The handle is an integer ID used for all subsequent calls. Once connected, you can poll any data point. Let’s read the current position (absolute, machine coordinate) and spindle load :
In the world of industrial manufacturing, FANUC CNC (Computer Numerical Control) machines are the gold standard—powering everything from automotive assembly lines to aerospace component machining. For decades, extracting data from these controllers or sending commands to them meant relying on proprietary, vendor-specific software (often written in C++ or ladder logic). That barrier has now fallen.
(FANUC Open CNC Application Server) is a library that exposes the internal data points of a FANUC CNC—spindle load, axis positions, alarms, program execution status—via a network or serial connection. And when you combine FOCAS with Python , you unlock real-time monitoring, predictive maintenance, automated data logging, and even remote control of industrial machinery using one of the world's most accessible programming languages. fanuc focas python
import focas2 import time def monitor_cnc(ip): h = focas2.cnc_allclibhndl3(ip, 8193, 3) if h <= 0: return
import focas2 handle = focas2.cnc_allclibhndl3("192.168.1.100", 8193, 3) # timeout=3 sec if handle <= 0: print("Connection failed") else: print("Connected successfully") The handle is an integer ID used for all subsequent calls
(example):
| Category | Example Data | |----------|---------------| | Machine status | Running, alarm, idle, edit | | Axes | Position, feed rate, load, servo error | | Spindle | Speed, load, orientation, temperature | | Programs | Current line number, program name, DNC transfer | | Diagnostics | Alarms, operator messages, PMC signals | | Parameters | Offsets, tool data, system parameters | For decades, extracting data from these controllers or
# Get spindle load (percentage) spindle = focas2.cnc_rdspindle(h, 0) # 0 = first spindle print(f"Spindle load: spindle['data'][0]['load']%")