Machsupport Forum
Mach Discussion => General Mach Discussion => Topic started by: john351 on July 22, 2011, 06:48:46 AM
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Under section 5.3.8 of the mach3 manual it covers testing.
It tells you to go to the diagnostic screen
it is then possible to test each input by shorting to ground each input pin
on the breakout card and an "led" on the screen lights up.
That great for the inputs.
Is it possible to test each of the outputs one by one by tweaking something on the screen.
I have an led and resistor on each of the outputs on the breakout card.
john f
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You could do it several ways, first is set the outputs up one at a time as coolant and toggle the coolant button or you could set them all up as outputs then use the VB editor to toggle them, the VB for it would look something like this.
ActivateSignal(OutPut1)
Sleep 1000
DeActivateSignal(OutPut1)
What that would do is switch on Output 1 for 1 second then switch it off.
Hood
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I thought of something along these lines but was surprised how easy it was to test the inputs but not the outputs.
I used output 1 on ports and pins/output signals
I found that to change the pin no you have to use apply but once you have done this you can toggle the output
with the active low control.
Thanks
Incidentally they did work - thanks
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Good to hear you got it :)
Hood
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I have had to go on holiday since my last post. When I got back I just could not get any of the outputs to work.
Pins 2 3 and 6 are always on. If I unplug the card all the outputs go on. If I earth any of the input pins each output turns off as expected.
If I twiddle via mach3 any of the outputs nothing happens and nothing shows up for the output on the diagnostic window.
I'm getting desperate.
John
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Can you attach your xml please and I will have a look at your config.
Hood
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I hope this is it
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XML looks fine, well you have the limits and E-Stop as active low but thats fine if you have normally open switches or likely you are just testing.
Are you testing direct at the port with a voltmeter or are you testing at the end of the cable?
I presume you have the correct address for the parallel port you are using?
On the diagnostics page do you see a frequency and a Time in Int?
Hood
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I have tested the pins on the d-type connector on the back of the computer.
today pin 6 is high all the rest are low. I have tested the cable from the computer end
by pulling each pin low. This activates the led's as it should.
The port address is the default 0378 as set by mach 3.
The inputs work and probably wouldn't if the address was wrong
on the diagnostics page fre is 25005 and time in int varies from 4.5 to 5.0 roughly.
john f
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Hi John,
Take care when physically testing the inputs and outputs of the parallel port at the 25 way connector. They are quite fragile and intolerant to incorrect connection.
Tweakie.
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Thanks
I did. I only used a digital voltmeter with a high input impedance to test the outputs.
Since it was a female connector it was not possible to touch any other pins accidentally.
But all it did was to prove I do have a problem.
Any ideas?
john f
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Hi John,
As I understand it you have proved that the inputs work OK.
If you are running XP then download and run Parmon, this enables the output pins to be toggled (without any hardware connected). If the port does not respond correctly with Parmon then I would conclude that it is damaged.
http://www.geekhideout.com/parmon.shtml
Tweakie.
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Ok the frequency'time in Int means that you have the driver installed so thats not the issue, if the inputs work then it would seem port is knackered. Only other thing to check is in the BIOs that the port is set up correctly.
Hood
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First - this printer port works perfectly ok with a printer.
If I load mach3. I disable all the motor outputs.
I go to config - ports and pins - outputs.
I set up either all of the enables or all of the outputs
using the pins I used for the motors 2,3,4,5,6,7
then if I "apply" then I can toggle these outputs and
the led's on the outputs of my breakout card toggle!
John F
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Ok so they are working?
Hood
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Yes, but, when I disable the output on the outputs window and
go back to the motor outputs and set them up and press apply
then I check my leds they are all, say, off. Then I go back and toggle the active levels
press apply, look at my leds - they are still the same.
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Ok well jog the axis via keyoard and see if the pin you have set for the direction changes when jog back and forth.
Likely you will not see the LEDs change until you jog.
Hood
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if I press the x+ and x- they toggle the pin 2 o/p
Y+ and y- toggle pin 4
z+ and z- toggle pin 6
john f
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so I am guessing you have 2, 4 and 6 set as your direction pins so it would seem its working fine :)
Hood
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But shouldn't the step pins have changed even if randomly?
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Step pins are getting a pulse so unless you are sending a fast pulse you will hardly see them flicker. If you change the active state of them then they will be lit and slightly dim as you jog. But likely you will have to jog after the change before they will change state.
Hood
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But shouldn't the step pins have changed even if randomly?
You will need much faster measuring equipment than you are currently using if you want to see much activity on the step pins (oscilloscope would be good).
Seems you are trying to find a fault where none exists :D
Tweakie.