Arduino Uno RS232 Communication

Projects General Guidance
1

I have a device that uses an RS232 protocol and I need to be able to send commands with an Arduino Uno. Is there a way I can just hookup an RS232 to USB-B and plug it in the Arduino jack? If not what other options are there?

Thanks

2

Does the device use RS232 voltages as well?

3

(deleted)

4

What device?. What for?. How old is it?

5

spycatcher2k:
No

Have you not googled 'Arudino RS232' ? If not, why?

Because you spelled it wrong :8

6

spycatcher2k:
No

Have you not googled 'Arudino RS232' ? If not, why?

I have googled it, and I was curious for other solutions as the method I found seems overkill for my needs. I merely need to turn the device on and off, I was hoping to cut a power cable and run it through a relay but the controller requires manual reset of the key on interrupt.

vffgaston:
What device?. What for?. How old is it?

High powered laser: https://www.laserglow.com/BLG
Mark bite points on extremely heavy duty forging press
Brand new

7

Which input does the laser have, RS-232 or USB?

8

Why do you think you need a RS232 interface for this Laser?

Regards

9

sdresche:
High powered laser: https://www.laserglow.com/BLG

Couldn't you post a link to the datasheet? I opened two of them and could not find rs232 or 232.

10

You may visit this link for some kind of tutorial.

11

sterretje:
Couldn't you post a link to the datasheet? I opened two of them and could not find rs232 or 232.

I apologize all I linked the wrong laser, here's the correct data sheet:

https://edge.coherent.com/assets/pdf/Coherent-StingRay-Operator-s-Manual.pdf

The one I linked above is an alternative where I can just run the power through a relay.

Thanks!

12

If I understand the documentation correctly, you can use the interlock to switch the laser off. I can not find if it's sufficient reconnect the interlock to switch it on again or that you first have to switch to standby and next to on again.

Is the product that you have exactly the one pictured in the user manual? Because the use manual mentions a DB9 connector that is nowhere to be found in any of the images in the user manual.

I think that for your RS232 approach, table 2-5 and table 4-7 (sheet 1) apply with regards to connections. The USB is for communication with a USB host (an Arduino isn't unless you go through the trouble of adding a host shield and possibly a lot of coding).

I would contact the supplier / manufacturer to find out if the unit is true RS232 as it's not explicitly mentioned and the manual seems to consider RS232 as a protocol instead of a communication layer. RS232 uses usually around +12V and -12V (I think there is some variation possible like +3V .. +18V and -3V .. -18V) and the Arduino will not like that. You can also try to measure yourself; best with an oscilloscope; alternatively with a multimeter, if there is a negative voltage on the TX line while nothing is transmitted from the control unit, you know it's RS232.

Once they have confirmed that it's indeed RS232 levels and if the interlock does not work, the best solution is to get yourself a MAX232 (or similar; there are breakout boards) to convert TTL levels to RS232 levels.