Machsupport Forum

Mach Discussion => General Mach Discussion => Topic started by: Pinnacletek on March 09, 2009, 09:49:19 PM

Title: Giving New meaning to newb question
Post by: Pinnacletek on March 09, 2009, 09:49:19 PM

Hello All. My first post here. I have read many a Newbie post and they make me laugh. I find humor in them because they claim to be newbs, yet are SO much further along than I that I believe they are newb wanna bes. I am a true Newbie.

I have purchased two stepper motors, two controllers, and a Power Supply (All Automation Direct)  I have Mach 3 installed on an old, but not bad, desktop running XP. I have run the PC test in the Mach folder and it was near straight line. Para Cable stripped back and wires indentified.

I have both controllers wired from the Power Supply and to the motors as the docs with the controller stated.

Here is my True Newbie question:
My controllers have a
Step+
Step-
Dir+
Dir-

Would I supply 5VDC (My Power Supply has one) to the Step+ and Dir+, then use two outputs from the Para Port to the Step- and Dir- for control? The Docs that came with the controllers give diagrams for an indexer with sinking ouputs, sourcing outputs, or differential.
Which would Mach 3 fall under?

I have watched the tutorial videos and looked back through posts, but none were this basic.
Thanks in advance for any help.
Jeff

Title: Re: Giving New meaning to newb question
Post by: Hood on March 09, 2009, 10:33:16 PM

Can you link to the docs for the drive, will look in the morning as its 2:30am here and I need some sleep. Hopefully someone else will get you sorted before that :)
Hood

Title: Re: Giving New meaning to newb question
Post by: Pinnacletek on March 09, 2009, 10:42:07 PM

Thanks for the quick RE Hood.

Here is a link to the Automation Directs STP-DRV-4035 (Stepper Drive):

http://web1.automationdirect.com/static/manuals/surestepmanual/surestepdrive_datasheet.pdf

Thanks for helping a new guy out.

Title: Re: Giving New meaning to newb question
Post by: Chip on March 10, 2009, 12:26:34 AM

Hi, Jeff

Welcome, Hears a start, We'll help you as much as you need, So Ask Away.

On your printer port cable, Your Step+, Dir+, You can use these pin's, 2 - 9, 1, 14, 16, 17, There (output's).

Most use, "X", 2,3 or 3,2, "Y", 4,5 or 5,4, "Z", 6,7 or 7,6.

Your Step-, Dir-, Use common/Gnd., pin's 18-25 considered to be the same Gnd. connection.

Note: Not all printer ports or Cables use all of them, So connect 18-25 all together.

Hears a link to Getting Started Manual: http://www.machsupport.com/docs/Mach3Mill_Install_Config.pdf

Hope this Helps, Chip

Title: Re: Giving New meaning to newb question
Post by: Pinnacletek on March 10, 2009, 12:55:50 AM

Wow Chip,

Thats the kind of info I was after. I truly appreciate you spending the time to respond.

The common pins were what was really throwing me.

I DLd the Manual, but your description is what really helped.

One hurddle done....many to go.

Thanks a ton,
Jeff