Machsupport Forum
Mach Discussion => General Mach Discussion => Topic started by: ironman123 on August 15, 2024, 12:26:35 AM
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I am having trouble getting my parallel port to communicate Mach3 with my motion controller card. No motor movement. Using HP with XP.
P2 through P9 are Step and Dir + and -. the + are connected to 5VDC+
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What have you done with the inputs? Have you looked at the diagnostic screen to see if for example Estop is asserted because the associated input is in the wrong state? Or the limits? Have you got a common ground between the 5V dc supply and the PC?
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I have ground from 5VDC supply to computer. I have not done anything with the 5 input screws on the board yet.
Thanks
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On some of these boards you have to have pin 14 enabled to activate the outputs.
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Attached is a diagram of what I have. I could use some help with wiring it up and help with inputs and outputs for this with Mach3. Sorry but as I get older, my comprehension has slipped a lot.
Thank you all for any assistance you can provide.
Ray
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Graham you said some boards you have to enable pin 14 to activate the outputs. How do you activate the pin 14?
Where do the Dir- and Pul- and the Dir+ and Pul+ go on the board? I know it says P2-P9 are outputs.
I really want to get this Mill working. If I could get help getting 1 motor working, I believe I can manage the other three.
Thanks,
Ray
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If pin 14 needs activating it will need either a logic high (+5V) or low(0V) on it. Do you not have a data sheet or manual for the BoB? By "motion controller" do you mean BoB?
It looks like the board has opto isolated outputs - your drivers probably have opto isolated inputs too. The trouble is we don't have the information needed to know if the outputs are "open collector" - the following is written assuming they are.
- Connect all the "+" inputs on the drivers to +5V (i.e. DIR+, PUL+) - you don't need ENA and usually it can be left disconnected. Use a separate wire from the 5V on the board to each drive (common up the two + terminals at the drive end).
- Connect the "-" inputs to the appropriate BoB outputs.
- Connect a common earth from GND (next to p17) to each supply negative on the drivers (i.e. a separate wire to each driver).
Really without having a data sheet or manual for the BoB this is an educated guess.
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Thanks John Haine. I will go out and try that after Church this evening.
Ray
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Even better if you have or can find a manual!
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You are right there John. The board came with my Steppers, drivers and power supplies. There was no paperwork at all. This system is so much different than what I had with my other milling machine.
Thank you, I will see how it goes and let you know.
Ray
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I found this showing the basic wiring for the board.
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Thanks Graham for the diagram
Ray
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This looks like the same board
https://www.steppermotorcanada.ca/db25-1205f.pdf (https://www.steppermotorcanada.ca/db25-1205f.pdf)
also here is a video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ed1ms6sNIf4 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ed1ms6sNIf4)
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Does this look right?
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A bit hard to read (blurry) but looks OK. I think you should leave pin 14 disconnected and don't bother enabling it, it's an output.
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That did not work. I believe I am not doing my pins right for input and output. To get the motor to move, how do I do inputs? Here is what I am working on now. Just the A Axis motor. If I can get it moving, I think I can do XY and Z. I am using the Hot Keys { and } for A jog.
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What do you mean by "how do I do inputs"? Inputs to drives or the BoB? As I mentioned early in the thread if Mach3 is expecting to have an estop signal and the appropriate input is not connected then it will just think there's an estop asserted. Equally for the limits. Usually these switches are connected to ground and NC so the input is at a zero, so if a wire falls off it "fails safe". Check the input pin setup in config/ports&pins. Also look on the diagnostics tab to see the status of the signals. Mach3 manual should help you.
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John, do I put input wired on the BOB other than the dir+ and Step+ from the drivers to 5VDC and negatives of step and dir the outputs from the drivers to P2 thru P9 for XYZA? I think I am confused in Mach3 on the config/input signals, output signals and motor outputs. I put Port 1 on everything for Port but the Pins confuse me as to which to se for everything. Using a 10 post connection block to go from 5VDC Power supply to 5VDC+ on the BOB and connecting all the Step+ and Dir+ from the Drivers , is that OK? Also 10 post terminal block from GND of 5VDC supply to P2 thru P9 and also to go to Dir- and Step- of the Drivers, is that OK? Also the 5VDC Gnd from power supply goes to GNDs on the BOB. How do do earth GND and where does that go?
