Machsupport Forum

Mach Discussion => General Mach Discussion => Topic started by: Davek0974 on April 10, 2014, 02:42:24 AM

Title: Breakout Board input, just a thought...
Post by: Davek0974 on April 10, 2014, 02:42:24 AM
It seems that the standard boards are limited to the 5 input lines on a LPT port, is it not possible to use these lines as a 5 bit word, that would give us 32 possible inputs (i think) but would need a little change or secondary add-on to the breakout board plus a decoder at the Mach3 end.

Just a thought, the breakout board end id simple as it can be a secondary encoder board connected to the standard input lines, Mach on the other hand I don't know about.
Title: Re: Breakout Board input, just a thought...
Post by: Hood on April 10, 2014, 03:37:15 AM
Get a second port or an external controller and you can have many more inputs.
Hood
Title: Re: Breakout Board input, just a thought...
Post by: Davek0974 on April 10, 2014, 03:46:11 AM
Ah but second port = two cables to the PC plus another BOB etc, external controller=£££

Just wondering :)
Title: Re: Breakout Board input, just a thought...
Post by: Hood on April 10, 2014, 05:10:09 AM


Ah but second port = two cables to the PC plus another BOB etc, external controller=£££

Just wondering :)
Yes, but just remember where you started and how much extra things have cost so far by saving money at the start ;)
I certainly know when I started I bought  cheap and ended up having to buy further to get what I wanted, ie initial cheap stuff was crap and money wasted.

Hood
Title: Re: Breakout Board input, just a thought...
Post by: Davek0974 on April 10, 2014, 05:18:42 AM


Ah but second port = two cables to the PC plus another BOB etc, external controller=£££

Just wondering :)
Yes, but just remember where you started and how much extra things have cost so far by saving money at the start ;)
I certainly know when I started I bought  cheap and ended up having to buy further to get what I wanted, ie initial cheap stuff was crap and money wasted.

Hood

Of course, some you win some you lose :)
Title: Re: Breakout Board input, just a thought...
Post by: stirling on April 10, 2014, 06:27:26 AM
There is a system out there (ironically enough) yet another THC that I believe does multiplex parallel port I/O in some way or another. To me it seems unnecessarily complex.
Title: Re: Breakout Board input, just a thought...
Post by: Hood on April 10, 2014, 06:40:33 AM
I think the PMDX 126 BOB also does it but that would require you having to purchase another BOB so.....
Hood
Title: Re: Breakout Board input, just a thought...
Post by: Davek0974 on April 10, 2014, 06:48:28 AM
They do say there is no such thing as new idea :)