Machsupport Forum

Mach Discussion => General Mach Discussion => Topic started by: widpyro on November 29, 2011, 08:46:11 PM

Title: x axis not moving when using one computer, does when using another
Post by: widpyro on November 29, 2011, 08:46:11 PM: I am trying to use a different computer to run my machine. It works perfectly on one computer, but when I switch to the new computer the x axis doesn't work. The pin-outs are the same. I even tried using a different set of pins and it still would not move. Everything is identical and the y,z and A axis work fine.

My question is: Can anyone think of a setting or anything else that might be keeping the x axis from working?

I'm hoping that the problem is not the computer, but I'd like to be sure it is not something else before I take the computer back to the place I bought it from.

thanks,
-jim
Title: Re: x axis not moving when using one computer, does when using another
Post by: ger21 on November 29, 2011, 09:09:30 PM: Assign the X axis pins to the Y axis, and the Y axis to the X axis. If the Y doesn't work, there's probably a problem with the parallel port.
Title: Re: x axis not moving when using one computer, does when using another
Post by: widpyro on November 29, 2011, 09:49:16 PM: Yep, when I switched the pins the y axis stopped moving. Can a parallel port on a laptop be fixed?
Title: Re: x axis not moving when using one computer, does when using another
Post by: ger21 on November 29, 2011, 10:22:42 PM: It may just be that it's a laptop, which isn't supported for Mach3. There may be nothing to fix, it just might not work on that laptop.
Title: Re: x axis not moving when using one computer, does when using another
Post by: rcaffin on December 03, 2011, 05:11:35 PM: Quote from: widpyro on November 29, 2011, 09:49:16 PM
Yep, when I switched the pins the y axis stopped moving. Can a parallel port on a laptop be fixed?

Mach is designed for the classical LPT1 parallel port, using some old NMOS chip from WAY back. However, the way Mach uses the pins on the port is not the way the pins are used when driving a printer. Fast foward a few decades to today, and you will find that most computers do not even have a parallel port. Where they do have one, it is often emulated using something else, but only enough to drive a parallel port printer.

You can buy add-in cards etc to provide a parallel port, but most times the add-ins do not provide any more functionality than is needed to drive a printer. This is a KNOWN problem and one which drives us mad at times. It is also why things like the USB-SmoothStepper exist.

You could try using different pins to drive the X axis. You may or may not have enough functional pins however. Or you could add some more parallel ports, or convert to the SmoothStepper.

Cheers
Title: Re: x axis not moving when using one computer, does when using another
Post by: widpyro on December 03, 2011, 05:33:04 PM: I have found that Dell laptops do not work (tried 3 of them) but had success with HP and Gateway units. I am using Mach3 for a mobile unit and really did not want to lug around a desktop computer. I also tried using the other pins I had available on the Dell units, but it did not work. BTW, Y,Z, and A axis DID work on the Dell.
-jim
Title: Re: x axis not moving when using one computer, does when using another
Post by: Sargon on December 04, 2011, 05:54:26 AM: IBM systems also work well, in my experience. We use IBM and HP. Acer's work also, but are not reliable enough.