Machsupport Forum

Mach Discussion => General Mach Discussion => Topic started by: bmwflyer on September 19, 2012, 04:33:42 AM

Title: Configure parallel ports?
Post by: bmwflyer on September 19, 2012, 04:33:42 AM
Hi to all, looks as though I've stumbled at the first hurdle, lets hope this is not a sign of things to come. Anyway I have no native parallel ports on the PC that  I intend to use for Mach 3 so have fitted 2 PCI parallel port cards as I will need more than 5 inputs. When I look into device manager they are configured to Port 1 CE00-CE07, IRQ 18 and port 2 CC00-CC07 IRQ 19. So far so good. If I enter CE00 into Port 1 address in config the entry changes to 0x378 however entering CC00 into port 2 address results in 0xcc00. Is this what I should expect?. I want to be able to test the port outputs and the breakout boards prior to connecting to the rest of the control system which I guess I can do through the diagnostics screen, yes? Many thanks for your assistance for what might be a dumb question, it may not be my last methinks.
Bob.
Title: Re: Configure parallel ports?
Post by: Hood on September 19, 2012, 05:03:31 AM
It shouldnt change back, doesnt for me, are you pressing apply?
You can test the I/O by for example setting up the coolant to a certain output and  switching it on/off. As for Inputs you would need to activate them
externally to see the LEDs work in Mach, again setting the port and pin numbers in Mach.
Hood
Title: Re: Configure parallel ports?
Post by: bmwflyer on September 19, 2012, 05:43:54 AM
Many thanks for that, I must not have been clicking apply as now I have 0xce00 and 0xcc00 in ports 1 and 2

Bob.
Title: Re: Configure parallel ports?
Post by: bmwflyer on September 19, 2012, 06:23:37 AM
Now another problem, I have 2 breakout boards connected to the ports both of which carry a relay designed to trigger the spindle or coolant etc. These are operated by Pin 9. When I look at configuring the spindle on/off in Mach 3 it appears I can only use pins 1-6 is that correct?, if so do I need different breakout boards? Also in port configuration port 2 seems to offer the option of setting pins 2 to 9 as inputs is this also correct?
Title: Re: Configure parallel ports?
Post by: Hood on September 19, 2012, 06:50:02 AM
Its not Pins 1-6 but rather Outputs 1-6 and you can set any  pin you like to Outputs  1-6 (as long as they are output pins of course ;) ).

Yes you can have port 2 as a standard port or you can set it so pins 2-9 are inputs.
Hood
Title: Re: Configure parallel ports?
Post by: bmwflyer on September 19, 2012, 07:13:59 AM
Ah now I understand, thank you again. I used to do design a development of electronic systems many many years ago but the old grey matter is getting a bit fuddled lately  ;)