Brother C Series

C Series (C00) controls connect with the Brother Adapter, which reads the control's built-in web interface and FTP server over Ethernet. Decide which collection mode you want first — see How the Brother Adapter Collects Data — then work through the control, then MachineMetrics.

Cable: the NIC port in the machine's main electrical cabinet · IP format: 12 digits, no dots (10.172.83.1 is entered as 010172083001)

Firmware 12.026 or higher is recommended

Earlier C00 firmware may not report properly — in particular, part count is unavailable over HTTP on older page formats. Use FTP mode or a workpiece counter instead.

Prerequisites

Before beginning setup, ensure you have:

Hardware:

• Brother CNC machine with C00 or D00 control
• MachineMetrics Edge device configured on your network
• Network cable (Cat5e or Cat6)

Network:

• Available IP address for the machine
• Network connectivity between machine and Edge device
• Firewall rules configured (see Network Requirements Guide)

Access:

• Physical access to machine control panel
• Access to machine's Data Bank menu
• Administrator/maintenance password (if required)

MachineMetrics:

• Machine added to MachineMetrics (see Adding Machines Guide)
• Edge device installed and connected

---

Control Setup

The screenshots below show a C00 control. On D00 controls the equivalent settings (IP address, FTP server credentials, Restrict Ethernet access) are found in the same Ethernet/FTP communication parameter screens; see D Series for D00 screenshots of these screens.

Step 1: Confirm Ethernet/FTP Tab Exists

Access Communication Parameters:

1. Press the DATA BANK hardkey on the control panel

2. Press the Communication Parameter softkey (F6)

3. Confirm you see the Ethernet/FTP tab

Note: If you don't see the Ethernet/FTP tab, your control may not support network connectivity. Contact Brother or MachineMetrics support.

---

Step 2: Set IP Address on Machine

Navigate to the Ethernet/FTP tab and configure the network settings.

Configure IP Address:

1. Select IP address field
2. Enter your static IP address
3. Configure Mask bit (subnet mask)
4. Configure Default gateway (if required)

Important: Make sure the Edge device can communicate with whatever IP range you configure. Coordinate with your IT team for proper network settings.

IP Address Entry Format:

Depending on your control type, you may need to enter the IP address in a specific format:

Format: Enter the address in 12 figures without using "." (period).

Example: To set 10.172.83.1, enter 010172083001

---

Step 3: Disable "Display Slave Command Alarm"

The "Display slave command alarm" option must be set to 0 (off).

How to configure:

1. In the Ethernet/FTP settings, scroll down to find Display slave command alarm
2. Set the value to 0 (No/Off)

Why: This prevents the machine from displaying error alarms when MachineMetrics queries data from the control.

---

Step 4: Disable "Restrict Ethernet Access" (Firmware 12+)

On machines with firmware version 12 or newer, "Restrict Ethernet Access" must be set to 0 (off).

How to configure:

1. In the Ethernet/FTP settings, find Restrict Ethernet access
2. Set the value to 0 (No/Off)

Note: This setting only appears on newer firmware versions. If you don't see this option, your firmware is older than version 12.

---

Step 5: Configure FTP Server Credentials (Mixed Mode and FTP Mode Only)

If you're using Mixed Mode (recommended for C00) or FTP Mode (including all D00 installations), you need to configure the machine's FTP server username and password.

Skip this step if you're using HTTP Mode only.

Server credentials, not client credentials

The Ethernet/FTP page lists two separate pairs of credentials, and only one of them is the one you want. The control can act as an FTP client (reaching out to someone else's server) or as an FTP server (accepting incoming connections). MachineMetrics connects to the control, so the control is the server:

Field on the control	Set it?	Why
Server user name	✅ Yes	The username the adapter logs in with
Password as server	✅ Yes	The password the adapter logs in with
User name as client	❌ Leave blank	Only used when the control connects out to another FTP server. Not used by MachineMetrics
Password as client	❌ Leave blank	Same — not used by MachineMetrics

Filling in the client fields is the most common FTP setup mistake

The client fields sit directly above the server fields on the same screen, so it's easy to fill in the wrong pair. If the client fields are set and the server fields are left blank, the adapter has nothing to authenticate against and the connection fails. Leave the client fields empty.

