Both CIMCO Edit and CIMCO DNC Max allow you to communicate with machines but there are significant differences. A common use of CIMCO Edit would be on a laptop that is kept around as a backup in the event of a network or hardware failure, but this is not always the case. We have a number of customers who have a computer at each CNC and use CIMCO Editor to make quick edits, add small features using CNC-Calc, and backplot unproven programs before transmitting them. Likewise those same customers may be using Editor for everything except transmission, and for that they trust DNC-Max. This could be because they are drip feeding or require a number of other advanced functions. Think of it this way, CIMCO Editor provides very basic communications and DNC-Max gives tremendous flexibility. So what are the main differences between CIMCO Edit and DNC Max?
| Feature | Edit | DNC |
| RS-232 Communications | x | x |
| LSV2, FE, Mazatrol, Binary, Xmodem via RS-232 | x | |
| Direct TCP/IP (driver-less setup) for Moxa/Quatech devices | x | |
| Manual Send/Receive | x | x |
| Auto Receive | x | |
| Setups for different machines | x | x |
| Simultaneous Transfer to multiple machines | x* | x |
| Directory Monitor Protocol for network based machines | x | |
| FTP Protocol for FTP client/server machines | x** | x |
| Remote request of programs | x | |
| Logging of transfers | x | |
| Web Client, Web Monitoring of Server | x | |
| Messaging to Email or SMS | x | |
| Optional Link to NC-Base, MDM and MDC Products | x | |
| Programming API | x | |
| Advanced Send including from: line number, block number, tool change | x | |
| Simple Line Delays | x | x |
| Advanced Line Delays | x |
*CIMCO Editor will communicate with multiple machines at one time with additional DNC Port Licenses.
**CIMCO Editor 8 supports FTP File Transmission
Which one is best for you?
If you are only using RS-232 and don’t have machines with complex protocols you can probably get by with CIMCO Edit. However if you are looking to get more than just communications or have complex controls, DNC Max may be the only choice for you. Call us at 925-272-0384 or use our contact form if you’d like more information about either product.
