain a strong development team to keep this process going. Products that are evolving quickly will be much more useful to you than those that are stagnant and lacking incremental changes and improvements. In fact one of the common reasons why customers call us to inquire about CIMCO is due to their current DNC Communications or NC Editor being out of date or not supporting the latest operating systems. So in effect, when you purchase maintenance you are helping to keep the product up to date and improving. We are always very happy to take and pass along product feature requests or bug reports on to the developer team at CIMCO, we appreciate our customers helping to make the products better. Having valid maintenance makes our job of supporting you much easier also. This is due largely to the fact that when an issue comes up we can always download the latest build and see if that issue is resolved, which is often the case.

Why you might need a service agreement

In many cases we offer our customers a services agreement in addition to the software maintenance. This does not mean that we do not provide support to all of our customers, because we pride ourselves on providing support to our customers. What it means is that our customers with valid service agreements get special benefits such as faster response times and hands on assistance with upgrades. Some of our customers require an SLA or Service Level Agreement with any plant/mission critical systems. In these cases we customize a program to meet or exceed the requirements. You can learn more on our Services page.

What does CIMCO Maintenance Cost?

Typically CIMCO Software maintenance runs about 10% of the cost of your software, per year. Normally one year is included but it is clearly spelled out on all quotes and invoices from Managed Solutions.

Do you have questions? Let us know, we’re here as your resource.

The post How Does CIMCO Software Maintenance Work? appeared first on Managed Solutions.

How to Load and Re-Load Common Parameters in CIMCO CNC-Calc

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A couple months ago a useful feature was added to CNC-Calc. This feature will enhance the experience for people who frequently use the same toolpath parameters. The change includes the addition of a new tree on the left side instead of a tabbed interface. New buttons allow you to Load/Save and Reset the parameters.

cnc-calc-parameters

Pressing the Load Parameters button will list the previously saved parameters for the operation along with a description.

cnc-calc-load-parameters

Parameters are saved in C:\CIMCO\CIMCOEdit7\Cfg\CncCalcParameters.xml

cnc-calc-xml

CNC Calc is an add on for CIMCO Editor that allows Novice and advanced programmers to perform complex geometric calculations in seconds right from a tab in CIMCO Editor.

The post How to Load and Re-Load Common Parameters in CIMCO CNC-Calc appeared first on Managed Solutions.

CIMCO Editor Training and Educational Resources

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Getting the most out of your CIMCO Editor investment

Tools are designed to make us more efficient and in business being more efficient makes us more profitable. CIMCO Editor is a CNC programmers tool, and to get the most out of it requires training and practice. Here are a number of great resources available for you to get more out of your CIMCO Editor investment. Bookmark this page and get everything you need in one place. Here is a list of resources available:

  1. CIMCO Edit Manual (Download PDF)
  2. CIMCO Software Product Documentation
  3. CIMCO Editor Training Videos
  4. Additional Resources for CIMCO Editor

CIMCO Edit Manual

This user guide includes information about installation, editor functions, accessing the NC-Base database (Via the Option: NC-Base), Using the Editor (Find, Edit, Help, etc), NC Functions (Block Numbers, Transform, Macros, Multi Channel), Backplot, File Compare, Transmission (CIMCO Edit does DNC communication, but you may need CIMCO DNC Max for your application, read this for more about the differences) as well as Setup and numerous settings for NC-Base and DNC Communications. Also includes guide for Serial Communications including information on how to build standard serial cables for RS-232/RS-422/RS-485 and much, much more!

CIMCO Software Product Documentation

The most up to date resource of CIMCO Documentation including documentation in English, German, French, Spanish, Swedish and Czech for CIMCO Edit v7. Currently includes a CIMCO Edit v7 Getting Started and CIMCO Edit v7 User Guide. Provides you with an introduction to CIMCO Edit v7 as well as information on editing nc files in CIMCO Edit, Backplotting, File Compare, CNC-Calc and Transmission.
CIMCO Edit v7 Documentation Guide

CIMCO Editor Instructional Videos

CIMCO A/S has produced 6 instructional videos to expose users to the features of CIMCO Editor. The 6 CIMCO Instructional videos are:

  1. CIMCO Editor Training video 1 – Edit Standard
  2. CIMCO Editor Training video 2 – Edit Professional
  3. CIMCO Editor Training video 3 – Backplot
  4. CIMCO Editor Training video 4 – DNC transmission
  5. CIMCO Editor Training video 5 – Mazatrol viewer
  6. CIMCO Editor Training video 6 – CNC-Calc

If you prefer you can watch all 6 training videos without interruption:

 

Other Guides and CIMCO Edit Resources

Here are some other resources we have available for CIMCO Editor.

Have Questions about CIMCO Edit? Let us know!

Do you have questions for us? Use the comments below, call us at 925-272-0384 or use our contact page for more methods. If you found this useful please subscribe so you never miss an update from this site.

The post CIMCO Editor Training and Educational Resources appeared first on Managed Solutions.

How to Install your CIMCO License Key

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You’ve purchased a CIMCO product and now you are ready to setup your license key file. In this guide we’ll cover the following:

  • Selecting your Licensing Options
  • Installing your CIMCO License Key File with a license server
  • Installing your CIMCO License Key File on a single computer.