How to configure:

1. In the Ethernet/FTP settings, select Server user name and enter a username
2. Select Password as server and enter a password
3. Confirm User name as client and Password as client are both empty

Keep these values short and simple. The control's input fields are limited, and the adapter has to reproduce them exactly — a short alphanumeric value such as BRO1 avoids trouble. Some machines arrive with a server username already set (S700 is common); you can reuse it as long as you know the matching password.

These must match your adapter script exactly

Whatever you enter here has to be typed identically into the username and password keys of the adapter script in MachineMetrics Setup. They are case-sensitive, and a trailing space on either side will cause an authentication failure. Record them before you leave the machine.

---

Step 6: Save Changes

To save all changes:

1. Press F0 (Completion Mode)
2. Select Cancel W/Save Changes
3. Control will save the configuration

Important: Changes may require a control restart to take effect. Follow your machine's procedures for restarting the control.

---

Step 7: Connect Machine to Network

Physical Connection:

Plug the ethernet cable into the NIC port in the machine's main electrical cabinet:

Verify Connection:

1. Check link lights on the ethernet port (should be lit/blinking)
2. From a computer on the same network, ping the machine's IP address:

ping 192.168.42.200

(Replace with your machine's IP address)

3. Verify successful ping responses

---

MachineMetrics Setup

Once the control is configured and reachable on the network, add the Brother data collection method to the machine in MachineMetrics.

Step 1: Navigate to the Machine's Edit Page

1. Log into MachineMetrics
2. Go to Assets → Machines
3. Find your Brother machine in the list
4. Click on the machine to open its page
5. Click the Edit icon or Data Collection tab

---

Step 2: Add the Brother Data Collection Method

1. Click Add Data Collection Method
2. Select Brother HTTP adapter
3. Select the Edge device to connect to this machine

---

Step 3: Configure the Brother Data Collection Method

Select Edge Device:

• Choose the Edge device that will connect to this machine

Connection Address:

• Enter the machine's IP address configured in Step 2
• Format: <IP address>
• Example: 192.168.42.200

Adapter Script Configuration:

Configure the adapter script based on your desired connection mode.

caution

username and password must match the control

In Mixed and FTP mode these two keys are the Server user name and Password as server you set in Control Setup step 5. They are not credentials you invent here, and they are not the control's "as client" fields. If they don't match the control character for character, the connection fails to authenticate.

Example: Mixed Mode (Recommended for C00)

This is a complete working script. Replace BRO1 in both places with the credentials you set on the control:

version: 2
collection-mode: mixed
username: BRO1
password: BRO1
scan-interval: 5
http-interval: 0.1

The scan-interval and http-interval values here poll the control more gently than the adapter defaults (1.0 and 0.05), which keeps the C00's web interface responsive while still updating often enough for monitoring. Use these as your starting point and only tighten them if you need faster updates.

Example: FTP Mode (C00)

version: 2
collection-mode: ftp
username: BRO1
password: BRO1

Example: FTP Mode (D00)

version: 2
collection-mode: ftp
cnc-version: d00
username: BRO1
password: BRO1

Example: HTTP Mode

HTTP mode does not authenticate, so it takes no credentials — leave the control's FTP fields alone entirely:

version: 2
collection-mode: http

Parameters:

