Machsupport Forum

Mach Discussion => General Mach Discussion => Topic started by: Joz on September 14, 2013, 04:50:11 AM

Title: Newbie: Mach3 won't register input switches or turn steppers
Post by: Joz on September 14, 2013, 04:50:11 AM

Hi, wondering if you can help, I am new to CNC machining and Mach3.
I have wired up my CNC machine and started setting it up to run on Mach3.

The problem:
Mach3 will not register the limit switches or the E stop switches and the Stepper Motors will not turn.
If I hit an E stop or push a limit switch, the LED's in Mach3 on the diagnostics page do not light up. 


The hardware I am using: (all from CNC4YOU.co.uk)
HG07 break out board
CW5045 Stepper Motor Drivers
60BYGH401-03 stepper motors
Windows XP on a dedicated PC


What I have done to try and get it to work:
Checked all wiring, reinstalled Mach3, checked parallel port driver. The steppers are receiving a voltage, and the limit switches and the
E Stops are on a Normally Closed circuit, which breaks when I push a switch and test it with a multimeter.
I have run driver test= system excellent.
Under Ports and Pins:
Port set up is on port 1, 0x378
Motor outputs for X,Y & Z are set up on what I believe be the correct pins, DirLow Active is enabled
Input signals are set to port 1, each limit switch and E stop has the correct pin number entered, active low is enabled for each.


Can anyone help? It's probably something dead simple but I am at a loss to know what to do next.
Many thanks
Joz


 

 

Title: Re: Newbie: Mach3 won't register input switches or turn steppers
Post by: jimthefish on September 14, 2013, 05:23:21 AM

If all is not working have you set the step and dir port to 1, you need to do this for your inputs and outputs, they are on the right hand side of the ports and pin menus. Just had a second read of your post and you have set them so I suggest you wait for someone like Hood who will ask for you to send your xml set up file, they will then sort out you problem.

Title: Re: Newbie: Mach3 won't register input switches or turn steppers
Post by: ger21 on September 14, 2013, 08:33:16 AM

If the Reset button is flashing, try toggling the Active low setting for the Estop. If it's not flashing, then your port address may be wrong.

Title: Re: Newbie: Mach3 won't register input switches or turn steppers
Post by: Joz on September 16, 2013, 02:20:56 PM

Quote from: ger21 on September 14, 2013, 08:33:16 AM

If the Reset button is flashing, try toggling the Active low setting for the Estop. If it's not flashing, then your port address may be wrong.

Hi, the reset button isn't flashing. I have set the port address to 1, is this the correct address? If not, how would I find out what the correct address is?

Title: Re: Newbie: Mach3 won't register input switches or turn steppers
Post by: Hood on September 16, 2013, 02:34:48 PM

Are you connected to the motherboards parallel port or is it an addon port (PCI Port)
If you attach your xml I will have a look to see if there are any obvious config issues.
Hood

Title: Re: Newbie: Mach3 won't register input switches or turn steppers
Post by: Joz on September 16, 2013, 02:50:42 PM

Hi, I'm using the motherboards parallel port. I'll attach the xml file tomorrow (it's on work computer)
Thanks
 

Title: Re: Newbie: Mach3 won't register input switches or turn steppers
Post by: Joz on September 17, 2013, 08:29:12 AM

Here's the .xml file

Title: Re: Newbie: Mach3 won't register input switches or turn steppers
Post by: Joz on September 17, 2013, 09:54:48 AM

Fixed! Faulty parallel port cable. I've swapped it and it's running ok now.
Thanks for your help.