Hypertherm board pinout for RS485 extension board

Hi,
I would like to check if you know if Hypertherm RS485 board is just a converter from RS232 from the mainboard to RS485 (RS422 to be more specific) for running over longer distances?

Does anyone know the pinout of the connector J11 from the main board of Hypertherm 45XP?

The pinout is in the schematic

www.hypertherm.com/Download?fileId=HYP174752&zip=False

Thank you very much, in the document you have attached I found schematic

It looks like the board sends RS232-TTL 3.3V signal and the extension board and the board coverts it to RS485 for long distance communication.

I'm planning to connect one of the modules I have found from some Arduino projects and see if it will work with my ModBus software.



I'm puzzled by ENABLED pin - I'm guessing that pin 5 is either the voltage going back to the main board to tell it that the extension is in place or the other option - the main board activates / deactivates the extension somehow.

More reading will be required.

Am I right saying that with RS485 / ModBus data LinuxCNC /PlasmaCNC can act as it would have THC?

There is no pin 5 there, that is the IC.
And having Rs485 does not replace THC, they are not the same thing, so as you said more reading.

What’s the reason you don’t just buy hypertherms module?

What’s the reason you don’t just buy Hypertherm's module?

1. I have RS232-to-RS485 module for the plasma side in my hand
2. I have RS485-to-USB converter for the PC side in my hand
3. I was hoping that data provided over ModBus to LinuxCNC / PlasmaC can give me THC functionality

For the Hypertherm module I would need to:
1. Buy module
2. Buy RS485/RS422 converter for PC (4-wire converter RS422 to RS232 on the PC side)

I could RS422 converter from the office as I have Westermo MA-45 - it was used on some old projects...

As Tommy said

RS485 does not replace THC

- that means that my intentional purpose will not be filled, so I might abandon project or just do it for fun...

The interface you have is not 4 wire rs485 that the Hypertherm uses
This one is
www.mikroe.com/rs485-3-click

Like you I am puzzled by the enable signal. I wondered if it was not for DSR or CTS
It would be interesting to see if this chip actually worked. as it would save a lot of cash

I'm planning to test even simpler solution - RS232 TTL 3.3V to USB converter and see if it will work.


I need to check if the serial port needs to be activated on the plasma unit.

interesting. It should work.
I guess the RS485 adds greater noise immunity in a noisy environment.
It would be better to avoid the USB and use a UART on the PC. as USB does not like noise.
Keep me posted. I actually bought a couple of those 3 click boards, waiting for them.