Parameter	Default	Required	Description
version	—	✅	Adapter script format version. Always 2
collection-mode	mixed	❌	mixed, ftp, or http
username	—	✅ (Mixed/FTP)	Must match Server user name on the control, from Control Setup step 5. Not the "User name as client" field
password	—	✅ (Mixed/FTP)	Must match Password as server on the control, from Control Setup step 5. Not the "Password as client" field
cnc-version	legacy (C00)	For D00	Must be set to d00 for D00 support (FTP mode only). C00 controls use the default
scan-interval	1.0	❌	Seconds between data collection cycles. 5 is a good starting point on a C00
http-interval	0.05	❌	Seconds to wait between consecutive HTTP requests (Mixed/HTTP mode). 0.1 is a good starting point on a C00
memory-path	C00: MEM.NC — D00: _MCM/MEM.NC	❌	Path to the file for memory operation data (execution / operating status)
production-path	C00: PRDC2.NC — D00: _PRD/PRDD2.NC	❌	Path to the file for production data (programs, cutting, part count)
panel-path	C00: PANEL.NC — D00: _MCM/PANEL.NC	❌	Path to the file for operation panel data (overrides, controller mode, emergency stop)
position-path	C00: PDSP.NC — D00: _MCM/PDSP.NC	❌	Path to the file for position data (feedrate, spindle speed)
work-counter-path	C00: WKCNTR.NC — D00: _PRD/WKCNTR.NC	❌	Path to the file for the workpiece counters
alarm-path	C00: ALARM.NC — D00: _MCM/ALARM.NC	❌	Path to the file for alarms
macro-path	C00: MCRNI1.NC — D00: _DAT/MCRNI1.NC	❌	Path to the file for macro variables. The default file name is derived from macro-settings (type/units/databank); the defaults shown correspond to type1/inches/databank 1
macro-settings/type	type1	❌	One of type1, type2. This is the Macro program call control type set in the control's Data Bank → G/M code macro section (0 = type1, 1 = type2). Typically 0
macro-settings/units	inches	❌	One of inches, metric
macro-settings/databank	1	❌	A value from 0 to 9. Typically 1
macros/[key]	—	❌	FTP mode only: any number of key/macro-variable pairs (see below). Each key becomes a data item emitting the value of the corresponding macro variable

Note (D00): the file paths listed as defaults for cnc-version: d00 match the FTP layout observed on D00 controls, but the file locations may vary per machine. If a D00 machine reports FTP 550 (file not found) errors for individual files, set the corresponding *-path parameter(s) explicitly to where the files reside on that control. The *-path parameters are otherwise rarely needed — only set them when directed by MachineMetrics support.

Macro Variables (FTP Mode Only):

FTP mode can read macro variables from the control and emit them as custom data items:

version: 2
collection-mode: ftp
username: BRO1
password: BRO1
macros:
  my_custom_item: 500
  another_item: 501
macro-settings:
  type: type1
  units: inches
  databank: 1

• macros: each key becomes a data item name and each value is the macro variable number to read. Names must not collide with the built-in data item names listed in Collected Data Items.
• macro-settings.type: type1 (default) or type2 — must match the macro program call control type set on the control (Data Bank → G/M code macro section)
• macro-settings.units: inches (default) or metric
• macro-settings.databank: databank number 0–9. Default: 1

---

Step 4: Test the Connection

1. Click Test Connection to verify connectivity
2. Wait for test results
3. Verify successful connection message

Expected Results:

• ✅ Connected - Configuration is correct
• ❌ Failed - Check IP address, network connectivity, and credentials

---

Step 5: Save the Configuration

1. Review all settings for accuracy
2. Click Save to apply the configuration
3. Edge device will begin collecting data from the machine

---

Step 6: Verify Data Collection

Check Machine Status:

1. Navigate to the machine's page in MachineMetrics
2. Verify connection status:
   • Green - Connected and receiving data
   • Yellow - Connecting or intermittent
   • Red - Connection failed

Verify Data Items:

1. Go to the machine's Data Collection or Diagnostics tab
2. Verify the following data items are populating:
   • execution - Machine state (ACTIVE, READY, etc.)
   • program_number_1 - Current program number
   • part_count - Parts completed
   • Alarms - Active alarms (as conditions)

Run Test Program:

1. Run a program on the machine
2. Watch the MachineMetrics timeline to confirm data updates
3. Verify part count increments (if applicable)

---

Setting Up the Part Counter

MachineMetrics can only report the parts the control counts, so the workpiece counter on the control has to increment once per finished cycle. Brother controls have four workpiece counters; these steps use counter 1, which is reported to MachineMetrics as custom_part_count_1.