Selecting your CIMCO Licensing Options

For starters you should know there are a limited number of options for CIMCO licensing. Our article will be specific to the North American market, overseas customers will note that the hardware dongle option is lacking in this guide. There are three basic parameters for licenses in the US Market, the market we service:

  1. License Server
  2. Activation Based (local key file)
  3. License for CIMCO PDM

When to Purchase the CIMCO License Server Option

If you want to run CIMCO software using a “concurrent” license, that is a license that is checked out at the time of use then you will require a CIMCO License server. This option adds roughly $175 to the purchase cost of your CIMCO Product. If you have only CIMCO Editor licenses, there is a requirement of 3 seats to add the license server option. The license server is available for any quantity of the following products:

  • CIMCO DNC Max Server
  • CIMCO DNC Max Client
  • CIMCO NC-Base Server
  • CIMCO MDC-Max Client

The license server is great because it gives you the option to get the most out of the licenses you have. For example on a typical DNC Max setup you might have 2 clients. One client is running all the time on the shop floor for operators to send programs while another seat floats and the administrator accesses it for managing the system. The administrator may access the client on several different computers to give maximum flexibility.

When to choose a local key file

If you have a one to one ratio of computers to software features you wish to run, a local key file is a great option. You buy a license for each seat or computer, and install that license on each computer. The computer will not need to be connected to the network with the license server installed in order to run. This is the most “bullet proof” option. There is nothing extra, it’s very simple and once in place it will work as long as the computer does once activated.

Licensing CIMCO PDM

CIMCO Production Data Management (PDM) has it’s own built in license server and while the key file you use for it can be shared with other products CIMCO PDM does not work with the CIMCO License Server as of the publication of this guide. Use the copy and rename method (below) for CIMCO PDM installations.

Installation Guides

Installing your license server.

Access CIMCO License Server Help/FAQ

Installing your CIMCO (Local) License Key File

There are two basic options for installing a CIMCO License Keyfile on a local computer:

  1. Click method.
  2. Copy and rename method.
Click Method

After you install your CIMCO Product and we have delivered your temporary or permanent key file. You can now double click to install the license key. This will open the CIMCO License Key Manager. Click on the Install Keyfile button to complete the installation then restart your CIMCO product.

Copy and Rename Method

You can also browse to the directory of the CIMCO product you would like to install the key file under. This is typically something like C:\cimco\cimcoedit7 or C:\cimco\dncmax7. Once you find that directory copy the key file to that folder. If there is an existing license.key in the folder you should rename it to license.old. You will then rename the new license file to license.key and restart your CIMCO product.

Verifying your License

Once installed run the CIMCO product and click the help/about menu option in the upper right corner of the application window. That should bring up a image that looks something like this, with your licensee information:

Confirm your company information

Box showing licensee of CIMCO Product

If your information is displayed correctly then you have successfully installed your license. If you need help feel free to contact us at 925-272-0384 or through our support page for assistance.

The post How to Install your CIMCO License Key appeared first on Managed Solutions.

DNC Communications Software Pricing Guide

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No Gimmicks

Image via Justus Thane

Do you find it frustrating when you’re getting serious about purchasing something, but you’re unable to find pricing online? You see catchy little things “call us for the best price!” and other gimmicks. Maybe you’re not really ready to talk to someone, you just want to get a general idea? This pricing guide will give you a good starting point if you’re considering a DNC Communications System.

What does a DNC Communication Software system do?

Most of you reading this will probably already know, but DNC Communications software allows you to send and receive programs to and from CNC Machine Tools. This can be done via serial or ethernet (wired or wireless). The main advantage of DNC Software such as CIMCO DNC Max is to give you a lot of flexibility and control over how the communications occur.

DNC Max solves the problem of reliably getting NC files to your CNC machines using serial, Ethernet, or even drip feeding.

What components go into a DNC System?

In order to give a good breakdown of cost it’s important to determine the parts that go into it. A complete DNC system involves the following components:

  • Serial Hardware
  • Cabling
  • Software
  • Installation

Serial Hardware

Serial hardware is necessary for a DNC Max server when the CNC controls only have serial ports for communications requires a way for that serial port to be accessible from the DNC server. The basic serial hardware options commonly used for DNC Max today are:

  • Interface Card + “Octopus” Cable (Hardware inside the server machine with external cable with multiple RS-232 connectors)
  • Serial Hub (1 Ethernet Port to Many Serial Ports)
  • Ethernet or Wireless to Serial Device (Such as Moxa NPort)

Pretty much anything that creates a reliable RS-232 based com port should work, but you should talk to your software vendor to find out what products they recommend. The option that will work best has a lot to do with how your environment is laid out. If you have pre-existing switch boxes, an interface card or serial hub should give you the best value. If you have nothing in place, it’s best to run Ethernet cabling or wifi to serial devices at each control. If you are planning to do Machine Data Collection, you will most likely want Ethernet wiring in place to accommodate signal gathering.

Serial Hardware Pricing

Interface Cards will run approximately $30-40 per port. Realize there are limitations with this option, for example we don’t generally recommend it for more than 8 machines.

Serial Hubs can vary greatly in cost, though typically they run about $70-90 per port and are most often either 8 or 16 ports. Keep in mind you will still need serial cabling between the hub and your CNC machines RS-232 port.

