Machsupport Forum

Mach Discussion => General Mach Discussion => Topic started by: foxcatII on November 16, 2009, 10:23:59 AM

Title: parallel port problems
Post by: foxcatII on November 16, 2009, 10:23:59 AM
Hi,
I am new to the Mach3 world, but the mechanic of my CNC is almost clse to the completion, and no it is time start to work on the electronic.
My electronic (from ZAPP UK) is based on the following
UNIPORT
SY60STH86-3008 Nema 23
PM542 Microstepping Driver

Following the connection of a single axis (I am just first testing), there is no chance to have any movement from the motor. I have set, or at least I think to have done, the parallel port in accordance with the connection scheme of the UNIPORT.
When I check on the diagnostic page of  Mach3, I do not see any led flashing. Do you have any ideas what is going wrong?
Thank you.
Marco
Title: Re: parallel port problems
Post by: Hood on November 16, 2009, 10:48:11 AM
Is it an onboard port or a PCI addon port?

Hood
Title: Re: parallel port problems
Post by: foxcatII on November 16, 2009, 10:51:16 AM
it is on board
Marco
Title: Re: parallel port problems
Post by: Hood on November 16, 2009, 10:55:11 AM
ok the standard address should be fine but just check by looking in device manager then looking at the address for the LPT, should be 0378. If not change it in Mach to whatever device manager is saying.
 If that is not the problem them can you attach your xml please.
Hood
Title: Re: parallel port problems
Post by: foxcatII on November 16, 2009, 11:19:49 AM
the port adddress should be ok.
I attache the file you ask me (guessing it is the file!)
thank you for your support

Marco
Title: Re: parallel port problems
Post by: Hood on November 16, 2009, 11:32:48 AM
Looks ok at first glimpse, do you have the 5V from the USB connected? If so confirm it is supplying 5V to your Uniport board.
 Also do you have an E-Stop switch fitted to Pin 10? If you have it to a different pin you will need to change that in Ports and Pins, Inputs. If you dont have an E-Stop fitted at this time then just change the active state of the E-Stop in Ports and Pins, Inputs.

Hood
Title: Re: parallel port problems
Post by: foxcatII on November 16, 2009, 11:35:57 AM
Hi Hood,

I am not in the condition to do the tests you popose to me, now. I will do as soon as possible, but not tonight (I have my volley session....)  :D
Title: Re: parallel port problems
Post by: Hood on November 16, 2009, 11:47:54 AM
No problem
Title: Re: parallel port problems
Post by: foxcatII on November 17, 2009, 03:30:38 AM
1) The 5V to the Uniport seems ok
2) At present, I have not yet connected (at hardware level) the 'Stop button' (but it is foreseen). The problem is that apparently I can not deactivate this option. Let me explain it. I go to the configuration screen, under Input configuration. I deselect E-button, and I push Apply. Than OK. I save the configuration and close MACH3. Now, I open again MACH3, and check the input status. The E-STOP option is newly activated!
Title: Re: parallel port problems
Post by: foxcatII on November 17, 2009, 03:33:23 AM
sorry. I want to say 'Output configuration' page.
Title: Re: parallel port problems
Post by: Hood on November 17, 2009, 03:35:24 AM
That is why I said to change the active state of the E-Stop in Ports and Pins. It will fool Mach into thinking you have a Normally Open E-Stop switch fitted. The other option would be to put a jumper wire between pin 10 and Gnd on your Uniport board.
Hood
Title: Re: parallel port problems
Post by: foxcatII on November 17, 2009, 04:45:57 AM
That is true. I will try to ground the pin 10.
However, I am surprise about MACH3 behaviuor. Why I am not able to deactivate and save the E-stop output flag. This appear strange to me.
Marco
Title: Re: parallel port problems
Post by: Hood on November 17, 2009, 05:23:36 AM

Quote
However, I am surprise about MACH3 behaviuor. Why I am not able to deactivate and save the E-stop output flag. This appear strange to me.
Because it is unsafe to run a CNC machine without a proper E-Stop.

Hood
Title: Re: parallel port problems
Post by: foxcatII on November 17, 2009, 08:57:40 AM
Does it mean that for a real test I have no chance; or I connect the E-stop button to the UNIPORT, or I ground the correspondent input?
Title: Re: parallel port problems
Post by: Hood on November 17, 2009, 09:08:58 AM
What it means is you can trick Mach into thinking you have a switch there by either
Changing the active state of the E-Stop input in Ports and pins
or
Shorting pin 10 to gnd on your Unipor and leaving the Input as Active High.
or
lastly connect a NC E-Stop switch

Hood
Title: Re: parallel port problems
Post by: foxcatII on November 17, 2009, 05:43:01 PM
Finally I see the light from the tunnel.  :)
No chance to change the active status of E-stop by software. Do not ask me why.   ???
The problema has been solved by put to ground the input of E-stop. Following that, the UNIPORT works fine, and I can execute Gcode in ‘online’ mode and the drivers and motors do their job.
Now I am ready to start to take practice with MACH3.
Thank you Hood for your support

Marco
Title: Re: parallel port problems
Post by: Hood on November 17, 2009, 05:48:48 PM
No probs :)
Title: Re: parallel port problems
Post by: johnchristensen on May 19, 2010, 01:00:35 AM
So I tried the suggestions as stated in the thread, but am still having the same problem nothing is lighting up for me.  Thanks for your help.
Title: Re: parallel port problems
Post by: Hood on May 19, 2010, 10:29:53 AM
So I tried the suggestions as stated in the thread, but am still having the same problem nothing is lighting up for me.  Thanks for your help.

What is your problem?

Hood
Title: Re: parallel port problems
Post by: johnchristensen on May 19, 2010, 10:35:32 AM
My problem is when I jog the machine in the software, none of the lights show up in the diagnostics screen. I think it has to do with the Estop, but I can't figure it out.  I tried making active hi, and active low, but it doesn't seem to work.

(I probably should have started with a new thread, but my problem is the exact same as shown here.)
Title: Re: parallel port problems
Post by: Hood on May 19, 2010, 10:38:32 AM
Not sure what lights you are expecting to see but if you can press the Reset so it stops flashing and when you jog the DROs change then you would seem to have things correct, certainly works fine here with your xml.
Hood
Title: Re: parallel port problems
Post by: johnchristensen on May 19, 2010, 10:57:35 AM
Shouldn't some of the lights be lit up on the "Port 1 Pins Current State" under the Diagnostics screen?

Title: Re: parallel port problems
Post by: Hood on May 19, 2010, 02:50:39 PM
I have no idea, they have never made any sense to me and I never paid any attention to them when I used the parallel port.
Hood