Thank
you for choosing Machine Link™ PLUS
Developed
by a company that knows machining...
Quick
Description:
Our Machine
Link™ PLUS software is very easy
to use and extremely reliable. Not only will it
communicate with every CNC machine in your
shop that supports standard RS-232 serial
communications, but it can actually feed six machines
simultaneously and still receive from a seventh. It
can also be used to edit, print, upload, and download
CNC program files. It is easy to configure and
supports all standard character sets (ASCII, ISO, and
EIA). It will also drip feed most CNC machines. The
software runs on all versions of Windows from WIN95
on up (including Vista) and each copy can be
configured for an unlimited number of machines.
Machine
Link™ PLUS is identical to Machine
Link™ but it supports six simultaneous
communication sessions, sending data to machines,
and can be receiving data from a seventh CNC
machine. This product obviously requires an
available COM Port for each CNC machine tool.
There are many hardware options, including
wireless communication ports. Contact us at (800)
838-3479 for details.
Machine
Link™PLUS is ideal for servicing a group of
CNC machine tools from a single computer when
some of the jobs require drip feeding the machine
for an extended period of time. While one job is
active, others can still be started; you don't
have to wait for other jobs to end.

Note:
Machine
Link™ and Machine Link™ PLUS operate
identically except PLUS supports multiple,
simultaneous sessions - the remaining overview
applies to both products.
Machine
Link™ can be configured
to communicate with any machine in your shop. It can also be configured
for an unlimited number of different machine
controls. Simply select the control name from the
drop down list box (shown below) and Machine
Link™ is ready to send and receive CNC
program files using the communication parameters
associated with that CNC machine tool.

Machine
Link™ is designed to be fast, efficient,
and easy to use. A typical session involves
either sending an existing CNC program to a
selected machine control or receiving a CNC
program from a machine control.
Sending
CNC programs to a machine tool is simple:
- Select the
Machine Control to communicate with from
the drop down list box
- [OPEN] the
CNC program file you want to send or type
one into the editor
- Prepare the
machine tool to receive the file and
click [SEND]
- Machine
Link™ will send the file using the
configured communication settings
Note: It is also possible to send very
large files directly from disk without
opening them into the editor (this feature
conserves computer memory). From the menu bar
select Operate, then choose Select &
Write File from Disk (or press CTRL+W). You
will then be prompted to select the CNC file
to transfer. The entire file will be
transferred but only small portions of the
file will ever be brought into memory
enabling large file transfers using any shop
computer.
Note: Machine Link™ can also be
used to send the same file repetitively
without additional operator intervention
the same file is sent again and again
each time the [CYCLE START] button is pressed
at the machine tool. The operator never has
to leave the machine tool to resend the job.
The [Send Loop to CNC] option is initiated by
selecting [Operate] from the menu bar and
then choosing [Send Loop to CNC]. Simply
click [CANCEL] to terminate the loop once the
desired number of parts has been made.
Receiving
a CNC program file from the machine tool is just
as simple:
- Select the
Machine Control to communicate with from
the drop down list box
- Click
[RECEIVE] to prepare Machine Link™
send the file from the machine
control
- Machine
Link™ will receive the CNC file and
place it in the CNC Contents Window
- Click [SAVE
FILE] to store the program to a file name
and location of your choice
Machine
Link™ is equipped with the editing features
you need to easily create, edit, print, and
manage all of your CNC program files. Search and
Replace capabilities are also available to
simplify making speed/feed and other
modifications to the entire CNC file or a
selected block of text.
- Click [OPEN
FILE] to load a CNC program file into the
Machine Link™ editor window. If a
file is already loaded, Machine
Link™ will prompt you to either
replace the current file [REPLACE] with
the selected file or to [MERGE] (insert
at last cursor position) or [APPEND]
(place on end) the selected file with the
current CNC program. The merge location is clearly
displayed for your convenience. This
makes it easy to combine new and existing
CNC code.
- Click [SAVE
FILE] to save the contents of Machine
Link's™ editor window to a file
name and location of your choice. By
default, Machine Link™ will write
the entire CNC program to the file.
However, if you select a block of text
with the cursor prior to clicking [SAVE
FILE], Machine Link™ will enable
you to save only the selected block of text or the
entire contents to a file name of your
choice.
- Printing
saved CNC progam files from your computer
is easy. From the tool bar select [File],
and then [Print CNC File]. Machine
Link™ will print the selected file
to your default printer (instant hardcopy
for the job folder). It is no longer
necessary to edit/copy/paste to a
different piece of software just to get a
hardcopy of your CNC program.
- Machine
Link™ will also sort and print
directory listings which include file
name(s), their size, and last
modificaiton date/time. The directory
listing is printed with a header clearly
indicating the name of the selected
directory and the date/time of printing.
This is an awesome feature to help manage
your CNC program files. From the menu bar
select [File] then choose [List DIR
Contents]. Machine Link™ will
automatically display the last directory
that files were either retrieved from or
saved to.
Machine
Link™ is loaded with helpful information
about its features. From the tool bar select
[Help], and then [Show Help] to activate a useful
help window. When this feature is active, Machine
Link™ will display a descriptive help
message whenever the cursor is moved over a
control. As an example, the below help message
was displayed when hovering over the [OPEN FILE]
button.

Notice Key Navigation : F3,
you can click [OPEN FILE] or press Function
Key F3 to open a CNC program file. Using the
function keys F4 for [SEND], F5 for
[RECEIVE], F6 for [SAVE FILE] will speed up
operation. You can run this software and
never use the mouse.
You can
personalize Machine Link™ by selecting
Edit, Preferences from the menu bar. You can
select your own screen color and manage other
preferences.

Registering your
software is quick and easy and does NOT require
an Internet connection. However, you will need
your Software Code (an example code is
shown below). Once you have your Software Code,
either phone us at (800) 838-3479 or use our
online Automated Registration Service. For online
orders, copy the Software Code and paste it into
the order form when prompted. A Registration Code
and your order details will be emailed to you
immediately following credit card processing.
Once you have your Registration Code, enter it
and click [Register Now]. The entire process
takes only a few minutes.

Machine
Link™ streamlines the process of sending
and receiving CNC programs. It was developed with
the everyday user in mind by Controlink Systems
LLC, a company that understands machining.
Thank you for choosing Machine
Link™ PLUS!

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