Ethernet or Wireless Serial Devices are the most expensive, at $100-200 per port. The advantage is that some devices you won’t need to install any drivers as DNC-Max can communicate directly with it.

Cabling

If your shop floor is already wired for serial and/or Ethernet you are likely to save quite a bit of money implementing a DNC System. If no wiring is in place you will need to determine based on the capabilities of your CNC Control whether Serial or Ethernet cabling makes sense. Many machines with an Ethernet port work quite easily with just Ethernet cabling in the shop connected directly to the machine. CIMCO DNC Max can still manage and handle communications with these machines. If you have older controls on your CNC machines you probably require serial communications and in turn serial cabling. Generally we recommend that if nothing is in place the best solution is to run Ethernet to each control, that way you have maximum flexibility. If you have a serial based machine you can just use the Ethernet to Serial device right at the control. If you have Ethernet based machines, you can just plug directly into the network. If you for some reason need to use both there are some other options available and we will address them at some future point, but you can always call or email us with questions about that.

Cabling Pricing

Ethernet Cabling comes in different qualities depending on your environment. If you require plenum rated or shielded (high electromagnetic interference environments) cable your raw material cost for cable will run 100-150% more. The distance (Ethernet limit is 100 meters) and type of cable (Cat5, Cat5e, Cat6) also influences this figure. The environment the cable must be run in also can contribute, so the range is quite significant. Expect to spend somewhere in the $100-$400 range per drop. Keep in mind that even basic Cat5 cable is sufficient to handle DNC Communications, so don’t over-spend on the best cable unless you need it for something else.

Serial Cabling also comes in different varieties including shielded and non-shielded, plenum and non-plenum. In good conscience it is difficult for us to recommend this type of cabling unless it is already in place. Performance with RS-232 cabling is heavily influenced by the length of the cable, whereas Ethernet is reliable up to the full 100 meters when installed properly. If you have an existing RS-232 infrastructure and you just need to add a few more drops, expect to spend somewhere in the $200-$300 range per drop. You can also get pre-fab serial cables with custom ends to fit your environment for $1-2/foot + $5-10 per connector (if non-standard) to install yourself.

Software Pricing

A very basic DNC System consists of the DNC Server Software w/ a single client, one or more ports (one for each machine) + maintenance. Expect to spend in the neighborhood of $400-1,200 for the base system and $100-$200 for each additional port, depending on the product you select. A base line single port/server/client CIMCO DNC Max system is $550 + $165 for each additional port (1 port per CNC Machine). Also if you want to get product updates, plan to spend about 10% per year for software maintenance. If you’re not sure if you need software maintenance you can check out our article - How Does CIMCO Software Maintenance Work.

Installation Cost

There are three installation options and any of the three might be the best fit for you.

  • Self Install
  • Remote Install
  • Turn-Key

Self Installation of a DNC Communications system does require advanced knowledge and great phone/Email support from the vendor. A number of our customers have chosen to go this route. If you have strong IT and a good understanding of the communications parameters it is possible to self install. Keep in mind it might take a lot of time to become familiar with everything, so plan accordingly. This costs you the salary of your staff and any lost productivity, which could be significant.

Remote Installation of a DNC Communications system is a very good option. This is great if you already know the parameters of your machines and have cabling setup or the ability to do so. In some cases we pre-configure all the hardware and provide a DNC Max configuration based on parameters provided by our customers. Expect to spend $50-$150 per machine for a remote install.

Turn Key Installations of DNC Communications systems take a lot of the burden off your staff and places outside technicians on your shop floor to set everything up for you. Generally this involves some pre-requisite steps be taken care of such as Ethernet run to each control. Expect to spend $200-$500 plus travel and lodging expenses for a turn key DNC installation. The volume and type of machines can influence this figure a lot.

Ready to Talk About a DNC System?

We hope that you got a lot out of this article. If you’re just kicking tires and trying to get some basic idea of costs, hopefully we eased your frustration without forcing you to request a quote. However if you are interested in taking the next steps with a DNC system, don’t hesitate to call us at 925-272-0384, we’d love to hear more about what you do and how we can help you do it better.

The post DNC Communications Software Pricing Guide appeared first on Managed Solutions.

What CIMCO Editor Options do I Need?

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CIMCO Editor is a very powerful tool that no CNC Programmer should be without. There are actually two versions of the editor – standard and professional, you can view the differences here. The main difference is that the professional version adds backplot and advanced NC functions such as NC Assistance ant macros, mirror, rotate, toolpath statistics, etc.

Additionally there are four options related to CIMCO Edit (either version):

  1. CNC Calc (Simple 2D Cad/Cam)
  2. Mazatrol Mill and Turn Viewers
  3. Communications Port
  4. License Server

Extend your CIMCO Editor Investment with CNC Calc

Do you ever have a need for minor editing closer to the shop floor or beyond your CAM system? If so you may be a candidate for the CNC-Calc option for CIMCO Editor. CNC-Calc is actually designed for people who are not trained to utilize advanced CAD/CAM software, making it a great choice for closer to production editing.

CAD/CAM Systems are Expensive – CNC-Calc is Not

If you are a small shop and unable to afford a CAD/CAM system such as Mastercam, Solidworks/cam or Esprit, etc, then CNC-Calc may be a good option for you. A single seat costs $500 as an add-on to CIMCO Editor, allowing you to start drawing contours, lines, circles and even circle tangents to three elements.

