Denford Software & Machines

Customer Writes- We’re running the DOS version of the lathe software, and don’t wish to update to the windows version.

The lathe has run fine for 14 years. The 486 pc it was running on finally died. I loaded the lathe software on a GX 110 running Win98. Now when I execute fanucml.exe, I get this error message:

"DENFORD FANUC LATHE (MINT) CNC programming (v2.12) 15 April 1994
IBM RS232 DRIVER (RS232) 25 March 1992
MACHINE installed
IBM for FANUC KEYBOARD DRIVER (KBD) 16 July 1993
IBM EGA DRIVER (CRT) 25 February 1991
Initialising MINT 3.28."

CNC Lathe
MODEL Microturn

Any help you can give would be appreciated.

It is looking to connect to the machine at this point.

Have you got the RS232 lead plugged in to the correct com port?
Try booting the PC straight in to dos.

Thanks for the reply.
There are 2 com ports on the GX110 and I've tried them both.
I tried a DOS window within windows, and rebooting windows to DOS mode.

My teacher friend was having trouble with his lathe until he installed a software "dongle", but he's running the windows version of the software, and I'm running the DOS version (and I really don't want to upgrade, but I might have to)

Does the software or machine look for any kind of "dongle" in the DOS version?

Thanks

No the machine acts as the dongle.

Is the RS232 cable correct. It needs to be a straight pin to pin one.

We've been using the lathe for 7 years. The poor little 486 pc finally died.
I put a Dell GX 110 in it's place.

I attached the cable that was on the 486 to one of the GX 110's COM ports. I'm assuming the cable is still good, but I could be wrong.

Are both com ports set up in the Bios?
It sounds like you have the setup correct.

Is the seven segment LED on the control card lit inside the back.
It may be a fuse or control card issue.

When I turn the switch, the lathe light comes on, and the chuck spins when I flip it's switch.

I'll take off the back cover and see if I can find the led lights.

There's an LED on the board that the com port wire goes to.
It showing an L, and right at the bottom left of the L, not on the L but just to the left side of it is a small blinking light.

.L


Kind of like above. Little dot is closer to the L and blinking.

It all appears ok.

You need to look at trying a different pc.
& make sure it is a pin to pin RS232 lead.

What version is the E-Prom on the control card?

Can you post a couple of photos? (control card,RS232 Lead)

The EPROM is: ESMINT/3.28V1.6H
The square one on the card is: PQ6704

The pictures are here:

https://schools.fortworthisd.net/educati ... 1194356580

Thanks

The old computer wouldn't boot, but I was able to copy files from its hard drive.

I copied the Denford directory from the old computer.

I copied the Denford directory to the new computer.

Could this be the problem? Even though it's a DOS program, does it need to be "installed", as opposed to just copying the directory to the new computer?

I don't have the original installation disks.

Thanks

It does look like you are doing all the right things.

The software should be ok.

At times with the Dos software I have been unable to connect a couple of our customers PC`s to dos machines. I carry around with me a old pc to prove it with.

Sure it is worth trying a different pc

I'm getting a computer ready and I'll try it tomorrow.

I appreciate your help

I formatted the HD of a different Dell GX110, and installed Win 98. I copied the Denford software to the C drive.

I tried running the software from a DOS window within windows. Didn't work.

I tried restarting windows to MS-DOS mode. Didn't work.

I pressed F8 to get the boot menu when I restarted the computer, and chose "Command Prompt Only", and it WORKS!! I didn't know there would be a difference between DOS mode and a DOS command prompt.

Thank you very much for your help. I'm off to browse the internet to figure out how to set windows to automatically boot to the command prompt.

Again, Thanks

Mike