Predator Flex/N™ RS232 Hardware

Rugged and Industrial RS232 hardware
Predator Flex/N Hardware Overview

What is Predator Flex/N Hardware?

Predator Flex/N Hardware is an upgradeable 1 to 4096 port RS232 PC solution. Designed for manufacturers with reliable wired Ethernet infrastructure. Predator Flex/N hardware eliminates PCI cards with each hub plugging directly into the Ethernet network. Network up to 4096 CNCs, robots and PLCs to your Windows based PC. Predator Flex/N Hardware supports transfers of your CNC programs, offsets and parameters. It supports a wide range of CNC protocols for dripfeeding, downloading, and uploading via RS-232. There are five models within the Predator Flex/N family. The primary difference between the models is the number of RS232 ports. There are other differences and the following comparison table provides the details:

Predator Flex/N Comparison 1 Port 2 Port 4 Port 8 Port 16 Port
Wired Ethernet 10/100 10/100 10/100 10/100 10/100
IP4 Support Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
RJ45 Serial Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Predator Armor Enclosure Option Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Metal Enclosure No Yes Yes Yes Yes
DIN Rail Mounting Option Yes Yes Yes Yes No
POE (Power Over Ethernet) Option Yes Yes Yes Yes No
IP6 Support No No No Yes Yes
USB Ports (Data logging & Configuration) No No No Yes Yes
California Consumer Privacy Act Compatible No No No Yes Yes

Why use Predator Flex/N?

  • Network up to 4096 RS232 based CNCs, robots & PLCs
  • Surge Suppressed RS232 Ports
  • DNC Send, Receive and Dripfeed on all ports
  • Supports High Speed Machining
  • Supports Predator CNC Editor
  • Supports Predator DNC
  • Supports Predator MDC
  • Supports Predator RCM
  • Supports Predator Virtual CNC
  • Supports Predator Touch HMI
  • Supports Predator MDC Adapters
  • Supports Predator CycleLocks and EditLocks
  • Supports Predator Grizzly Cables
  • Optionally use existing RS232 cables
  • Replace rotary ABCD switch boxes
  • Open Architecture Not Proprietary
  • Eliminate walking back and forth works from your CNC*

NOTE*: Requires Predator Flex/N Hardware and Predator DNC.

Predator Flex Hardware

Predator Flex/N Hardware Specifications

Specification General
Operating System Embedded
Windows Support 10, 8, 7, Vista, XP, 2019 Server, 2016 Server, 2012 Server, 2008 Server and 2003 Server
Device Drivers 32-bit and 64-bit
Operating Temperature 32 - 140°F or 0 - 60°C
Relative Humidity 5 - 90% Non Condensing
Altitude 0 - 12,000 ft or 0 - 3660 Meters
Safety UL 1950, EN60950, CSA 22.2, No. 950
Emissions/Immunity FCC Part 15 (Class B), EN55022 (Class B), ICES 003 (Class B), EN50082-2
Ethernet Connection IP4 or IP6 via 10/100Base-T
Ethernet Speed 10/100 Mbps
Ethernet Mode Half and Full Duplex
Throughput Up to 230k Baud per Port
RoHS Compliant Yes
1 Port DB9 Hub  
Dimensions 1.7 x 3.9 x 1.0 in or 4.3 x 9.8 x 5.7 cm
Weight 0.3 lbs or 0.2 kg
Surge Suppression Yes
2 Port RJ45 Hub  
Dimensions 3.3 x 5.3 x 1.0 in or 8.5 x 13.3 x 5.7 cm
Weight 0.5 lbs or 0.3 kg
Surge Suppression Yes
4 Port DB25 Hub  
Dimensions 3.3 x 5.3 x 1.0 in or 8.5 x 13.3 x 5.7 cm
Weight 0.5 lbs or 0.3 kg
Surge Suppression Yes
8 Port RJ45 Hub  
Dimensions 3.7 x 8.3 x 1.0 in or 9.4 x 21.0 x 2.5 cm
Weight 3.0 lbs or 1.4 kg
Surge Suppression Yes
16 Port RJ45 Hub  
Dimensions 6.6 x 13.4 x 1.4 in or 16.8 x 34.0 x 3.6 cm
Weight 5.3 lbs or 2.4 kg
Surge Suppression Yes

Predator Flex/N - Part Numbers

Part # Description
60550001 Predator 1 Port Flex/N Hub - DB9 port with Worldwide power cord
60550002 Predator 2 Port Flex/N Hub - RJ45 ports with Worldwide power cord
60550004 Predator 4 Port Flex/N Hub - RJ45 ports with Worldwide power cord
60551008 Predator 8 Port Flex/N Hub - RJ45 ports with Worldwide power cord
60551016 Predator 16 Port Flex/N Hub - RJ45 ports with Worldwide power cord

