Wireless USB

[Hood]

Anyone know about wireless USB drives?
Info seems a bit vague or at least the info on the specific task I am wanting it for is.
What I want it for is to plug into the CNC controller I have just got and be able to send it files from my desktop (with USB WIFI connection) so that I can then go to the control and pull the file off the drive.


If I am understanding things it seems this is not possible as it looks like you can only write to the drive when it is not plugged in to a PC or when it is plugged in you can only write to it from the PC it is plugged in to.

 

[MattH]

Only thing I can think of would be a small external NAS disk drive that has USB access.

 

[MattH]

Something like this:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/3-5-Rout...m=183291792956&_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851

Installed next to the CNC and connected to the controller via the USB port but you could drop files onto it via the NAS functionality over Ethernet or WIFI.

 

[MattH]

This might also work although I might want to be plugged into a PC:

https://www.sandisk.co.uk/home/mobile-device-storage/connect-wireless-stick

 

[Hood]

Something like this:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/3-5-Router-Wireless-WIFI-HDD-USB-3-0-Case-Hard-Drive-Repeater-SATA-Enclosure/183291792956?_trkparms=aid=555018&algo=PL.SIM&ao=1&asc=20140122125356&meid=813882eda79a4e15a7d7ade46b9db039&pid=100005&rk=3&rkt=12&sd=113422370759&itm=183291792956&_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851

Installed next to the CNC and connected to the controller via the USB port but you could drop files onto it via the NAS functionality over Ethernet or WIFI.

Thanks, will have a squint at that, already have a wired LAN cable to the lathe so might be a good option as long as the CNC can see it as a USB drive.

 

[Hood]

This might also work although I might want to be plugged into a PC:

https://www.sandisk.co.uk/home/mobile-device-storage/connect-wireless-stick

That is the one I was looking at but it seems to be, or at least from my understanding, that you can only write to it when it is in WIFI mode or plugged into the PC you want to write from.

 

[Hood]

That is the one I was looking at but it seems to be, or at least from my understanding, that you can only write to it when it is in WIFI mode or plugged into the PC you want to write from.

Just to clarify, it seems when it is in WIFI mode it can not be plugged in to a PC.

 

[MattH]

Doesn't surprise me.

I think your best bet is a cheap nas enclosure.

 

[Hood]

Yes, might work as long as the CNC can read it. Have a MyCloud here and it has USB on it but I think that is only to add an external drive to it, will check it out.

I suppose in the grand scheme of things it is no big deal having to swap files via a USB drive, it is just I am used to having the machines on a wired network so transfer is simple.

 

[Hood]

Looks like the above NAS linked to won't work either. From what I can tell it seems it is either USB or Network but not both at the same time and all others seem to be the same.

I did come across this
https://www.raspberrypi.org/magpi/pi-zero-w-smart-usb-flash-drive/

Not sure if that will work for me or not, will have to do some reading as I know nothing about rasberry stuff.

 

[MattH]

Looks like a neat little solution. I wonder how stable it is?

 

[hotponyshoes]

I have got some wireless usb extenders.

One is a plug and one is a socket. The socket end needs power but can be run from a battery pack.
Basically a usb extension cable without the cable

Range is 20m or so in line of sight with no interference.

Not sure if the data transfer will be quick enough for heavy drive access, I mainly use them for remote control but they transfer high frame-rate video files ok.

Can't remember who makes them but if they sound like they will work I will have a look later...

 

[MattH]

That's not a bad shout.
There are ones that use CAT6 if you can run a piece of cable.

 

[hotponyshoes]

Another thing I had some success with is a wireless sd card.
You can put one into a usb adaptor and have it connected to a wi-fi device at the same time.
Might work if your cnc will read from a usb memory stick?
Only problem you might have is if it only reads for files when it's first plugged in rather than refreshing every time it tries to access the drive

 

[Hood]

Another thing I had some success with is a wireless sd card.
You can put one into a usb adaptor and have it connected to a wi-fi device at the same time.
Might work if your cnc will read from a usb memory stick?
Only problem you might have is if it only reads for files when it's first plugged in rather than refreshing every time it tries to access the drive

Yes the CNC reads a USB stick and it will refresh when I press the button to look at the drive I think, should do anyway.
Will have to search for wireless sd card

 

[hotponyshoes]

Another thing I use at work is some sort of wireless usb key type thing .

It's to give access to xray machines etc so the fact it's medical probably makes it overly expensive but I expect it's based in standard tech from China.
It's main function is as a headlock but it does have storage on and all the other keys in the set get any files that are captured automatically as soon as the key comes into wifi range. I don't know if the files are downloaded to the keys though or it's just a permission token to access them on the Nas? Might be worth looking into?

 

[hotponyshoes]

I can have a look when I get home, I had a few but the range was not as good as I needed so I got the usb devices instead..

Might have one you can try it with..

 

[Hood]

Looking at the wireless SD cards it seems they are meant primarily for things like cameras so that you can transfer your images without having to take the card out and put into a reader. I can't, so far, find any info on being able to write to them over the wireless connection, do you know if you can?

 

[Wendelspanswick]

Looks like a neat little solution. I wonder how stable it is?

The early Raspberry Pi's were always locking up as the processing power and current supply weren't really up to it but the later generations of the Raspberry Pi are amazing for the money, especially the Model B+, we have 15 out in the field acting as proxy servers for IP phone systems and they are brilliant, especially when you can buy them for £29 each!
I am a Raspberry Pi fan.

 

[MattH]

The early Raspberry Pi's were always locking up as the processing power and current supply weren't really up to it but the later generations of the Raspberry Pi are amazing for the money, especially the Model B+, we have 15 out in the field acting as proxy servers for IP phone systems and they are brilliant, especially when you can buy them for £29 each!
I am a Raspberry Pi fan.

I was more referring to the software and configuration to get the USB hosting running