Machsupport Forum

Mach Discussion => General Mach Discussion => Topic started by: gene8522 on February 03, 2017, 02:57:40 AM

Title: New parallel port card question
Post by: gene8522 on February 03, 2017, 02:57:40 AM
I installed a new parallel port card but Mach3 is not seeing it. I'm not sure if I know how to input the I/O address. The I/O address of the ECP Printer Port (LPT1) shows C400-C470. If I input 0xC400 Mach3 doesn't like it. And 0x400 won't work. Is there another way of enter C400-C470? I'm not sure I understand what "enter in Hex 0-9 A-F only"  means.  ???
Title: Re: New parallel port card question
Post by: Tweakie.CNC on February 03, 2017, 03:12:33 AM
Quote
If I input 0xC400 Mach3 doesn't like it.

From the info you have given that is the correct address to enter.


Tweakie.
Title: Re: New parallel port card question
Post by: gene8522 on February 03, 2017, 09:12:37 AM
Here is more history on this problem. I sold my 'BlackToe CNC' to a friend. He didn't want the PC that has been running the 'BlackToe' because he has two PCs that we thought he could use. It has been my understanding that Mach3 would run on any PC using an USB drive with a working copy of Mach3mill from the PC that had been running the CNC before on it. But the USB drive with Mach3mill doesn't recognize the parallel port on ether of the PCs. I can open Mach3 from the USB drive and run the DROs but "motor turning" will not open. Something tells me that Mach3mill will not run on a different PC using a USB drive and see the Parallel port, but has to have the full copy of Mach3 installed on it. Is this correct????
Title: Re: New parallel port card question
Post by: Tweakie.CNC on February 03, 2017, 10:24:32 AM
Not sure that I understand completely but...

Mach3 needs to be installed on the PC's Hard Drive if you wish to use the parallel port. You can download Version 3.043.062 from the .ftp site here ftp://anonymous:guest@ftp.machsupport.com/Mach3/ (ftp://anonymous:guest@ftp.machsupport.com/Mach3/)

Tweakie.
Title: Re: New parallel port card question
Post by: TOTALLYRC on February 05, 2017, 08:58:55 AM
According to some other posts Mach3 should always be installed on the computers hard drive. Even if it runs from a USB drive it can result in problems.


Mike
Title: Re: New parallel port card question
Post by: ger21 on February 05, 2017, 09:39:09 AM
Quote
It has been my understanding that Mach3 would run on any PC using an USB drive with a working copy of Mach3mill from the PC that had been running the CNC before on it.

If you don't run the Mach3 installer, the parallel port driver will not be installed. I beleive that this is why the motor tuning window does not display.
What you want to do is first install Mach3 using the installer, and then copy the entire Mach3 folder from your flash drive and overwrite the one you just installed.
This will give you a functioning duplicate  of the install on the other machine.
As for the port address, you only need to enter C400.

Title: Re: New parallel port card question
Post by: gene8522 on February 05, 2017, 12:51:05 PM
Gerry thanks for the reply
I'm at a complete loss on this one. I have tried to install Mach3.056 using the installer. The PC I’m trying to install on has Windows 7 OS but for some reason we can't get Mach3 to install the parallel port. When I look at the diagnostics page there is no pulse reading only 'Simulation', and no lights on the 'Port 1 pin', I'm guessing that is because Mach3 is not opening the parallel port drivers.
At this point I'm not even sure what question to ask to get a good answer.
Title: Re: New parallel port card question
Post by: ger21 on February 05, 2017, 03:17:27 PM
Are you using a 32 bit version of Windows 7?
64 bit versions will not work.
Title: Re: New parallel port card question
Post by: gene8522 on February 05, 2017, 04:32:00 PM
I believe that the PC it is 64 bit, I'll check
Thanks
Title: Re: New parallel port card question
Post by: gene8522 on February 05, 2017, 04:48:26 PM
The PC we have been trying to use is 64 bit so that answers a lot of questions. The sad thing is I knew that Mach3 needs 32 bit to run.  Let me ask a dumb........ Can I uninstall the Windows 7 64 bit and install Windows 7 32 bit? I think I know the answer 32 bit Window needs 32 bit CPU.
Title: Re: New parallel port card question
Post by: ger21 on February 05, 2017, 05:07:01 PM
Most if not all PC CPU's have been 64 bit for a long time now.
Yes, you can install a 32bit OS on them.
Title: Re: New parallel port card question
Post by: gene8522 on February 05, 2017, 05:41:03 PM
OK Thanks
Title: Re: New parallel port card question
Post by: RICH on February 06, 2017, 05:58:15 AM
An option is to have a dual boot computer. IE; Mine has XP ( 32 bit ) and Win7 ( 64 bit ) and you are asked what to use when the PC is first started.
You will be limited to 4 meg of memory.

RICH