Applies to: DentalCAM & DentalCNC 7.08

Connecting to the machine and setting up the applications

How to establish a USB connection to the machine? How can I reference my machine? How do I set the USB port number?

This Help article is part of the following workflow:Getting started

→ → →
 
  1. Install the software
  2. Connect to the machine & setup the applications
  3. Configure your tool stock
  4. Create your first job

Once the manufacturing softwareClosed Term for the software package consisting of DentalCAM and DentalCNC. is installed, you can customize it to your needs. While DentalCAM & DentalCNC offer a lot of customization options, we'll only focus here on the most important options used by most users. Of course, you are very welcome to explore the application settings of DentalCAM and the application settings of DentalCNC in their entirety.

The workflow we recommend:

  1. Establish a connection to your machine (DentalCNC)
  2. If you updated from DentalCAM 6 or below, enter the license key.
  3. If desired, activate the automatic tool breakage monitoring option (DentalCNC)
  4. If you haven't already, setup the applications to work via shared network folders (if desired; DentalCAM & DentalCNC)
  5. If you use a model X machine, activate the designated job calculation method for these machines in DentalCAM.
  6. Customize the material list (DentalCAM)
  7. Specify the blank type-dependent machining parameters (DentalCAM)
  8. Import your DentalCAM 6 blank archive

In order to control your machine, DentalCNC needs to establish a connection to the internal control unit of the machine. The exact procedure depends on whether your machine is equipped with a USB port or an Ethernet port.

In order to control your machine, DentalCNC needs to know the correct USB port number. If you use the CAM computerClosed The computer that is connected to your machine and which runs DentalCAM and DentalCNC. with only 1 machine, finding the port number is usually only required once upon installation of the machine and manufacturing softwareClosed Term for the software package consisting of DentalCAM and DentalCNC..

If you want to control multiple machines with 1 CAM computerClosed The computer that is connected to your machine and which runs DentalCAM and DentalCNC., use our multi-machine control feature. [Read more]

In most cases, DentalCNC can automatically determine the port number without manual configuration.

All required components of DentalCNC and DentalCAM must be properly installed for the connection to work. See the Help Article on installing the application (<MadCap:xref href="GLB_CAM_Installation.htm"><span style="font-family: 'FontAwesome';" class="mcFormatFamily"><span style="font-size: 5pt;" class="mcFormatSize"></span></span> chapter , page 1</MadCap:xref>).

  1. Make sure that the machine is properly installed and switch it on.
  2. Open the DentalCNC Application settings. For this, select the following icon in the main icon bar: 
  3. Open the General settings. For this, select the following icon in the lower icon bar: 
  4. Select the following icon next to the Port number input field:

    5. Determining the port number

    • If DentalCNC is able to determine the port number, the number displays in the Port number input field. The machine references.

The configuration of machines with an Ethernet port depends heavily on the machine's network technology. Therefore, you can find information on how to establish the connection to these machines in the corresponding operating instructions.

DentalCAM & DentalCNC require a license key to function properly. The license is bound to the machine (control unit) in which the applications were licensed. Therefore, you need a license key for every machine.New machines already have the license keys stored on their control unit. Therefore, entering the license key manually only applies to machines from 2016 and older.

If no license key is stored in the currently connected machine, you enter the license key as follows:

  1. Start DentalCNC.
  2. Open the General settings. For this, select the following icon in the lower icon bar: 
  3. Open the Machine maintenance view. For this, select the following icon in the lower icon bar: 
  4. Select the following icon: 
    • A window opens. DentalCNC prompts you to enter the license code for the connected machine.
  5. Enter the license code.
  6. Select the following icon: 
    • If the license key was valid, DentalCNC stores it in the machine. If the key was invalid, you'll receive a corresponding error message.
  7. If you receive an error message because the entered license key was incorrect, try entering it again. If it still doesn't work, contact customer service.

If you want to continue using your blank archive from DentalCAM 6 (DentalCAM 6 refers to this as the WorkpieceClosed A different word for blank. When using the search, use blank (or disc or block) instead. archive), follow the steps given below. Once you have successfully imported the blank archive, you can back it up as described in the corresponding Help Article (<MadCap:xref href="GLB_CAM_Backup_Transfer_Data.htm"><span style="font-family: 'FontAwesome';" class="mcFormatFamily"><span style="font-size: 5pt;" class="mcFormatSize"></span></span> chapter , page 1</MadCap:xref>).

If your old DentalCAM version is below 6.16 and you can’t update, you must copy your blank archive (‘Archive’ folder) manually.

  1. Close DentalCAM 7.
  2. Make sure that you have updated DentalCAM 6 to Version 6.16 or above and that you have started the application at least once since the last update.
  3. (Optional) Start DentalCAM 6 and delete jobs from the archive that you no longer need. Close DentalCAM 6.
  4. Start DentalCAM 7.
    • The blank archive displays. In the left column, the following icon displays:
  5. Select the following icon:
    • DentalCAM imports the blank archive from DentalCAM 6. After the import, the icon will no longer display.