Save Time with Mazatrol Mill and Turn Viewers

If you utilize Mazak CNC Mills or Lathes you will find that the Mazatrol Viewer for CIMCO Editor is a great option. Imagine the time savings you can realize by being able to view and verify your Mazak programs from the convenience of your desk. The first Mazatrol viewer for CIMCO Editor costs $500 and the second is $250, this can be either a single Mill ($500), single Turn ($500) or Mill+Turn ($750). Download Mazatrol Viewer Brochure.

Easy CNC Communications Including Drip Feeding

Many of our customers use CIMCO Editor as either their primary or backup DNC Communications system. If you just need basic RS-232 communications, you can easily accomplish this with the communications port option for CIMCO Editor. Add a single port to your CIMCO Editor for $100. If you’re not sure if CIMCO Editor or DNC Max are the right program for your needs, check out our article Edit or DNC Max – Which do I need?.

Share 3 or More CIMCO Editor Licenses on 3 or More Computers

If you have a large number of client computers or a minimum of 3, then the license server is a great option. It allows you to run your 3+ seats of CIMCO Editor on any number of computers. Each time you open an editor you will use up one of the available licenses. Learn more about CIMCO License Options.

Get Help with CIMCO Editor Options

If you have questions about any of these options or would like a detailed quote give us a call at 925-272-0384 or try us through our contact form. We are here to help.

The post What CIMCO Editor Options do I Need? appeared first on Managed Solutions.

Backing up CIMCO DNC Max

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Not keeping good backups can place your business in peril. Your CIMCO DNC Max communications system is part of the revenue/production process so it’s very critical to be able to easily recover from a server failure. There is a way to easily generate a backup that can be used to restore your configuration in the event of an accidental modification, hardware failure or other catastrophic event with the server hosting the software.

Backing up DNC Max Server

In order to backup your DNC Max Server configuration, run the DNC Max Client. From within the client choose the “Setup” option the “Backup Server Configuration” as pictured:

Select the option "Backup Server Configuration"

Select the option “Backup Server Configuration”

Save the resulting file in a safe location, at any point you can use that file to restore the DNC Max Configuration to an existing or new installation.

Other Considerations for Backing up CIMCO DNC Max

Keep in mind that CIMCO DNC Max may not be the only critical product running on your server. Be sure to account for all other products CIMCO or otherwise. One nice thing about most of the CIMCO Products is that there are no registry entries. That means that as long as none of the files are in use, you can backup the directory for easy restoration in the future without having to go through the installation process. There are situations where this is not enough, such as if you are running a license server, NC-Base, CIMCO PDM or MDC-Max. Consult your CIMCO Reseller before finalizing your business continuity planning for your CIMCO Software. Alternatively you can always contact us to discuss your setup and if we can’t help you we’ll certainly try to get you pointed in the right direction.

The post Backing up CIMCO DNC Max appeared first on Managed Solutions.


How to Enable Solidworks Preview in CIMCO PDM

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You may already know that CIMCO PDM integrates incredibly well with Mastercam. Something you might not be aware of is that CIMCO PDM allows you to preview many other formats including .sldprt without having to have CAD software installed. This feature must be enabled to work, the purpose of this article is to demonstrate how to enable the solidworks CAD file or .sldprt in CIMCO PDM Client.

Step by Step Instructions – Solid Works .sldprt preview in CIMCO PDM

There are just a few steps to enable this feature on current Windows (XP, Vista, 7, 8):

  1. Access an elevated permissions Command Prompt
  2. Change directories to get to the proper PDM folder
  3. Register the Solidworks Viewer DLL

Step 1 – Access an elevated permissions Command Prompt

Through the start menu, type “CMD” without the quotation marks. On Windows 7/8 you will need to right click and choose “run as administrator” as pictured:
Run as Administrator

Steps 2-3, Change Directories and Register Solidworks Viewer DLL

In the image below you will see the results of this series of commands typed into the command prompt:

Commands you need to type to access and register the dll
cd\
cd cimco\pdm6\utils
regsvr32.exe SW_ExtractBitmap.dll

Which results in:
Results

Now you will see the .sldprt previews in CIMCO PDM:
Solid Works Solid Part Preview in CIMCO PDM

If you came here looking for sales or demo information about CIMCO PDM, we have a product page setup. Or if you’re like us and just prefer to ask questions over the phone give us a call at 925-272-0384. We’re happy to discuss your needs.

The post How to Enable Solidworks Preview in CIMCO PDM appeared first on Managed Solutions.

Visit CIMCO at IMTS for Show Specials

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Planning to be at IMTS? If so make sure you drop by the CIMCO booth and get your card swiped to secure special show pricing. Tell them that Joe from Managed Solutions sent you. Special pricing will be available for the following products:

CIMCO is already a top quality product at a very competitive price, but we want to make sure our customers and friends score the best pricing available.

Have a great time at the IMTS show and contact us if you want to make an appointment to meet with any of our engineers or product specialists that will be on hand.

CIMCO at IMTS 2014

The post Visit CIMCO at IMTS for Show Specials appeared first on Managed Solutions.