Set the counter values on the control

1. Press MONITR and open Workpiece counter.
2. For counter 1, set the current value to the parts already made in this run (or 0 for a new run).
3. Optionally set the target (shown as completion) to the run quantity, for the operator's reference on the control.

Make the program increment the counter

The counter does not count on its own. A program arms it with an M-code, and the control adds to it when the program ends:

• M211 arms counter 1 (M212–M214 arm counters 2–4).
• When the program reaches M02 or M30, each armed counter goes up by its count value (#3801 for counter 1).
• Arming is cleared by M02/M30, the RESET key, power-on, or M221–M224, so the M-code has to run in every program cycle. A cycle that is reset part-way through is not counted.

Add these two lines just before the program end:

O1000 (WORKPIECE COUNTER EXAMPLE)
...
(MACHINING)
...
#3801=1 (PARTS PRODUCED PER CYCLE)
M211 (ARM WORKPIECE COUNTER 1)
M30 (COUNTER 1 INCREMENTS HERE)

If a cycle produces more than one part, such as a fixture holding four parts, set #3801 to that number so each program end adds the right amount.

Add it to your post processor

Rather than editing programs by hand, add the #3801 and M211 lines to your CAM post processor's program-end section so every program you post counts the same way. If your post supports user-defined properties, expose the parts-per-cycle value as a property so programmers can set it per job.

Workpiece counter variables

Each counter's values can be read and written from a program as macro variables:

Counter	Count (added per cycle)	Current value	Target (completion)	Arm / cancel
1	#3801	#3802	#3803	M211 / M221
2	#3811	#3812	#3813	M212 / M222
3	#3821	#3822	#3823	M213 / M223
4	#3831	#3832	#3833	M214 / M224

Map the counter in MachineMetrics

Under Machine Settings → Data Mapping, map the counter you incremented (custom_part_count_1 for counter 1) as the machine's part count. Then run a cycle and confirm the count in MachineMetrics matches the counter on the control.

---

Collected Data Items

The data item names below appear on the machine's data mapping and diagnostics pages.

All Modes

Data Item	Description
execution	Machine execution state (ACTIVE, READY, FEED_HOLD, OPTIONAL_STOP)
operating_status	Operating status as reported by the control
part_count	Part counter (see notes below)
custom_part_count_1 … custom_part_count_4	The four workpiece counters from the control's Workpiece Counter page
program_number_1	Program number, pallet/path 1
program_number_2	Program number, pallet/path 2 (two-pallet machines)
Alarms	Active alarms are reported as conditions (WARNING or FAULT), with Brother NC codes and message text

Part count notes:

• In HTTP and Mixed mode, part_count is available on the page formats produced by firmware 12.026 and later. On older page formats (e.g. 08.060) it is not available over HTTP; use FTP mode or a custom workpiece counter instead.
• On D00 controls (FTP mode), the production counter used for part_count is a best-effort source — verify against the machine after setup and use the workpiece counters (custom_part_count_X) if it does not match your process.

Mixed and HTTP Modes Only

Data Item	Description
machine_name	Machine name as configured on the control
machine_model	Machine model reported by the control

Mixed and FTP Modes Only

Data Item	Description
program_comment_1	Program header (comment lines at the top of the program), pallet/path 1
program_comment_2	Program header, pallet/path 2 (two-pallet machines)

FTP Mode Only

Data Item	Description
controller_mode	Control mode: MANUAL, SEMI_AUTOMATIC, AUTOMATIC, EDIT, MANUAL_DATA_INPUT
feedrate	Current feedrate
spindle_speed	Current spindle speed
rapid_traverse_override	Rapid traverse override position (%)
feedrate_override	Feedrate override (%)
spindle_override	Spindle override (%)
emergency_stop	ARMED or TRIGGERED
cutting_1, cutting_2	Cutting status per pallet/path (ON/OFF), derived from the control's accumulated cutting time
Macro variables	Custom data items read from macro variables, as configured with the macros parameter

---