Machsupport Forum

Mach Discussion => Mach3 under Vista => Topic started by: Hylan on December 27, 2014, 04:22:15 PM

Title: Serial Outputs Working, Inputs Not
Post by: Hylan on December 27, 2014, 04:22:15 PM
I just built a new computer Windows7-32bit and installed Mach3.  My machine is running using a db25 parallel port and is outputting and controlling the machine fine.  However, I have no inputs.  My E-stop is on pin 12 and it worked fine on the older XP computer that died.  Now I can't for the life of me figure out why it's not working.  I had to change how it was setup just to clear the estop.

I had seen that I might need to change my bios for the serial port to ECP+EPP from bidirectional.  However, this isn't an option in my bios (see attached picture).

Any suggestions are welcome.  I'm wondering if I don't need to add a Smooth Stepper to the system and not use the serial output?  Thoughts on this?

Thanks,
Hylan
Title: Re: Serial Outputs Working, Inputs Not
Post by: TPS on December 28, 2014, 05:49:07 AM
Hi,

you are looking in the serial port settings, but
you have to look for parallel Port settings.

Thomas
Title: Re: Serial Outputs Working, Inputs Not
Post by: Hylan on December 28, 2014, 02:49:32 PM
Thomas, you are right and I went back in and there are no bios settings for the parallel ports.  I guess this makes sense since the mobo doesn't have any parallel ports on it.  I have a old parallel port installed (not sure of it's make or model) and this one is the one I'm using and running the machine with.  It outputs but doesn't input.
I saw others posting that the Lava dual PP boards work really well.  So I bought one and installed it.  However, I can't get it to work at all.  I think it's a setting issue, but I can't get any of the utility software to run on my computer.
Any advice on how to configure the Lava board on a Win7-32 machine?
Thanks,
Hylan
Title: Re: Serial Outputs Working, Inputs Not
Post by: TPS on December 29, 2014, 02:04:08 AM
Hylan,
have you checked in control panel -> hardware (hope it named so in the englisch version)
how the card is detected by the system ?
maybe you have to install a new driver from Lava homepage.

Thomas
Title: Re: Serial Outputs Working, Inputs Not
Post by: Hylan on January 05, 2015, 05:59:58 PM
Thomas,

Yes, I checked everything and downloaded the driver from Lava.  It still didn't work.  I finally gave up and installed an Ethernet Smooth Stepper and everything is now back up and running properly!

Thank you,
Hylan