This topic and its subtopics discuss interface-specific information and options that have to do with the Machine Options dialog box (Edit | Preferences | Machine Interface Setup).

Machine Options - Zeiss Interface

The Zeiss interface is used with machines that use IP-based Zeiss controllers. This interface supports both TCP and UDP protocols. Because of the minor differences among these controllers, this interface was designed to allow modifications to a configuration file to accommodate these differences without requiring a new interfac.dll. Additionally, most of the configuration options for the controller have been moved to this configuration file as well to allow for future utilities to communicate with the machine without having to run PC-DMIS.

Supported probes include the standard Zeiss probe, RDS, DSE, and Vast. The old jog boxes are supported (both the small one with the numeric pad and the larger keypad one) and the newer jog boxes (that are a laptop) can be supported with an additional IP-based utility that allows basic function buttons to be used.

Before you start PC-DMIS, rename zeiss.dll to interfac.dll.

The Machine Options dialog box (Edit | Preferences | Machine Interface Setup) has these tabs for this interface:

PH9 tab

See the "Setting the Communication Protocol" topic. The default values are communications port 0, 4800 Baud, No parity, 8 data bits, and 1 stop bit.

Axis tab

See the "Assigning the Machine Axes" topic.

Debug tab

See the "Generating a Debug File" topic.


You can find additional information for this interface in the main "Zeiss-IP UDP/TCP Direct Interface" topic.