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T-Connect Installation Guide

So your T-Connect's just arrived — how do you get it up and running?

Add the T-Connect to your WiFi network​

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This is only supported on Chrome browsers.

  1. Go to Manage → Machines
  2. Click Provision a DataSource
  3. Connect your DataSource to your computer with a USB-C cable
  4. Click Click to connect
  5. Pick a device called "DataSource" in the menu dialog
  6. Enter your WiFi credentials
  7. Click Update WiFi details
  8. Wait for the T-Connect to receive your WiFi credentials
  9. Once it has your credentials and is connected, one LED will be on and the other will be flashing
  10. Once the T-Connect connects to our server, the second LED will turn on
  11. The T-Connect is working when both LEDs are on and solid

Install the T-Connect into your CNC Machine​

Find the machine power supply​

danger

All installation tasks must be completed by an authorized, properly qualified and skilled person who:

  • Has read and understood the information presented here
  • Is aware of the possible dangers and acts accordingly
  • Is familiar with electrical machinery
  • Is trained and authorized to work on electrical machinery
  1. Check the T-Connect for any damage. If it's damaged, contact support.
  2. Isolate the CNC machine.
  3. Screw the antenna onto the T-Connect.
  4. Plug the bootlace ferrule of the positive side of the DC cable into the 24V supply in the back of your machine cabinet — there should be many available sockets.
The T-Connect must be downstream of a fuse

Power the unit from a 12–24 V DC supply protected by a 500 mA fast-acting fuse (or equivalent circuit protection) installed upstream of the unit. Make sure the socket you use is on a fused circuit.

The unit's internal resettable fuse, reverse-polarity and surge protection protect the unit only and do not replace external circuit protection.

Which side is the positive terminal?

The positive cable will have a red terminal and is also marked with a dashed white line.

DC cable showing dashed line on the positive cable
DC cable showing dashed line on the positive cable
  1. Plug the other terminal into the 0V or ground supply.
  2. Plug the DC jack into the T-Connect.

Find your productive spindle power cables​

  1. Attach the current transducer around a single phase of your 3-phase spindle power supply.
Current sensor
Current transducer around a spindle power phase
Where is the spindle power supply?

In the back of the machine cabinet there's a set of axis amplifiers for all the axes in the machine. The spindle amplifier is often labelled "SP" or "SP1".

  1. Plug the current transducer into your T-Connect into the 3.5mm jack labelled "1".
  2. If you have more productive spindles on the machine (e.g. a multi-tasking machine or lathe with two spindles), plug those extra current sensors into the extra numbered machine monitoring inputs.
Sensor box front
Plug the current transducer into the front of your T-Connect
  1. If you've opted to also measure energy usage, place a current sensor around one of the three-phase main power cables and insert it into the E input on your T-Connect.
  2. If you're wiring the machine's running signal or a part count into the T-Connect's digital inputs (S3EEIO units and later), do it now — see Wiring the Digital Inputs.
  3. Peel the backing off the velcro, attach it to the back of your T-Connect, and stick it somewhere the WiFi signal can get out (often near the fan outlets).
  4. Close the machine cabinet.
  5. Turn the machine on.