Machsupport Forum
Mach Discussion => General Mach Discussion => Topic started by: Cristobal on January 29, 2007, 10:29:14 AM
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Hello,
I'm new to CNC and desparately trying to set up my motors etc. I downloaded Mach3 and have been playing around with it. I have a db25 cable hooked up to my parallel port with a breakout on the end. I have no motors hooked up yet. In manual mode in Mach 3 I can "move" the x,y,and z with the arrow keys for example. Shouldn't I see fluctuations in the voltage on the various pins on my breakout? If not why not? If I should be seeing this but am not, what am I doing wrong? Thanks.
Cristobal
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Hey Cristobal,
Are you using a straight thru DB 25 cable? Not a printer cable. Tell us more about your breakout board, set up and post your xml. Post any links or documents that may help.
Brett
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Yes it is a straight thru DB 25 cable. The breakout board couldn't be much simpler- it just has a 18 (+ gnd) places corresponding to the pins where you can shove in a wire and hold it in place by tightening a screw. I thought I could put my ground multimeter probe on one of the ground pins, my red multimeter probe on say pin3 and then watch the voltage change as I fiddle with the x axis.
You ask me to post my xml. I don't know what that means. Sorry.
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Hey Cristobal,
Your xml is in your mach folder. They will be Mach3mill xml, Mach3 turn, etc. Are you setting up a mill? They will be in your Mach folder. Here is how I get to mine. Start, rightclick on my computer, C, Mach3. To attach them go to the full reply page and you will see a button for advanced options, use that to attach the files by browsing to your Mach folders and selecting the Mach3Mill.xml if that is the one you are using.
Brett
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Cristobal, I have sent you a personal message.
Brett
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Am I setting up a mill? Well I'm many steps away from that. I'm just trying to set up my stepper driver. I'm just trying to get to the point where I can turn my motors by clicking on the arrows in Mach3. That's it. I'm just making sure the signals are passing from Mach3 to my parallel cable. Can I test this with a multimeter?
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Yes, you should be able to test that with a meter.
Brett
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Here's my xml
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You will be able to see your direction pin changing easier than the step pin. The step will be a fast pulse.
Darek
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Yeah still getting nothing. Just a constant 5V.
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Cristobal,
That is all you will see with a meter. You would need a scope to see the varying signals I would think.
Brett
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I was working with another program before and the voltage would change between 0v and 5v as I changed directions. I assumed that would be the same here. Maybe not. If not I'll stop worrying about it.
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It all depends on how you have things set up. But yes, you should see the change with the meter from 0-5v I would think. There was no attachment with the post you tried to put your xml in. :( I have attached mine for you to look at.
Brett
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Trying to post the xml again
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You should see changes on the direction pins. I just checked my breakout board, and the direction pins change state when direction is reversed...and they stay at that level until another direction change.
You won't see the step signals with a multimeter, though. They are much too narrow. You'd need an oscilloscope for that.
FWIW, I'd guess your Parallel Port I/O address is not set correctly if everything else is working. It might be wise to review the installation section of the manual and the installation video and play around with your Parallel Port description in the config tab.
Hang in there...it took me quite a while to get my Mach I/O running correctly...and I'm a long-time Computer Design EE in my day job! There are a large number of factors involved...and sometimes a bit of guesswork. I found the manual and email from Art Fenerty extremely helpful.
Getting two very simple pieces of equipment to talk to each other can often be very trying. There's an old EE saying about Serial COM port hookups, "It always seems to take three hours to hook up three wires!"
Good Luck!
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Ok here's a question- I go to my device manager and click on the port I want to use. Under the "port settings" tab it gives three choices- 1) try not to use an interrupt
2) Never use an interrupt and 3) Use any interrupt assigned to the port. Which one do I want? Any ideas? BTW Thanks for all your help (or at least encouragement) so far. It is appreciated.
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Thanks Patmul. You said that much better.
Cristobal,
I see you have two parallel ports. Are you sure you have the right address and pluged into the right one? Try changing the active low on your e-stop in config, ports and pins, input signals.
Brett
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I used the "use any interrupt assigned" selection successfully.
I'm not positive it matters for MACH as it's not mentioned in the docs. But, multi-threaded systems (like WinXP) need interrupts to function efficiently.
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Mine are set to never use an interrupt.
Brett
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I changed the active low on my estop but now it gives me "external estop requested" and I can't do anything.
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OK, change it back. one thing eliminated.
Brett
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Hi, Cristobal
Try this XML it's yours, your Port1 is set Back to 378 std port for #1 and your Dir / Step ports are set to 1 now.
Give it a Try, Chip
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Bingo! I'm psyched. Thank you. I needed to set the step/dir pins to port 1. That's all. It even works on my other port at CEE8 which is great. Thanks for all your help. Don't worry though, you haven't seen the last of me and my stupid questions!
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Dont understand that as the xml you posted had the step/dir port set as 1 already. Oh well who cares as long as you are running, now you can start the real fun :-)
Hood