VTube-LASER uses the legacy Eaton Leonard Current Loop protocol to communicate with Premier controls. The protocol requires that an RS-232 signal be converted to Current Loop, then sent to the bender.

This diagram demonstrates how a Benderlink Ethernet Module completes the Current Loop connection between a FARO VTube-LASER computer to an Eaton Leonard Premier, or EL-2000 bender control.

The Benderlink Ethernet Module can be wired or WiFi wireless (optional).

This page is for how to communicate with legacy Eaton Leonard controls from VTube-LASER. For information on how VTube-LASER allows you to edit legacy Eaton Leonard data, see VTube-LASER Data Handling for Premier, EL2000, and Velog Controls.

All communications from the PREMIER control occurs in the VECTOR 1 screen shown here.

VTube-LASER knows how to communicate using the VECTOR 1 protocol.

When you enter this screen note that the REQUEST TRANSFER box on the right is BLACK. This means that the Premier is not ready for communications yet.

To put the Premier in communications mode, make the REQUEST TRANSFER box active (green) like is shown here. The WAITING field will be highlighted.

Before you make that button active, check on the following settings:

CHECK 1 - CORRECT MODE IS ACTIVE
The MODE in the upper left corner should read "EXTERNAL MODE". It is controlled by the yellow button on the bottom right side of the screen. This mode allows VTube-LASER to control the communications.

CHECK 2 - BENDER NUMBER MATCHES
The bender number in both this menu and the VTube-LASER Benderlink setup must agree. If they don't, then VTube and the PREMIER will at least issue warnings or dialogs.

VTube-LASER (v2.7 or higher) will allow for the complete setup of all bender and setup data that can be stored in a Premier control in the VTube-LASER Eaton Leonard Setup window.

(Note: Even though this tutorial covers mainly the Premier control, this data is also compatible with older EL-2000 and Velog controls.)

Click on the image on the right to see a closeup of the Eaton Leonard Setup window.

You can load this window from inside the VTube-LASER Bender Setup window.

1. Enter the Bender Setup window. Set the bender number (at the top of the window). The protocol should show as Eaton Leonard.
   
   
2. If the blue columns only have zeros, or there are no rows in the LRA grid, bring new part data into the Bender Setup window by using the Setup this Window button on the right. Click on "Copy MASTER LRA to Setup LRA". This will bring the MASTER LRA data from VTube-LASER's main memory into this Bender Setup screen.
   
   
3. Press the Additional Bender Setup button at the top of the Bender Setup screen to load the Eaton Leonard Setup window.
   
   
4. Edit any of the Eaton Leonard Setup values.
   
   
5. Press the Close and Keep Changes button in the Eaton Leonard Setup window.
   
   
6. In the Setup the Bender expanding menu on the right, press AUTO SEND. (Be sure that the bender is ready for communication. See the "Premier VECTOR 1 Menu With Communications Active" section above.)
   
   

1. Enter the VTube-LASER Bender Setup window. Set the bender number (at the top of the window). The protocol should show as Eaton Leonard.
   
   
2. In the Bidirectional Communications expanding menu on the right, press RECALL. (Be sure that the bender is ready for communication. See the "Premier VECTOR 1 Menu With Communications Active" section above.) This action will update the BLUE columns and also the bender data in the Eaton Leonard Setup window.
   
   
3. Make changes to the data if necessary. You can change any adjustments. You can change any of the extended Eaton Leonard data in the Eaton Leonard Setup window before correcting the bender.
   
   
4. Pressing the AUTO SEND button next to the number 2. This will send the ORANGE column data to the bender control.