Machsupport Forum
Mach Discussion => General Mach Discussion => Topic started by: BarryB on January 30, 2010, 05:11:01 PM
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Hello, I just bought a parallel port card, and although it's seen in the device manager, I can't seem to get Mach to use it. The address/range is CC00-CC07, and C800-C807. if I try to input either cc00, or c800, Mach doesn't recognize anything. I am on Win XP, there are no conflicts. The card is set to LPT2, the motherboards parallel port is set to LPT1, both work fine. I saw on the list, that I can try the opposite, using the motherboards parallel port as LPT2, and the PCI card as LPT1, but this didn't do anything either.
The cabling are straight through cables, and they plug into a C23 board from CNC4PC. I used to be using a smooth stepper, and was reading both ports through it. I decided to go straight parallel port, but so far no luck.
Anyone have suggestions? I was hoping to be cutting all weekend;)
Barry
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Some PCI cards are not real parallel ports from what I understand, could be the case with yours, got a link to what you have?
Hood
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yeah, here's the card:
http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0246235
This is supposed to be a 'real' parallel port. At first the sales guy sold me a card that converted usb to parallel. That's what the smoothstepper was. I wanted to get away from that;)
Barry
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Yes, looks like it should work as it says it runs under DOS I would imagine its a real rather than emulated.
Are there any options to change mode of the card and do you know what its presently running, ECP, EPP etc?
Hood
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Just out of curiosity, why did you lose the Smoothstepper?
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Hmm, checked, I couldn't find anything labled mode. It says under details, I choose device ID, and it shows pci9710_ecp, so I guess, ecp. I don't see how to change this. On the package it says it supports SPP, PS2, EPP, and ECP. Again, it doesn't say how to change it.
I'm deciding against the smoothstepper, since occasionally Mach would lose communication with it, and that would mean I'd have to quit Mach, restart it, home everything, go back to the fixture state and start again.
Barry
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Its been a long time since I used the parallel port but I do seem to remember ECP was an issue for me, can't remember what exactly I am afraid. And how to change, again I have no idea, maybe an email to the makers?
Sorry not much help :(
Hood
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I tried the card on the other pci slot, it gives me the same address. I looked into the FAQ online, and in win XP and later you cannot reassign the IRQ, and port mode is also done automatically. It's evidently a feature of XP keeping tighter control so there are no conflicts. Of course there is no worky either. If anybody has a suggestion, I'm all ears.
Barry
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Not really sure if this could be something to try, but in device manager on the resources tab for the port can you un tick the auto box and try one of the other settings in the drop down box?
Hood
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I see that option is available for the parallel port that's on the motherboard. For the port that's on the card, that section is greyed out. I can only see the port address in that window.
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:(
Hood
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I checked the BIOS for the motherboard, and I can change the parallel port mode for the onboard card. I figured if I set it to ECP, like the PCI card, that might work. Nope, still doesn't work. Is there a card that people know works for Mach?
Barry
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I had a couple that worked but have forgotten what chip was on one but the other was siig Ithink.
I am sure Simpson posted infor on cards he had that worked, try a search.
Hood
Edit, see someone else has just posted in the thread I was meaning, made finding it easy ;D
http://www.machsupport.com/forum/index.php/topic,11300.0.html
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I checked the BIOS for the motherboard, and I can change the parallel port mode for the onboard card. I figured if I set it to ECP, like the PCI card, that might work. Nope, still doesn't work. Is there a card that people know works for Mach?
Barry
I'm using a Sunix in port addr bc00 but boy was that hard to get to funtion, took me several days. I first bought one secondhand but wasn't able to get it to work. Bought a new one, same brand, and after creating a new profile for the PC I was able to change ports etc and get it to work. Don't know if that really was necessary at all but after that I somehow got it to work.
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I ordered the card from NewEgg. Wish me luck. I wish this info was in the manual. Instead of having to purchase things and hope for the best.
Barry
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Hello, I just bought a parallel port card, and although it's seen in the device manager, I can't seem to get Mach to use it. The address/range is CC00-CC07, and C800-C807. if I try to input either cc00, or c800, Mach doesn't recognize anything. I am on Win XP, there are no conflicts. The card is set to LPT2, the motherboards parallel port is set to LPT1, both work fine. I saw on the list, that I can try the opposite, using the motherboards parallel port as LPT2, and the PCI card as LPT1, but this didn't do anything either.
The cabling are straight through cables, and they plug into a C23 board from CNC4PC. I used to be using a smooth stepper, and was reading both ports through it. I decided to go straight parallel port, but so far no luck.
Anyone have suggestions? I was hoping to be cutting all weekend;)
Barry
DId you make sure the address was in HEX "0xCC00", not sure if that would make a difference or not.
JH
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Yes, that was the easy part;) There's just cards Mach won't recognize, sucks since it doesn't say this in the manual. I hope this card from new egg will work, since I built this pc, specifically to run the cnc machine from parallel ports to bypass the smoothstepper.
Barry
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Make sure you also checked the enable port box.
Also, to make sure it is the parallel port. Try using the diagnostics tab. Ground some input pins on the 25 pin connector and see if the LED's come on.
I'm also using cheap parallel cards and they work. I bought them at Compusa.
Are you sure you typed 0xCC00 ?
Good luck
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Yes, I am sure. I typed in CC00 and Mach fills in the rest. I've tested the limit switches which a few are hooked up on the the 2nd port pins, as well as the B/C axis, none work.
You should post which cards you bought and what drivers you are using. It might help others like me too.
Barry
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Unfortunately, I threw away the box and the cards don't really say anything. The driver says "Multi-IO adapter".
Also make sure that in the Ports & Pins configuration you have enabled the inputs & outputs and that the right port port number ( 1 or 2) has been entered. It should be the same as the one you have enabled.
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I should mention that my machine was working fine, ports and pin wise and all functions, X, Y, Z, B, C, home switches, limit switches, and spindle control with the smooth stepper. The smooth stepper was losing connection though, sometimes a few hours into a job. I think the ports, pins, and all are fine. It's the new port being seen at all. Sorry to mention, but a lot of the suggestions are for basic setup, not for a transfer from a smooth stepper to a parallel port card and getting the card to work with Mach.
Barry