Thank you
Ray
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Ray, when I set mine up I just followed the Mach3 manual. Do you have a copy? If not get hold of one.
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Sounds like I need to find the manual. Thanks John. Have a pleasant and safe Labor Day weekend.
Ray
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https://www.machsupport.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/Mach3Mill_Install_Config.pdf
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Thanks a lot John. I will read as I go along.
Ray
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I am reading Mach3 Config Manual and I have: Motor Outputs as shown. I have Input Signals as XYZA+ Jog Port 1 Pin 12 enabled and hotkeys I have XYZA - Jog Port 1 Pin 13 enabled and hotkeys.
In figure 5-5 of the manual it shows another Output Signal page. This is where I am confused. What output signals are these?
Ray
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These are general purpose, not used for axis drives. Examples would be a coolant pump, relay to operate spindle, door interlock. And a charge pump if the BoB supports it - the one you have doesn't.
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Thanks John
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Well John, I think wiring is about done. Would it hurt to use terminal blocks coming off the 5VDC Power Supply to hook all the Step+ and Dir+ to instead of running all those long wires? Question: the 5VDC side of the board, is that live from the db25 port or am I right to hook a 5VDC Power Supply to it? Please check me out here.
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AFAIK there isn't a +5v supply on DB25 - some BoBs have a USB connector with only the 5V connected for this supply. Best to provide your own +5V. You do need a common GND but that should be taken care of in the BoB.
Ideally all the signal connections from the BoB to the drives would use twisted pair with the +5V common at the BoB end, where you could use a terminal block. This is to minimise noise pickup.
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I am just trying to get my A axis motor to move right now. If I am missing something someone please let me know. I have been trying to get this going for over a month. I am sure it is all me.
Thanks,
Ray
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your wiring diagram looks ok for me, so the problem should be a bit more principal.
here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EdG6QtztntI
is a good tutorial how to doublecheck the setting of your board adress.
after that here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uglCm_qsojk&t=80s
is a tutorial how to check your port/pin settings
after this is cleared out we can go to the bob and wiring.
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TPS, I did the checking the pins on the db25 port on the computer with the arrow keys and I get 4.2 volts on both. Maybe my parallel port is bad. left arrow should give low or no voltage. They both give high 4.2 volts.
I might give up on XP and use one of my Windows 10 64bit with a USB port card.
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did you do the doublecheck with the port adress?
Windows 10 64bit with a USB port card is not a good idea
(will IMHO not work).
if your choice is win10 64bit a UC100 will be the right way to use.
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forgot something, you also have to check in bios that the lpt port is set to bidirection or epp mode.
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I did not check the BIOS.
I has a UC100 4 years ago from PC4U or something like that and it did not work I heard there is one out now that is real good. Might check that out if the XP doesnot work out.
Thanks,
Ray
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I use UC100s on my lathe and mill and they are excellent. Apparently they are widely faked in the Far East, make sure you have one from the real supplier, CNCDrive, who are based in Hungary. However for configuration it's nearly identical to the standard parallel port but at least you won't have to worry about BIOS and all that stuff, you just connect to a standard USB port, make sure you have the UC100 plugin installed, and you're off to the races. You can also ditch your XP machine and use a modern Win10 laptop or miniPC - it may also work with Win11. Good support forum too at https://www.forum.cncdrive.com/
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John, I don't know if this matters but I have Nema 34 steppers and each one has it's own driver and each one has it's own 60VDC power supply.
If I get another UC100, I will get it from CNCDRIVE.com.
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Why would it matter?
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John, I will use Win10 64bit with the 5 axis USB board below and a 12/24 VDC power supply to the board as well as 5 VDC from the PC. Hope this works. If not I will buy another UC100 from cnc drive.
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Sorry John, wrong board. This is it.
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Ethernet interface motion control board? Or is it USB? Can't tell from the connector.
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It is USB. I am having trouble finding connectors to plug into the five white 4 pin connections. No one around here has them.
Ray
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Why not use the screw terminal block?
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I will probably use the screw terminals. Just thought the plug-in ones would look neater. I finally found the 13-page instruction sheets for this board. I may get to working on it tomorrow afternoon. I will keep you posted on my slow progress.
Ray