Predator Armor Enclosure and Predator Flex/N - Part Numbers

Part # Description for Domestic Items
80041001 Predator Armor Enclosure and 1 Port Flex/N Hub - DB9 port with US power cord
80041002 Predator Armor Enclosure and 2 Port Flex/N Hub - RJ45 ports with US power cord
80041004 Predator Armor Enclosure and 4 Port Flex/N Hub - RJ45 ports with US power cord
80041008 Predator Armor Enclosure and 8 Port Flex/N Hub - RJ45 ports with US power cord
80041016 Predator Armor Enclosure and 16 Port Flex/N Hub - RJ45 ports with US power cord
80044001 Predator Armor Enclosure and 1 Port Flex/N Hub - DB9 port with Twist Lock power cord
80044002 Predator Armor Enclosure and 2 Port Flex/N Hub - RJ45 ports with Twist Lock power cord
80044004 Predator Armor Enclosure and 4 Port Flex/N Hub - RJ45 ports with Twist Lock power cord
80044008 Predator Armor Enclosure and 8 Port Flex/N Hub - RJ45 ports with Twist Lock power cord
80044016 Predator Armor Enclosure and 16 Port Flex/N Hub - RJ45 ports with Twist Lock power cord
Part # Description for Power Over Ethernet Items
80045001 Predator Armor Enclosure and 1 Port Flex/N Hub - DB9 port with POE
80045002 Predator Armor Enclosure and 2 Port Flex/N Hub - RJ45 ports with POE
80045004 Predator Armor Enclosure and 4 Port Flex/N Hub - RJ45 ports with POE
80045008 Predator Armor Enclosure and 8 Port Flex/N Hub - RJ45 ports with POE
80045016 Predator Armor Enclosure and 16 Port Flex/N Hub - RJ45 ports with POE
Part # Description for International Items
80041001 Predator Armor Enclosure and 1 Port Flex/N Hub - DB9 port with EU power cord
80041002 Predator Armor Enclosure and 2 Port Flex/N Hub - RJ45 ports with EU power cord
80041004 Predator Armor Enclosure and 4 Port Flex/N Hub - RJ45 ports with EU power cord
80041008 Predator Armor Enclosure and 8 Port Flex/N Hub - RJ45 ports with EU power cord
80041016 Predator Armor Enclosure and 16 Port Flex/N Hub - RJ45 ports with EU power cord
80042001 Predator Armor Enclosure and 1 Port Flex/N Hub - DB9 port with UK power cord
80042002 Predator Armor Enclosure and 2 Port Flex/N Hub - RJ45 ports with UK power cord
80042004 Predator Armor Enclosure and 4 Port Flex/N Hub - RJ45 ports with UK power cord
80042008 Predator Armor Enclosure and 8 Port Flex/N Hub - RJ45 ports with UK power cord
80042016 Predator Armor Enclosure and 16 Port Flex/N Hub - RJ45 ports with UK power cord
80043001 Predator Armor Enclosure and 1 Port Flex/N Hub - DB9 port with AU power cord
80043002 Predator Armor Enclosure and 2 Port Flex/N Hub - RJ45 ports with AU power cord
80043004 Predator Armor Enclosure and 4 Port Flex/N Hub - RJ45 ports with AU power cord
80043008 Predator Armor Enclosure and 8 Port Flex/N Hub - RJ45 ports with AU power cord
80043016 Predator Armor Enclosure and 16 Port Flex/N Hub - RJ45 ports with AU power cord

Flex/N Tips

  • How many Flex/N hubs can be installed in one PC?

    Posted by Jim Abbassian March 3rd 2018

    Up to 256 hubs can be installed in the same PC.

  • Can Flex/N hardware be upgraded with a Predator Armor Enclosure?

    Posted by Jim Abbassian October 12th 2020

    Yes. Predator Flex/N hardware can be upgraded in the field by a Predator field service engineer or returned to Predator Software to be upgraded with a Predator Armor Enclosure.

More Predator Software

Why Predator?

  • Flexible Licensing

    Customers can own their licenses. Even transfer them to another manufacturer.

  • Upgrade for Growth

    Expand when ready with more software, hardware or services.

  • 100% Trade In

    Customers receive a 100% software trade-in credit when upgrading.

Learn More

* Best effort will be made to support your machines. However, not all features are supported by all machine manufacturers. Some Predator Flex/N features require machine options from the machine manufacturer. Best effort will be made to support your network. However, not all features are supported within all corporate networks. Some Predator Flex/N features require changes to network security, configuration and infrastructure by corporate IT.