You can make a difference in the Apple Support Community!

When you sign up with your Apple Account, you can provide valuable feedback to other community members by upvoting helpful replies and User Tips.

Looks like no one’s replied in a while. To start the conversation again, simply ask a new question.

User profile for user: ToddAndMagro
ToddAndMagro Author
User level: Level 1
7 points

usb3 to rs232 adapter

Hi All,


I have a customer with a Mac and a CNC machine with an RS232 (only) interface. He wants to be able to send text files to the CNC machine. The Mac has USB3 and Thunderbolt interfaces on the back.


Now I could go the the various accessories site and get such an adapter, but they are typically trash and don't work for beans. The customer did state this was his experience. (Mine too.)


Any one know of a USB3 to RS232 adapter THAT ACTUALLY WORKS RIGHT?


Also, what terminal program would you use to write to the interface?


Many thanks,

-T

Posted on Aug 8, 2019 11:56 AM

Reply
Question marked as Top-ranking reply
User profile for user: woodmeister50
woodmeister50
User level: Level 7
20,503 points

Posted on Aug 8, 2019 12:32 PM

I have had good success with the FTDI devices:

https://www.ftdichip.com/Products/Modules/USBRSxxx.htm

I have used the USB-COM232-PLUS1, USB-COM485-PLUS1,and

USB-COM422-PLUS1.


I was using these connected with devices that already had some user

interface built in and was just using "screen (see "man screen")" as a

dumb terminal.


The connection was pretty simple:

screen /dev/xx.usbserial-XXXXXXXX 115200


where "/dev/<your serial device>" is the ID in the "serial port"

and second is the comms baud rate. There are myriad additional

options. File dumps may be one but I never investigated that aspect.


You may be able to find other serial comms apps that will do the

job for you without having to write code though I'm not sure which would

be the best.


Many of the cheap generic RS-232 adapters use a chip set that has to have exactly

the right firmware to work. I think the chip was a PLxxxx something. Also, the

driver support was next to non-existent.

View in context

Similar questions

4 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply
User profile for user: woodmeister50
woodmeister50
User level: Level 7
20,503 points

Aug 8, 2019 12:32 PM in response to ToddAndMagro

I have had good success with the FTDI devices:

https://www.ftdichip.com/Products/Modules/USBRSxxx.htm

I have used the USB-COM232-PLUS1, USB-COM485-PLUS1,and

USB-COM422-PLUS1.


I was using these connected with devices that already had some user

interface built in and was just using "screen (see "man screen")" as a

dumb terminal.


The connection was pretty simple:

screen /dev/xx.usbserial-XXXXXXXX 115200


where "/dev/<your serial device>" is the ID in the "serial port"

and second is the comms baud rate. There are myriad additional

options. File dumps may be one but I never investigated that aspect.


You may be able to find other serial comms apps that will do the

job for you without having to write code though I'm not sure which would

be the best.


Many of the cheap generic RS-232 adapters use a chip set that has to have exactly

the right firmware to work. I think the chip was a PLxxxx something. Also, the

driver support was next to non-existent.

Reply
User profile for user: rkaufmann87
rkaufmann87
User level: Level 10
144,096 points

Aug 9, 2019 2:02 PM in response to ToddAndMagro

Something as simple as this would do it:


https://www.amazon.com/Serial-Adapter-Prolific-Chipset-Windows/dp/B0753HBT12/ref=asc_df_B0753HBT12/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=242045434535&hvpos=1o1&hvnetw=g&hvrand=16269457623584202306&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9060393&hvtargid=aud-801738734305:pla-397003917010&psc=1

Reply

usb3 to rs232 adapter

Welcome to Apple Support Community
A forum where Apple customers help each other with their products. Get started with your Apple Account.
Learn more Sign up