How to configure easily Mach3 + SmoothStepper with Chinese CNC ?

[neokiller62]

Hello,

I've got some problems to configure correctly the SmoothStepper card with Mach3 software (Version R3.043.022)

My old PC owned a nice parallel port and it was easily to work with Mach3.
Now he is broken, i have bought a new Pc with no parallel port included, so let's go with SmoothStepper.
 
The SmoothStepper card is connected, the drivers has been installed: blue and green leds are lighting and of course the red led is blinking.
The CNC is connected on the port 1 of the board.

I have configured the motor outputs like written by the CNC manual (see bellow):



First problem:

When i click on OK button, Mach says : "Spindle-axis Dir Port = 0, Dir Pin = 0.  Valid pin values are 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 14, 16, and 17"

The Spindle dir pin seems not to be correctly configured, what's the correct pin number?

Now, let's try to configure the input parts (it was working with my olc pc) like bellow:



Second problem:

I need to enter some pin number values but i don't know what to enter.
Mach displays this error message:

X++ Limit is assigned an invalid input pin (Port 2 Pin = 0).
Valid values are 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, and 15

X-- Limit is assigned an invalid input pin (Port 2 Pin = 0).
Valid values are 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, and 15

Y++ Limit is assigned an invalid input pin (Port 2 Pin = 0).
Valid values are 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, and 15

Y-- Limit is assigned an invalid input pin (Port 2 Pin = 0).
Valid values are 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, and 15

Z++ Limit is assigned an invalid input pin (Port 2 Pin = 0).
Valid values are 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, and 15

Z-- Limit is assigned an invalid input pin (Port 2 Pin = 0).
Valid values are 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, and 15

Please help me!

I have passed all the day to read posts on this subject and nothing to help me to correct the problem.

Best regards

[thosj]

I don't think your old parallel config would have worked like you're setup either. You need PINS assigned, not just PORT 1 PIN 0. So first, work out what pins your stuff is connected to and enter it in the Mach3 setup, then we can go from there. Or uncheck Spindle and Home/Limits. If you have them checked, they need to be assigned a proper port and pin. The SS won't change any of what you had with your parallel port, just needs to be setup correctly.

How did you set this up, by copying your old config and setting, or starting from scratch? Really doesn't matter how you got where you are, just that PINS need to be assigned. You can perhaps go back and look at your old config and see what pins are assigned. OH, and normally, but NOT necessarily, X is Port 1, Pins 2 and 3. Pins 14 and 16 are often used for spindle, so you have to check something, your wiring or your old config, to see what's connected where and get Mach3 to match.