Why Network?
Tired of chasing floppy disks around your facility? Sending and receiving your designs with e-mail? The double density 720K disks used by embroidery machines are being replaced by other media in the general computer world and are becoming harder to find. By connecting your machine(s) directly to your design computer, you eliminate the need to maintain a floppy disk library and all the hassles that go with it.
We decided to network our machines for the reasons listed above. As we started planning the process, we were unable to find a comprehensive source of information about how to accomplish our objective. As we went through the process, we discovered a few critical elements that caused us needless expense and frustration.
The purpose of this article is to share our experience so others may avoid the pitfalls we encountered. The specifics in this article apply to Tajima embroidery machines and Wilcom digitizing software, but the principles will be similar for other machines and software. Our network consists of ten Tajima machines but the technology works with just one embroidery machine (actually it's easier).
Nov 25, 2018 RS 232C serial communication interface is the later version of RS232. All the features present in RS232 is present in the RS232C model except it has 25 pins. Out of 25 or 9 pins, we use only three pins for the connection of terminal devices. $begingroup$ And then there are the various versions of the RS-232 spec, A, B, C and now D is common which requires a lower drive voltage. I am glad you found peace with the interface specification. Transformer (or optically) isolated line drivers are the way to go for distance, company I worked for made a range and sold them to the banks for ATMs as the imported line drivers were not. Dec 11, 2019 Serial communication is a way for data transmission over long distances. Commonly associated with RS232 and TTL serial, it enables Arduino and other microcontrollers to communicate with your computer or other serial devices.
Tajima TMBU-SC series is an embroidery machine that supports not only regular embroidery such as caps and shirts, but also large products such as golf bags and travel carry bags. TFMX-C Series Diversified applications are available to a wide range and variety of products, using a wealth of optional devices.
Planning
What Is A Serial Connection
Like most other projects, the more time spent planning, the less time spent implementing (and correcting problems you didn't anticipate). First, determine the length of the cables needed. Allow at least an extra 5' beyond the minimum length required. Order the cables as soon as possible.
Tajima Serial Connection Distance Chart
If there is more than one machine to network, decide how to provide the number of serial ports needed. If the number of machines to connect is small, use a PCI card that plugs in a slot in your computer and provides multiple serial ports. For 4 or more machines, a Comtrol multi-serial port device is recommended. Order any hardware needed to provide the necessary serial ports.
Review your software or contact your vendor to see if additional licensing is needed to network machines. In our case, we had to purchase an additional license from Wilcom to control 8-16 computers. Wilcom allows you to control up to 4 machines without additional licensing.
Cables
Tajima embroidery machines have proprietary connections for networking, a standard serial (or null-modem) cable won't work. We found out about this the hard way. Tajima cables (or custom-made cables to Tajima specifications) are needed.
Custom made cables are a viable option, although usually impractical. Pin layout specifications for Tajima machines are available if a source of custom pinned cables is convenient. Tajima distributors sell serial cables in lengths of 25', 50', 75' and 100'. The longer two cables are shielded and are quite expensive. If at all possible, limit your cable runs to 50'.
![Parallel connection Parallel connection](/uploads/1/2/9/3/129349164/842153990.jpg)
We obtained our cables from Pin Point International, but they are available directly from Hirsch International or Tajima West. The part numbers we used are CABLE-DB9-TAJ-25 and CABLE-DB9-TAJ-50.
Rs232 Serial Connection
DISCLAIMER: This may or may not work to transfer designs to tajima's via a serial connection!!!
No clue if this will actually work with your machine or not but similar settings work very well with Toyota embroidery machines so it's worth a shot.
Download and install Embroidery Fonts Plus: http://www.embroiderytools.com/free.htm
Configure your computer's COM port. To do this(assuming Windows XP), goto Windows 'Start' --> 'Control Panel' --> 'System' --> 'Hardware' --> 'Device Manager' --> 'Ports' --> 'Communications Port (COMx) - where 'x' is a number typically COM1, and then 'Port Settings'.
Bits per Second: 9600
Data Bits: 8
Parity: Odd
Stop Bits: 2
Flow Control: Hardware
Run EFP, goto 'File' --> 'Open' and choose the DST file you wish to load. It should open in a black box inside of EFP. Go back to 'File' --> 'Send to' --> 'Tajima Emb. Machine' --> 'Via communication port'
On the embroidery machine, enter the command to accept a file from the serial connection. Consult your operator's manual for the specific sequence to use to accept a file over a serial connection. Maybe use a 3 or 4 SET instead of the 5 SET used with floppy disks. Cross your fingers and hope the data transfers. After receiving the file, control will be returned to the operator and it's time to enter your needle sequence.
Hopefully that will work. If not, you're only out some time it takes to download, install, and configure some software.
No clue if this will actually work with your machine or not but similar settings work very well with Toyota embroidery machines so it's worth a shot.
Download and install Embroidery Fonts Plus: http://www.embroiderytools.com/free.htm
Configure your computer's COM port. To do this(assuming Windows XP), goto Windows 'Start' --> 'Control Panel' --> 'System' --> 'Hardware' --> 'Device Manager' --> 'Ports' --> 'Communications Port (COMx) - where 'x' is a number typically COM1, and then 'Port Settings'.
Bits per Second: 9600
Data Bits: 8
Parity: Odd
Stop Bits: 2
Flow Control: Hardware
Run EFP, goto 'File' --> 'Open' and choose the DST file you wish to load. It should open in a black box inside of EFP. Go back to 'File' --> 'Send to' --> 'Tajima Emb. Machine' --> 'Via communication port'
On the embroidery machine, enter the command to accept a file from the serial connection. Consult your operator's manual for the specific sequence to use to accept a file over a serial connection. Maybe use a 3 or 4 SET instead of the 5 SET used with floppy disks. Cross your fingers and hope the data transfers. After receiving the file, control will be returned to the operator and it's time to enter your needle sequence.
Hopefully that will work. If not, you're only out some time it takes to download, install, and configure some software.