by Speedythinker » Thu Nov 10, 2011 12:12 pm
Hi folks:
Yesterday I met with all three guys in Shenzhen, Mr. Lee (programmer), Mr. Chen (hardware engeineer), and the Mr. Wei (marketing). We had a long chat and discussing how to support the DSP card in better way. After that, I did some tests on the DSP card, mainly testing on the network function through RJ45.
Before the test, I really didn't think that it's a big deal. But I was wrong, I like the networking feature after the test.
What can the network port can do for you?
1) It let you to control the machine(s) through network remotly
2) It's much faster to dowload info from the PC to the machine
3) You can network it either by a router or by a reversed Cat-5 cable.
4)
a) You can use 1 PC to control 1 laser machine
b) You can use 1 PC to control multiple machines
c) You can use multiple PC to control 1 machine
d) You can use mutliple PC to control multiple machines
How to setup the network? It's pretty simple
By default, the network IP on the DSP is "192.168.8.x". You may use the LCD panel to configure the IP address. Note, it must be done manually as it won't get IP automatcially from a DHCP router.
For case one, 1 PC to 1 machine, you can accomplish it in two ways: with or without using a router
A) Peer to peer. What you need is a network cable with reversed connection. In normall setup, a network cable need 2 pairs (4 wires) to communcte: 1,2,3,6 For gigbye speed, then you may need more than two pairs wire. A reversed network cable is having #3,#6 reversed on one end of the cable but not both. This is the same as those patch cable for the server Uplink.
Then setup an IP for the card say "192.168.5.3". Afterward, you need to configure your network card (on PC) to have similiar IP address: 192.168.5.7. Gatway or DNS can be ignore in this scienerio.
On LaserCad, you need to chose network instead of USB connection. Plus, you need to tell that you're trying to communicate with device with IP 192.168.5.3. To test it, draw something and click "Download". You should hear "beep" and you're set
B)Through router: Let's say the router DHCP IP group is "192.168.1.x" Since the router DHCP will auto assign IP to any network dervice, you may have an IP say "192.168.1.10" assigned on your PC. In order to communicate to the DSP card, you need to configure the DSP with the same subnet. In this case, you may need to assign "192.168.1.15". Make sure the subnet mask is the same on all dervices > 255.255.255.0 The gateway setting on the DSP can be ignored.
Same thing, you need to tell the software that you're uising network but not USB for communication.
I tried to use two machine to talk to one DSP and each PC sent out a file (with different file name). The DSP will save the both file and let you pick any one to proceed the job. It's so convenience and so powerul. Now, we're thinking to make it wireless.
Marco
(19:18)