Keep CIMCO Editor Licenses Available with Auto Close

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Imagine you’re the last person working, everyone else has gone home for the day. You need to do some last minute verification of your G-Code by backplotting the program in CIMCO Editor. You double click the shortcut to launch CIMCO Editor only to get an error that all licenses are in use. Your co-workers locked their computers but left CIMCO Editor running, tying up a license. You have two options:

  1. Go Home
  2. Call the IT guy on call

Maybe going home isn’t quite the best option, if you’re staying late it probably means you’re doing something important. Calling the IT guy on call has risks, some of them are really helpful but others might be less enthusiastic about helping you with this “emergency”. What if there was a third option, users who leave editors open get auto-closed after a pre-determined inactivity period? The good news is this option now exists in the CIMCO Editor general configuration. Before you go and check the box to enable this feature, let’s understand what it does more thoroughly.

How does it work?

When the pre-determined time in minutes of inactivity is met, the CIMCO Editor automatically closes. This frees up the license on your license server, should you be using one.

What about any un-saved work?

All files are saved except untitled or CNC-Calc files with changes.

How do I enable Auto Close in CIMCO Edit Professional?

It’s really easy, click the Global Setup option in the Editor and then check the box that says “Exit editor and save files when inactive”. Specify the amount of inactivity time you wish for this to occur and click “Ok” to close the menu.
autocloseeditor

Best Practice: Close and re-open the Editor as a precaution any time you make changes to the configuration.

We Want Your CIMCO Software Tips!

Have a tip to share with other users of CIMCO Editor or other products? Share your expertise with the world by submitting your tip. We’ll share these tips and even give you credit for it if you like the publicity.

The post Keep CIMCO Editor Licenses Available with Auto Close appeared first on Managed Solutions.

CIMCO MDM – Professional Manufacturing Data Management

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CIMCO MDMCIMCO PDM is now known as CIMCO MDM or Manufacturing Data Management to reflect the significant improvements and capability enhancements to the platform. CIMCO MDM is a paperless manufacturing system that helps you securely store and manage your production related materials including CAD/CAM files, CNC Programs, tool lists, quality control documents, images, setup sheets and any other relevant files. Using a true client server application you have access and control of everything, right at your fingertips, anywhere in your facilities.

The CIMCO Product suite is a diverse set of software tools that allow you to manage, communicate, monitor, program and verify your nc data. CIMCO MDM can be used in conjunction with other CIMCO products such as DNC Max, MDC Max, and CIMCO Editor. There are previews for many CAD/CAM file types, images, PDF files as well as customized applications for any file type.

CIMCO MDM goes well beyond the typical PDM software that is currently in the market place. See for yourself, call or contact us to arrange a demo, or make a detailed inquiry online.

The post CIMCO MDM – Professional Manufacturing Data Management appeared first on Managed Solutions.

CIMCO Editor Bookmarks Feature

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You probably need to edit NC code from time to time, or maybe you’re just a wizard with g-code and like to write programs manually. If you use CIMCO Editor you might use features such as the NC-Assistant to generate or modify complex M or G codes. What do you do though if you are editing a very large file and you find a few areas you want to come back to? Until now you could jot down the line number on a piece of note paper, or search for the code, but now there is a much simpler solution – bookmarks for CIMCO Editor.

Acquiring the Update

Don’t see the bookmarks feature in your version of CIMCO Editor? This feature became available in build 7.20.02 in January of 2015. If it’s missing, you probably need to upgrade. The first step is to make sure your maintenance is active. You can do this by accessing the help menu in the upper right hand corner and choosing “about”. That will result in a screen that tells you how long your maintenance is valid or if it is expired. Once you’ve confirmed your maintenance is active, the simplest way to download the latest update of CIMCO Editor is using the same help menu in the upper right corner and choose “Download Latest Version”. If your version doesn’t offer this link, you can use our CIMCO Editor demo form to download the latest version. Once you have and install the latest version you can move along to the next step.

Accessing the Bookmark Feature in CIMCO Editor Professional

Now that your CIMCO Editor is up to date, you should see an added menu at the top right of the window:

New Bookmark Menu CIMCO Editor

Now you have the ability to drop bookmarks into your open NC files. These bookmarks are saved in the Editor so the next time the file is opened you will have access to them. The buttons are fairly self explanatory and if your hands on you can probably just start playing with the feature now and quickly figure it out.

Utilizing the Bookmark Feature in CIMCO Editor Professional

So you’re an engineer I see, going to finish reading the article. Good deal. The buttons have corresponding features as described below this paragraph. You’ll notice we’re starting right to left through the menu because the Toggle Bookmark button is a requisite for the rest to work.

Toggle Bookmark

This button inserts a bookmark at a highlighted line in the editor window. In the example below line 332 was selected and toggle bookmark or the F2 keyboard key was depressed. This brings up an indicator window that lets you confirm this is where you want the bookmark:

Toggle Bookmark - Verify and Add

Once confirmed by clicking add, your bookmark indicator will now show up for the corresponding line number:

Bookmark Indicator at Line 332

Once you have one or more bookmarks associated with the NC program, you will then be able to use the other features.

Goto Previous and Goto Next

These options allow you to quickly navigate up and down the NC program. They will seek the next bookmark above or below the highlighted line you have selected. If you prefer to use keyboard shortcuts you can use F5 for Go to Next or Shift+F5 for Go to Previous.

