Fanuc Focas 2 _hot_ • Limited

The FANUC FOCAS 2 (FANUC Open CNC API Specifications) protocol is a powerful interface designed to bridge the gap between CNC machines and external software applications. It allows for high-speed Ethernet or HSSB (High-Speed Serial Bus) communication to retrieve machine data, monitor production, and manage CNC programs. Understanding FANUC FOCAS 2: A Comprehensive Overview What is FOCAS 2?

What’s Under the Hood?

Technically, FOCAS 2 is a library of C-functions. It operates typically over Ethernet, allowing for high-speed communication between the Windows-based environment (or Linux/Android) and the FANUC CNC kernel.

3. File Management (The "DNC" Bridge)

FOCAS 2 completely modernizes Distributed Numerical Control (DNC).

Axis and Spindle Data: Read absolute, relative, and machine positions, as well as actual feed rates and spindle loads.

2. Historical Context & Evolution

• FOCAS 1: The original protocol, primarily based on serial RS-232-C and RS-422 connections. It was limited in speed, data volume, and concurrent access.
• FOCAS 2: Introduced with the FANUC Series 30i/31i/32i models. It is an Ethernet-native library that replaced the serial bottleneck with high-speed TCP/IP communication. It retains backward compatibility with many older controls (e.g., 0i, 15i, 18i) but requires an Ethernet option board.