The Brainboxes ED-204 and ED-504 solves the problem of multiple I/O connection at a stroke

We asked Mark Hebbard of Hebbard Limited Manufacturing solutions why Brainboxes was the right choice for him.

“Over recent
years the communication capabilities of CNC control systems have been expanded
to offer not only the traditional RS232 interface but also USB and Ethernet I/O.
Although undoubtedly an improvement from the CNC User’s point of view the
multiplicity of I/O can present problems from an installer’s perspective when
constructing a stable, cost effective and most importantly of all secure infrastructure
to accommodate both standard DNC but also Machine Data Collection applications.

The Brainbox
ED device solves the problem of multiple I/O connection at a stroke by offering a
device containing two Ethernet I/O ports, a bi-directional RS232 port and four
digital I/O ports.The ED device
unit allows a DNC system Installer to select which data highway best suits the
task in hand. Importantly, the ED device offers a future proof solution that will
allow system expansion for example, upgrading an existing DNC system to include
Machine Data Collection. Although
the ED device is extremely reliable and notably supplied with a lifetime hardware
guarantee should the unit fail it is only the machine tool it is connected to that
is affected.

Historically,
DNC hardware solutions utilise four, eight or sixteen port hubs which meant
that if a hub failed all the machines connected to it were affected too. Since
a faulty ED device affects only one machine it can be swapped out, configured and made
operational within an hour by the Customer holding one unit in stock. Finally,
although the ED device offers future proofing it is just as capable when dealing
with RS232 ports connected to CNC machines built in the 1980’s.

In
summary the ED device and its variants are probably the most innovative device
produced for the DNC and Machine Data Collection market in the last twenty
years.

It is
worthy of serious consideration by all professional installers of DNC and like
systems.”

Mark Hebbard