VTube Communication for Winton Benders

VTube-LASER and VTube-STEP can communicate with Winton bender controls using the Winton RD data file protocol.

VTube-STEP can EXPORT data to Winton benders using the protocol. VTube-LASER can SEND and RECALL data to/from Winton benders for full corrections loops.

Follow this guide to setup the VTube for communications with benders using the Winton RD file protocol.

How to Use VTube-STEP to Setup a Winton RD Bender

You can use the VTube-STEP EXPORT menu to send a new part data to a Winton RD bender.

This protocol requires that a network connection be shared between the Winton bender control and the VTube-LASER computer.

VTube-LASER Setup for Supravision Network Communications

VTube-LASER uses a Benderlink grid to setup the communications protocol for each bender. The grid is in Setup Options, Measure 2, Setup Benderlink Options menu.

In the Benderlink options menu, choose the bender to edit by selecting the cells in the bender row you want to setup.

Set the bender name (this is for showing the bender name in the user interface only).
Set the protocol by choosing Supravision Network.
Set the NetPath where files will be shared.
Skip the ComPort setting because it has no application to this protocol.
Set the timeout to from 5 to 10 seconds for most controls. This will give the control a few seconds to respond to requests.
Set the Part Name Match to Yes or No. If the option is set to Yes, then a mismatched part name in the data will cause VTube-LASER to warn of a part name mismatch while receiving data.
If the network location server has a fixed IP address, then the location can be pinged to prove that the network path is currently available before VTube attempts to save files in the network path.
Finally, set the number at the bender. This allows any bender in any row to have any bender number. Remember: If all Supravision Network-based benders share the same network path, then each bender should be assigned a unique bender number.

How to Use the VTube-LASER Supravision Network Communications

To communicate with a bender when using VTube-LASER, switch to the Bender Setup menu (see the navigation pane on the right), then follow these steps.

If the bender control needs to be placed in communications mode, then do that now.
Back at VTube-LASER, set the bender number on the top.
If the Bender values in the blue columns are all zeros, or the data is not correct, then use the Setup this Window menu on the right to copy MASTER data into this menu. Also, you may need to copy MASTER part setup values into the top of the menu. If your bender requires it, you can also calculate a cut length.
To SEND NEW data out to the bender, use the Setup the Bender button on the far right and press one of the Send buttons.
To perform a CORRECTION to the bender, use the Bidirectional Communication menu on the right. Press the RECALL then the AUTO SEND to fully correct the bender.