Toggle Indicators

By clicking toggle indicators you will turn the indicator highlights on and off. If they are not being used this might be useful to prevent your brain from having to process one more thing that is different on the active screen.

View Bookmarks

This is a very useful way to browse and manage a list of bookmarks you created.  This can be particularly useful if you didn’t create the bookmarks in order and will make navigating and deleting them a lot easier. Here is a sample of the menu:

View and Manage CIMCO Edit Bookmarks Here

 

Video Demo

Here is a short HD video of the CIMCO Editor Bookmarks feature in use. Or if you prefer use the lower resolution version below:

Power User

It’s official, you are now a power user of CIMCO Editor. Hopefully this feature will save you some time on a future project. You can get more information and training resources for CIMCO Editor on our CIMCO Editor Training and Educational Resources page. Do you have tips or expertise to share? If so we encourage you to participate.

Extra Credit – Updates to CIMCO Edit Bookmark Feature

The team over at CIMCO A/S is constantly getting feedback from users and distributors around the world. Here are some updates to CIMCO Editor Bookmarks since the original publishing of this article.

CIMCO Software Version 7.20.09

* Double-clicking a bookmark in View Bookmarks dialog will now quickly 
 jump to the bookmark.
 * If line numbers have been disabled in the Editor, they will be 
 temporarily displayed when toggling Bookmarks Indicators.
 * Better handling of Bookmark "Go To": if a File has been deleted, the 
 user can choose to delete all bookmarks associated with that file.
 * Show Keyboard shortcuts for Bookmarks in the Contextual Menu.
 * View Bookmarks button is always enabled, even when no files are open.

 

The post CIMCO Editor Bookmarks Feature appeared first on Managed Solutions.

Upgrading CIMCO MDC and DNC-Max

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All software is a work in progress, similar to a tree, with new bark, limbs, and branches being added from time to time. CIMCO A/S releases frequent updates to their products and these updates can provide significant new features, to complete version upgrades along with the standard bug fixes and minor tweaks. In order to keep customers informed, it is necessary to test these versions on our equipment. That way we can keep our customers abreast of all the new features. Here is the procedure used to upgrade Managed Solutions internal CIMCO DNC Max, MDC Max, and CIMCO Editor. Keep in mind this does not address installing CIMCO MDM (formerly PDM) we will document that procedure at a later date.

A word of caution before we get started, you may or may not have a configuration that requires procedures that differ from these. If you’re not sure or need help with your software upgrade, contact us or your CIMCO reseller to verify. Also be sure to verify your software maintenance is active. This information is provided without warranty for reference purposes only.

Step 1 – Verify your Maintenance is Active

If your maintenance is expired, you will not be able to download the most recent version of CIMCO Software and install it on your machine. If you do it will not work with your current license file and either enter demo mode or not run at all. You should first access the help/about menu in the upper right hand corner of any of your CIMCO products. That will bring up an information screen that will show you if your maintenance is active:

The about screen shows if your maintenance is active.

The about screen shows if your maintenance is active.

Once you confirm your maintenance is active, you can download the latest version from the CIMCO A/S website, or via our demo form.

Shutdown the CIMCO Services

The first thing we do when upgrading our DNC Max, MDC Max and Editor is shut down the services. You can access the services through control panel/administrative tools or by typing services.msc in the menu search box on most Windows Versions.

Select the CIMCO Services and stop each one before installing.

Select the CIMCO Services and stop each one before installing.

Another step we take is to actually remove the DNC Max Service. This occasionally can save a reboot but also provides certainty that if the service is updated in any way we can be certain that the latest version will be installed. This is done by accessing the DNC Max Service Manager through the start menu, keep in mind in some windows versions you will need to right click/run as administrator depending on your configuration, it doesn’t hurt to do so every time:

Menu for DNC Max Service Manager Program

Menu for DNC Max Service Manager Program

This gives us the option to remove the service:

Use the remove button to remove the DNC Max Server Service

Use the remove button to remove the DNC Max Server Service

At this point we run the installation package. The first screen you need to agree to the CIMCO A/S End User License Agreement, that will bring up the directory screen:

Choose the directory for CIMCO Software and Configuration Checkbox

Choose the directory for CIMCO Software and Configuration Checkbox

The destination directory defaults to C:\CIMCO, you will need to confirm this is the correct location. Secondly you’ll need to decide if you want the configuration files stored in the installation directory. Click next when you’re ready. On the next screen you have the option to change the location of backup copies of files replaced during installation. You can also choose another directory if you’d rather not clog up the C:\CIMCO folder with the backup files:

Directory Selection CIMCO Backup Files

Directory Selection CIMCO Backup Files

The next step is to pick the products you want to install, which in our case is everything except the now obsolete Pocket PC Client Thanks to the fully mobile responsive web interface for DNC Max and MDC:

Choose the appropriate programs to install.

Choose the appropriate programs to install.

The rest of the process is automated, however after the installation finishes we have to go back into the DNC-Max Service Manager and re-install the service. Here is a video that shows the areas that will need to be addressed (don’t see video? Try here.)

The above video highlights the areas where configuration might be necessary, with our installation we are using the service account as we’re not accessing any network resources. After the DNC-Max Service is installed and started, the only step left is to restart any services that were not automatically started during the installation:

Start any stopped CIMCO Services.

