Machsupport Forum

Mach Discussion => General Mach Discussion => Topic started by: Trampas on November 04, 2006, 05:56:52 PM

Title: Serial port inputs and outputs
Post by: Trampas on November 04, 2006, 05:56:52 PM

I was needing some more inputs and outputs for my mill than one DB25 can handle. Thus I was wondering if Mach3 had any support for serial port. Specifically I was thinking about designing and building a USB adapter, which looks like serial port, that would allow me to have additional IO ports. Is there support in Mach 3 for this aready? If so is there documentation?

Thanks
Trampas

Title: Re: Serial port inputs and outputs
Post by: Chaoticone on November 04, 2006, 06:20:34 PM

Hey Trampas
In config, ports and pins you can set up more ports. :) I don't know about the docs., sure there is though.

Brett

Title: Re: Serial port inputs and outputs
Post by: Graham Waterworth on November 04, 2006, 07:05:38 PM

You could fit a second parallel port or a ModIO

With modio you get 8 inputs and 8 outputs + 3 analogue

Graham.

Title: Re: Serial port inputs and outputs
Post by: cjmerlin on November 05, 2006, 03:29:09 PM

Hi, You might be interested in a macro I have posted in the downloads section of the forum which uses the serial port to communicate with a microcontroller to operate a toolchanger.



Cheers

Title: Re: Serial port inputs and outputs
Post by: Trampas on November 06, 2006, 10:09:39 AM

Thanks!

I was thinking about making a device which has about 16 inputs and outputs as well as some jog knobs and PWM stepper drivers. I was debating on adding some LCDs for DRO, but with Mach3 this may not be useful. The main thing I wanted was to have enough inputs and outputs such that I connect all my limit switches and encoders. I did not want to use another parrallel port as that a lot of computers do not come with parrallel ports, thus USB seemed much more logical.

Trampas

Title: Re: Serial port inputs and outputs
Post by: Chaoticone on November 06, 2006, 10:16:38 AM

Here are a couple of links. The IPac 4 is a keystroke emulator that has, I think 56 inputs. This works good for buttons and switches. It is a snap to set up in keygrabber.

http://www.rogersmachine.net/
http://www.ultimarc.com/ipac1.html