Machsupport Forum

Third party software and hardware support forums. => Mach3 and G-Rex => Topic started by: sanderm on July 21, 2018, 02:03:02 PM

Title: Cant get parallel port working
Post by: sanderm on July 21, 2018, 02:03:02 PM

Hi Mach3 users.

Im new to cnc milling and i bought a second hand cnc milling machine which is working with parallel port.

Now the pc he used is broken and i got a laptop which im being trying to get working.

I dont get any pulse frequency on the driver tester.

I run windows xp on a hp compaq nc6120. Latest version of mach3.

-Disabled all the acpi devices in device manager
-tried all bios settings for parallel port(ecp bidirectional standard and epp)
-cnc machine moved a hop when restarted the laptop.
-tried special driver
-tried to delete the lpt port and the mach3 driver from the device manager.

Any suggestions that can help me?

Best regards

Sander

Title: Re: Cant get parallel port working
Post by: sanderm on July 21, 2018, 02:58:00 PM

I think it is because the 3.3v laptop parallel port which is functioning fine(checked with ltp checkup utility and it gives 3.3v) if i connect the cable to the cnc and use the ltp checkup utility it moves a small but on all axis

Title: Re: Cant get parallel port working
Post by: ger21 on July 21, 2018, 04:04:04 PM

Most laptops will not work with a parallel port.

Title: Re: Cant get parallel port working
Post by: Tweakie.CNC on July 22, 2018, 01:59:17 AM

Perhaps a second user PC, which are cheap enough, but check that the parallel port is 5 Volt. You could, if necessary, fit a 5 Volt PCI Parallel Port card - check here for details; http://www.machsupport.com/forum/index.php/topic,34848.msg239910.html#msg239910

Alternately why not consider an external motion controller that could be used with your laptop - many to choose from but best to avoid those from China. (I currently use an ESS on one machine and a 57CNC on another).

Tweakie.