Your situation seems like an excellent use-case for this ethernet connectivity device. I too have been making too many trips back and forth from machine to PC.
You will do all your file manipulation inside in your house at your PC.
Creating programs,
updating programs,
deleting programs,
creating folders, and
organizing the files in the folders.
Once you walk out to the machine, press one button and all the files and folders from the PC now show up on Masso. All files updated with a single push of the button.
If you want to update a program, say increase the depth of cut, you will go back inside, make the update on the CAM software, then post the file to the network folder. You can post a new file, or overwrite an existing file.
When you return to the machine, a yellow light will be blinking at the machine to reminding you to press it to reload the new/modified files.
During my testing, it did seem like Masso only supported one USB device attached at a time. It seemed like 50/50 as to which one it decided to read from.
Unfortunately, the Masso controller on our Elite machines can “only” read from a USB device. I’m not familiar with the BB controller, but it sounds like it can pull files directly from you PC.
I’m definitely interested in exploring this. I assume that the button is on the Pi end, versus inputs to the MASSO, right? For instance, I have this unit on my machine now.
Transfer of large files doesn’t work (>100 kB), it doesn’t take much of design to have it error.
There is no way to remotely manage the files on the USB, your left with attempting to remember your folder and file names to overwrite them/rename them.
You can only transfer one file at a time
You can’t delete files remotely
I’m hoping that Mike can come up with something for sale so I don’t have to do the USB dance for my larger files and keep things organized (and avoid duplication between my computers and the USB).
Ease of transferring files is a very nice perk to the system I am building, but
the REAL benefit is avoiding the requirement for a programmer to “remember” to delete, move, or update a file. In a production environment files are posted and modified all the time, often hastily while a machine is sitting idle. Inevitably human errors occur in the process that results in real financial consequence.
How many of us updated a file, only to accidentally run the old version because we forgot to update the file at the machine? Or ruined a part because of a mix-up in files?
The fact that you can’t update a file while the machine is running further compounds the problem. It makes “remembering” to do it when the machine finishes even less likely. My system allows file updates and posting while the machine is running a program, and when the machine is powered off.
I would argue that in most cases, the device I am developing will pay for itself after it stopped less than 5 mishaps from occurring. Many cases would be a single avoided file mix-up and it would have been a worthwhile investment.
I do not have this, I would not spend that much on this, I am not saying this is “right” or “best” way. Im just saying I found this, ridiculous thing, for you.
I didn’t realize wifi USB sticks were a thing. It’s still not a dedicated ethernet cable, but I still would have bought one when I started looking into this to try.
Jim, Have you tried it with Masso? How does it work?
Does it work much like Masso link, in that you post a file to your local PC folders, then “send” it over to the USB?
They are a dying breed. Sandisk made the Connect series but stopped selling those way back in 2015.
As more cameras added on board wifi the need and the market shrunk basically out of existence.
When this first came up I remembered them and went looking for a fast easy cheap answer. That link i posted is the only new production one i could find. Otherwise its hunt down used or old stock on ebay.
I have a hunch a “spare” or “old” android phone may be a workable solution, but can not confirm it works on a Masso until I have mine…
Found these while looking around Vicharak Maypole, price is a lot better than the PLR one but you’d need a microSD card so savings could vary. Looks like Mouser sells them (link).
This isn’t bad at all. It’s only $40 on the direct site. If you got the one with a battery for another $5 you could save to it even when the masso was off (presumably).
MicroSD cards are cheap like borscht. I think the last ones I bought were $4.49 for a 32GB.
Sorry, no. I use them with my CNC plasma and my BB based OF JMan. It’s like a network drive to my design PC (upstairs) that happens to reside on the machines in the shop.
Jim, I’m thinking about buying the battery-backed version of the Vicharak Maypole to try out with my Masso. I was initially turned off by the lack of a manual or datasheet. But I finally found some very basic instructions for it on GitHub. Did you have any trouble setting yours up to function as little network drives?
Doesn’t work with the Masso controller. It only recognizes a 4GB FAT partition on the 4GB SD card that came with it. I tried multiple cards and formats and still nada. I texted the creator and he was no help.
so I don’t have to do the USB dance for my larger files and keep things organized (and avoid duplication between my computers and the USB).