SIC Marking Serial Binary Communication Interface API

The DASTEC Corporation SIC Marking Serial Binary .NET Communication API allows the user to implement bi‑directional serial binary communications to exchange data between applications running on a PC-based or embedded system with other devices supporting the SIC Marking binary serial protocol. The API eliminates the need to understand the details of the SIC Marking binary protocol and simplifying the development of sophisticated supervisory control applications using the .NET program languages such as  (C++, Visual Basic, C#, etc.).

The API supports the SIC Marking binary protocol over a RS-232 or RS-422/RS-485 serial network. This protocol is documented in the SIC MARKING COMMUNICATION PROTOCOL E8-V6 manual (NOTPROTOE8V6US - R01.doc). The API implements Version 5 of the protocol and supports the SIC Marking E8 and any other devices that support the SIC Marking binary version 5 serial protocol.

API Functionality

To exchange data with a SIC Marking device, a system application can initiate read and/or write operation(s) to the device by simply calling the assembly class methods.  The methods include the ability to create sets of commands and then sending those command set(s) to the devices by calling assembly transmit methods. Operation results are returned to the calling application via events, as is data in the case of read operations or other commands that result in data returned from the machine.

API Supports

  • One or more serial communication ports with configurable communication parameters.
  • Transmitting one or more SIC Marking Binary commands together in one exchange.
  • Sending and receiving simple ASCII text strings to and from a SIC Marking machine controller.
  • Sending Text commands to a SIC Marking machine controller.

Commands/Data Supported

The SIC Marking Serial Binary .NET Communication API client supports the following SIC Marking command codes:

  • Load marking file
  • Reset Error
  • Set File Variable Text
  • Set File Variable Numeric
  • Set Global Variable
  • Set Global Increment
  • Set Output
  • Get Inputs
  • Set Option: Shift Data
  • Get Option: Shift Data
  • Set Option: Global Variables
  • Get Option: Global Variables
  • Set Option: Global Increments
  • Get Option: Global Increments
  • Send Text String
  • Send Raw Binary Data
  • Receive Text String
  • Receive Binary Data
  • Origin

Specifications 

  • Supported SIC Marking Controllers:
    • E8
    • Any SIC controller supporting the E8-V6 binary serial protocol version 5.
  • API Supports
    • Binary implementation of the protocol including the use of block check sums to ensure transmitted data integrity.
    • Methods to create command sets with each set containing one or more commands that read data from and/or write data to the SIC controller.
    • Methods to add specific commands to a command set.
    • Queuing of multiple command sets pending transmission.
    • Reception and return of unsolicited data sent from the controller via events.
    • Multiple user applications can use the API simultaneously.

Ordering Information

Product Name:

SIC Marking Serial Binary .NET Communication API

Supported Platforms Part Numbers:

Platform Part Number
Windows 32bit/64bit Call
.NET NET-SICMARKAPI
Linux Call
Contact DASTEC about other supported platforms or to inquire about supporting other platforms.