Start any stopped CIMCO Services.

At this point we do a quick check and make sure that all the communications, data collection, etc are functioning correctly.

The post Upgrading CIMCO MDC and DNC-Max appeared first on Managed Solutions.

Windows 10 Forces Re-Activation of CIMCO License

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With the recent release of Windows 10, there has also been a side issue that has impacted CIMCO Software licensees. The upgrade to Windows 10 is causing your CIMCO products to require re-activation. If you are considering an upgrade, follow the steps in this article to prepare in advance to avoid any down-time from the license re-activation process. If you have already upgraded to Windows 10 and can no longer access your CIMCO product, this procedure still applies.

Re-activating your CIMCO Product License

The first step is to contact your CIMCO dealer and advise them that you have or will be upgrading to Windows 10 and need to re-activate your license file. It is helpful if you are on the computer with the CIMCO software at the time of the call. Your dealer should be able to look up your license and add the necessary activation(s) to your products in the order system. At that point, the text link in the activation screen will work and you will be able to obtain a new activation code.

CIMCOEditActivationScreen

Why is this happening?

This is not really a CIMCO issue, it has to do with how Windows 10 alters your system configuration. CIMCO flags this as if the product had been moved to a new computer, resulting in the re-activation necessity.

Did this help you resolve the issue? If not you can contact us for assistance.

The post Windows 10 Forces Re-Activation of CIMCO License appeared first on Managed Solutions.


Run Multiple CIMCO DNC Max Clients

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Usually one client is enough for accessing DNC Max Client to send programs or manage a CIMCO DNC Max installation, but what if you want a second window? Say for example you are working on altering some settings but still want to be able to transmit programs. There is a way now as of version 7.55.46 of DNC Max to do just this using a simple command line argument /newwin. It is very easy to do this either through the command line accessing the file path for the executable (suitable for a batch file or script):

C:\CIMCO\DNCMax7\DNCAdmin.exe /newwin

or you can copy an existing shortcut and modify the copied version by adding /newwin to the Target:

Add /newwin to launch second DNC Max Client

Now you are able to run two different DNC Max Clients on one Windows computer and do whatever you need to do.

Two DNC Max Clients Open

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Coming Soon CIMCO Software Version 8

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In November of 2015 CIMCO A/S the makers of CIMCO Software products such as CIMCO DNC-Max, MDC-Max, CIMCO Editor and CIMCO MDM announced that version 8 would be release in 2016. While CIMCO has a very busy group of developers with updates made usually multiple times per week, so called “point releases” or new versions are generally every 1-2 years and include significant improvements to the entire product line. Version 8 is actually one of the largest leaps ahead and demonstrates the expanded development team and commitment to keeping CIMCO Software products at the leading edge of the computer integrated manufacturing industry. Customers with valid maintenance will have immediate access to this version when it becomes available to the marketplace.

CIMCO Edit 8

Here is a current list of some of the items that you will see in CIMCO Software Version 8:

CIMCO EDIT 8

  • CIMCO Edit will get a new interface look in style with Microsoft Office
  • Will support file transfer through FTP (server and client)
  • New advanced Open File dialog with search criteria on file name, file content, and created/modified dates
  • Improved backplotting / additional converters

NC-BASE 8

  • Also support for MariaDB SQL, which will support database-level encryption

MDC-MAX 8

  • MDC-Max 8 will get a new interface look in style with Microsoft Office
  • Central Cache
  • MDC User Permissions
  • Automatic update of MDC clients
  • Support of multiple schedules with arbitrary start of work week in reports
  • Conditional disabling of MDC buttons / input fields
  • New legend in timeline
  • Extended report selection window
  • Central cache
  • Backdating of MDC data
  • More and improved interfaces for networking machines

DNC-MAX 8

  • Support for OPC signal mapping to MDC-Max
  • Support for DNC-Max event mapping to OPC output
  • Support for Brother controls (C00 and B00)

LICENSE SERVER 8

  • New License Server with new interface and features
  • Multiple License Servers on one network
  • Reserve licenses for computers
  • View License Server status and settings from any client

LICENSE SYSTEM

  • New license file format with improved security
  • New and improved handling of license activation, including automatic activation, activations stored in the license file and recovery of deleted activations from CIMCO’s servers
  • License configuration and license file placement to be moved away from program folders

CIMCO SOFTWARE MANAGER 8 (NEW PRODUCT)

  • This IT friendly product will encapsulate the License Server and has planned future features, including centralized update pushing through Microsoft Active Directory

If you want to be among the first to experience version 8, let us know and we will make sure you are notified as soon as the products are available to download. If you want to prepare for CIMCO Software Version 8, make sure your maintenance is up to date.

CIMCO MDC 8

The post Coming Soon CIMCO Software Version 8 appeared first on Managed Solutions.

