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Brother Connectivity

How a Brother machine connects depends on its control series, not on anything you choose. Identify the series first; that decides the method, the setup steps and the data you get.

Brother SPEEDIO H550Xd1 machining center

A Brother SPEEDIO H550Xd1. It is the control series behind the panel, not the machine model, that determines how a Brother connects to MachineMetrics.

Which Series Do You Have?​

SeriesConnects viaData you get
A & B SeriesThe I/O kit, wired to the control's output terminalsState, part count, alarms
C Series (C00)The Brother Adapter, over EthernetFull data set — see the mode table below
D Series (D00)OPC-UA, over EthernetFull data set

Identifying the Series​

The series is printed on the control, but the quickest functional test is whether the control can talk over Ethernet at all:

  1. Press the DATA BANK hard key.
  2. Look for a Communication Parameter softkey (F6).
  3. Behind it, look for an Ethernet/FTP tab.

If that tab exists, the control is a C or D Series and connects over Ethernet. If it does not, the machine needs the I/O kit — and that is also the fallback for a C or D Series whose Ethernet port is unusable or already in use.

C and D Series use a 12-digit numeric IP format

IP addresses are entered on the control without dots, with each octet padded to three digits — 172.22.3.34 becomes 172022003034. This applies to both the Brother Adapter and OPC-UA, and getting it wrong is the most common cause of a Brother connection failing to come up.

How the Brother Adapter Collects Data​

This applies to the C Series, and to a D Series only when OPC-UA cannot be enabled. The adapter reads the control's built-in web interface over HTTP, its FTP server, or both, and which one you pick changes the data you get. Choose a mode before you start, then follow the C Series guide.

FeatureMixed Mode (Default)FTP ModeHTTP Mode
Execution✅✅✅
Part Count✅✅✅
Workpiece Counters (4)✅✅✅
Alarms✅✅✅
Program Number✅✅✅
Program Header*✅✅❌
Machine Name & Model✅❌✅
Controller Mode❌✅❌
Feedrate & Spindle Speed❌✅❌
Overrides (Rapid/Feed/Spindle)❌✅❌
Emergency Stop Status❌✅❌
Cutting Status❌✅❌
Macro Variables❌✅❌
C00 Controls✅✅✅
D00 Controls❌✅❌

*Program Header is required for Production Monitoring.

Mixed Mode (Default) — recommended for C Series​

Polls data over HTTP and fetches the program header over FTP whenever the program changes. This is the right choice for most C00 installations: it gives the complete standard data set including program headers, which Production Monitoring needs. Requires an FTP username and password on the machine.

collection-mode: mixed

FTP Mode​

Uses FTP exclusively, which yields the richest data set — controller mode, feedrate, spindle speed, override positions, emergency stop, cutting status and macro variables on top of the standard items. Use it on a C Series when you need those extra items or when HTTP access is restricted, and on a D Series only when OPC-UA is unavailable. Requires FTP credentials.

collection-mode: ftp          # add `cnc-version: d00` on a D Series
FTP connection limit

The Brother FTP server allows at most four simultaneous connections and has a single shared data channel. If FTP is also used at your site to transfer programs to the machine, see Adapter Blocked by Another FTP Client.

HTTP Mode​

Uses HTTP exclusively and needs no FTP credentials, so it leaves FTP free for program transfers. The trade-off is no program headers, which means no Production Monitoring. Not available on D00.

collection-mode: http

In This Section​

PageWhat it covers
A & B SeriesWiring the control's output terminals into the I/O kit, programming the outputs and the adapter script
C SeriesEthernet/FTP control parameters, adapter configuration in MachineMetrics, and the data items collected
D SeriesEnabling the OPC-UA server on the control, security settings and verification
TroubleshootingFailed connections, FTP authentication, missing data, D00 quirks and part count problems

Getting Help​

Contact MachineMetrics Support or your Solution Delivery Manager (SDM). Include:

  • Brother machine model and control series (A, B, C00 or D00)
  • Firmware version
  • Connection method, and for the Brother Adapter the mode in use and the cnc-version setting
  • IP address configured on the control
  • Adapter configuration (YAML) and screenshots of any error messages