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ironsides
05-30-2011, 11:53 PM
Hello fellow Botters,

I have a friend that recently bought a old (2002) non ShopBot CNC router.
The Controller on the machine is a Siemens and it uses a Floppy Disk Reader for input of the cutting files. The controller works on G-Code and my Aspire software will output to G-code for a Northwood CNC Router.

The problem is that Floppy Disks are practically extinct and non of my computers have a floppy drive.

So... the question is: Can anyone point me to a solution or Retrofitter that can convert the controller to a more modern communication system.

I would appreciate any suggestions or comment on this issue.
The machine is located in Northern Utah.

George

ken_rychlik
05-30-2011, 11:57 PM
do an ebay search and you will find plenty

ironsides
05-31-2011, 12:03 AM
do an ebay search and you will find plenty

Ken,

If you mean I can find plenty of Floppy Readers, you are right.
What I am looking for is to remove the Floppy Reader from the controller and replace it with something more modern, like USB or Ethernet Cat-6 system.
I am a machinist not a electronics geek, so I may not be saying the right thing.

George

srwtlc
05-31-2011, 12:31 AM
George,

You could check with Siemens. It would appear that they may have a CF (compact flash) reader replacement.

http://support.automation.siemens.com/WW/llisapi.dll?func=cslib.csinfo&objId=45645173&nodeid0=10805535&load=content&lang=en&siteid=cseus&aktprim=0&objaction=csview&extranet=standard&viewreg=WW

Scott

ironsides
05-31-2011, 10:57 AM
George,

You could check with Siemens. It would appear that they may have a CF (compact flash) reader replacement.

http://support.automation.siemens.com/WW/llisapi.dll?func=cslib.csinfo&objId=45645173&nodeid0=10805535&load=content&lang=en&siteid=cseus&aktprim=0&objaction=csview&extranet=standard&viewreg=WW

Scott

Thanks Scott, I am now in direct contact with Siemens about this subject and things are looking up.

BTW, I love the simplicity of the ShopBot system.

George

frank134
05-31-2011, 09:42 PM
TRY GOOGLE floppy disk drive 3.5

Brady Watson
06-01-2011, 09:11 AM
They have USB 5.25 froppy & 3.5" drives, yanno :)

-B

backyard_cnc
07-17-2012, 02:15 AM
I realize this is an older thread but in the off chance a suitable solution was not found you might check out something like this. I know nothing of this firm other than I found them on an internet search.

gerald

http://lotharek.pl/product.php?pid=42