CIMCO Editor 8 Sneak Peek

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Last week we shared the news about the impending release of CIMCO Software version 8. To follow that up we wanted to show you some of the enhancements that you will see in CIMCO Editor 8. For this sneak peek we’ll focus on two areas:

  • FTP Communications
  • Interface enhancements

CIMCO Edit 8 FTP Communications

In the current versions in CIMCO Edit only simple serial communications are available. Serial communications tend to be slow and many machines, particularly Fanuc controls have FTP based data servers. The addition of FTP based communications to CIMCO Edit 8 will give you more flexibility over your manufacturing environment and better performance for transmitting files to these machines. Here is a screenshot of the FTP Client interface:

CIMCO Edit 8 FTP Client

CIMCO Edit 8 Interface Enhancements

Version 8 of CIMCO Editor brings a more up to date ribbon style interface with several enhancements to give you quicker access to the things you need:

Microsoft Office Style Ribbon Interface

The ribbon may be customized to suit the users individual preferences:

CIMCO Edit 8 Customize Ribbon

Additionally the quick access toolbar may be customized based on commands that are most frequently used:

Customize Quick Access Toolbar CIMCO Edit 8

The enhancements don’t stop there, you can also customize keyboard shortcuts to your liking:

Customize Keyboard Shortcuts

Or read detailed file information backstage:

Backstage File Information at a glance

Finally, you can also pin/un-pin recently used files that you might access frequently:

Pin or un-pin recent files

These are just some of the changes you can expect, should you like to be among the first to try CIMCO Edit Version 8, let us know. Keep in mind that this update will be available to any customers with valid maintenance for no additional cost.

The post CIMCO Editor 8 Sneak Peek appeared first on Managed Solutions.

CIMCO Version 8 License Management

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Recently we shared the news that CIMCO is working on the release of version 8. We even shared a sneak peak of CIMCO Editor V8. Today we’re going to take a look at the license file enhancements and management using the license file viewer.

Convenient license management via CIMCO License File Viewer

In the brand new License File Viewer you will be able to manage all aspects of your CIMCO license file. The capabilities include:

  • Install License
  • Activate License
  • Fetch Activations
  • Update License

Here is a sneak peak of the CIMCO License File Viewer interface:

CIMCO License File Management

Install License File

This works very similarly to the existing option, however there are significant changes to how the license is stored and accessible on a given computer. The license will be made available to either a the single user who installed the software or any user, at the discretion of the individual installing it. Even for dedicated installations (no network license component) the same file can be used for multiple computers via a network share giving you the ability to update the license in one place. This is a hybrid solution compared to the old stand-alone or network license option, providing more flexibility for your environment or requirements.

Activate License File

The biggest change with the activation process is how the information is stored for activation. The activation information is now stored in the actual license file itself. The result of this change is that when you upgrade your license, you no longer have to go through the activation procedure. You also have more management and capabilities based on this which you will see in the “Fetch all activations” section.

Fetch All Activations

This function accesses the online CIMCO servers and provides activation information for your license file. This list will allow you to know which computers are authorized available licenses.

Update License File

You will now have the ability to merge multiple license files, say for example you activate the same license on two different computers. You can combine them into one file that is usable on both computers. In environments where you have multiple license files or different networks, this enterprise friendly feature will ease your license management effort. You can also use this feature to implement am upgraded license file provided when you renew your CIMCO Software maintenance. This eliminates the step of re-activating the product at each upgrade.

Thanks for taking the time to review this sneak peak of the CIMCO Version 8 License Management. Let us know if you have any questions or want to be among the first to be notified when Version 8 becomes available.

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How to lock the reset button on Moxa Nport Devices

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Recently we had a customer who had a number of ports go offline on their CIMCO DNC Max system. After doing some troubleshooting it was determined that all of the Moxa devices in question had been reset to the factory default IP Address of 192.168.127.254. This indicates that the reset button had been triggered. Once you’ve configured a Moxa NPort device for a critical DNC, bar code reader, or other mission critical RS-232 application, it is possible that it could be reset causing service disruption. Locking this feature will protect you from downtime in case someone improperly attempts to reset the device.

Caution, locking your Moxa Nport devices factory reset button can make it difficult to identify and configure at a future date. This can be further complicated if you use a password to access the device. Maintain documentation that includes the Mac Address, IP Address and password.

If you don’t currently have documentation stored, you can use this sample Google Doc sheet that is similar to one we use for our customers with extraneous fields hidden or removed.

Location of the Nport Reset Button

On every Moxa Nport device there is a reset button, in the case of the Moxa 5110 it is located on the top panel between the Ethernet port and the power jack. Using a paperclip or other fine diameter device you would use this button to reset the unit to the factory settings. This can be useful if you’ve lost the information for the device.

Moxa 5110 Reset Button

Reset button (1) location on Moxa 5110

How to disable Moxa Nport reset button

In order to disable the reset button we’ll need to access each Moxa NPort device to change the setting. This can be a challenge if you don’t know where to look to find the IP addresses. The fastest way to handle this is to download and run the Moxa Nport Search utility:

Nport Search Utility

Once downloaded the Nport search utility should locate any Moxa Nport devices on the local network. After loading and clicking “Search” you will have the ability to double click the device you wish to open the web console.

NPort Search Results

Once the console is open you will click basic settings and that is where the reset button protect is located. Changing that to “yes” and clicking “submit”, then “save/restart” will lock that function on the device preventing the device from being reset on the shop floor.

3 steps to lock reset function

Your Moxa NPort devices reset buttons are now locked, be sure to save all the relevant information.

 

The post How to lock the reset button on Moxa Nport Devices appeared first on Managed Solutions.

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