replace a vt-100 with a newer monitor/keyboard
replace a vt-100 with a newer monitor/keyboard
(OP)
I just bought a used Fanuc robot that has a 25 pin D type connector meant for a VT-100 monitor/keyboard. Are there any conversion kits that would allow me to hook a modern monitor and keyboard to the robot?





RE: replace a vt-100 with a newer monitor/keyboard
RE: replace a vt-100 with a newer monitor/keyboard
Keith Cress
Flamin Systems, Inc.- http://www.flaminsystems.com
RE: replace a vt-100 with a newer monitor/keyboard
Please note that the windows (at least 98 and earlier)
terminal program says to 'nix boxes that it's a "vt-100"
type terminal, yet does a rather poor job of doing
cursor manipulation, so you might get some rather strange
output. I "think" that it's still bad on XP, I just don't
remember offhand.
I *STILL* use windoze "telnet" to 'nix boxen, and I just
live with the rather poor job of it doing "vi". Sigh.
(control L is your friend).
Seriously, if you are having problems with your windoze
terminal program talking to your robot, try a live CD
version of linux and "minicom" and see if there is a
happier interface. I would use knoppix, but that is just
personal opinion. The 'nix systems have typically supported
a DEC (Digital Equipment Corp.) VT-100 terminal much
more faithfully as a terminal emulator.
If there is no connection at all, i.e. no characters
coming/going from the interface, you might need a
"null modem". This device interchanges pins 2 and 3
(transmit data and receive data) on a serial interface.
They are available in both DB9 and DB25 versions.
Also, the robot might need some EIA conditioning signals.
Failing the null modem, You might have to put TWO
null modems together.
Usually the null modems wrap DTR/DSR CTS/RTS/DCD together
to fool the DTE that the "modem" is happy and connected.
These are high level one signals. In other words a high
is a logic one.
Then we have to use the terminal program to figure out the
baud rate, number of data bits and parity. Those are all
usually configurable from the desired terminal emulation
program.
Finally, having said all that, I too have a "vt-100"
program. I use the serial cable from my Palm 3 and a
small program from the internet for the PDA, it only
uses the "scribble" opps, graffity type input from the
stylus but it's still kinda fun. I use it a lot with
the serial interface of microcontrollers. Nothing with
an intensive I/O requirements. It's one of the
gazillion hits on gooogle.
Hope I didn't scare you off, but without any further
information, these are just some of the variables of
the "vt100" and "serial" interface that we all have to
live with.
Cheers,
Rich S.
RE: replace a vt-100 with a newer monitor/keyboard
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Sometimes I only open my mouth to swap feet...
RE: replace a vt-100 with a newer monitor/keyboard
Nah, today is the good days. Now, I can take a cast off PC
that someone has given me and throw an O/S that is very close to UNIX, AND I'M THE ROOT!
Besides, the PC will beat the pants off the VAX.
Someday I should do a Beowolf cluster.
No, I'm not on a power trip. Why do you ask?
Cheers,
Rich S.
RE: replace a vt-100 with a newer monitor/keyboard
Solaris 10 is a nice freebie from Sun for the i586 platform but the download is staggeringly huge. You should know better than using CAPITALS in unix: nothing good comes of that ('cept environment variables)...
Sorry to BobM3 for dragging this so far O/T. Perhaps you can clarify whether you just want to ditch the antique VT terminal, or are looking to find a replacement for a missing one?
RE: replace a vt-100 with a newer monitor/keyboard
RE: replace a vt-100 with a newer monitor/keyboard
Sorry for trashing your thread!
eBay might be a good place to look: UK eBay turned up a few Wyse WT-120's for comically low prices. Look in Computing and then search for "Wyse". Searching for VT-100 was less fruitful, but I did manage to find a genuine DEC VT-320 which would emulate the VT-100 perfectly for the mind-boggling price of £0.99!
Good luck.
----------------------------------
Sometimes I only open my mouth to swap feet...
RE: replace a vt-100 with a newer monitor/keyboard
I finally lugged my old VT220 dumbterminal off to a recycling center last year after it gathered dust for probably a decade or more.
RE: replace a vt-100 with a newer monitor/keyboard
Keith Cress
Flamin Systems, Inc.- http://www.flaminsystems.com
RE: replace a vt-100 with a newer monitor/keyboard
RE: replace a vt-100 with a newer monitor/keyboard
Be aware that it's usually not a plug and play deal, even if you use a real VT-100 terminal. You may need to buy/make a custom cable or special adapter in order to get all the handshake signals and phony handshake signals connected correctly. It's not rocket science, but it can consume a couple of hours, digging up the documents and sketching a diagram of the cable, etc. If you're not up to that, the folks at Black Box can be quite helpful. (www.blackbox.com)
Mike Halloran
Pembroke Pines, FL, USA
RE: replace a vt-100 with a newer monitor/keyboard
B&B sells some serial adapters and has an FAQ on connecting devices together.
http://
RE: replace a vt-100 with a newer monitor/keyboard
"Are you guys saying I could hook a PC to the robot and talk to the robot through the PC using a VT100 emulation program running on the PC? Just buy a 25 Pin D to 9 Pin D cable and connect to the "terminal" connecter on the robot and the 9 pin serial port on the computer?"
Yes. The "just" is getting the pinouts, baud rate,
flow control, parity and control codes correct.
Unfortunately, even if you did get an "original" VT100
terminal, you will STILL have to figure out the pinouts,
baud rate, and parity. So, as mentioned earlier, any
additional information that you can get on the robot
will certianly help!
Their website is not too informative as to communications
information unless one registers? Nor, is there any
guarantee that there will be specific information on an
obsolete (i.e. not documented) robot there.
However, that would be the first place that I would look
to for information.
Unfortunately, a google search on Fanuc rs232 didn't yield
any usfull information.
Hope that this helps.
Cheers,
Rich S.
RE: replace a vt-100 with a newer monitor/keyboard
Thanks to all for the help.
RE: replace a vt-100 with a newer monitor/keyboard
Think about it.. Do you ever want to use a laptop instead of a Clunking PC? Yes! So the software emulator is the way to go.
Keith Cress
Flamin Systems, Inc.- http://www.flaminsystems.com
RE: replace a vt-100 with a newer monitor/keyboard
Which bits of the VT100 emulation do you need.
RE: replace a vt-100 with a newer monitor/keyboard
http://www.fanuccables.com/
I have seen this done in our machine shop where the system programmer used a 286 terminal to program two machines that had VT100 terminals.
RE: replace a vt-100 with a newer monitor/keyboard
RE: replace a vt-100 with a newer monitor/keyboard
Keith Cress
Flamin Systems, Inc.- http://www.flaminsystems.com
RE: replace a vt-100 with a newer monitor/keyboard