Machsupport Forum

Mach Discussion => General Mach Discussion => Topic started by: JonOfArc on December 31, 2017, 09:35:56 AM

Title: 5 Axis BoB no inputs
Post by: JonOfArc on December 31, 2017, 09:35:56 AM

Hi everyone,

I am currently trying to retrofit an old Boxford 125tcl.
It came with the well known Chinese 5 axis break out board which is working fine for the steppers, but the input signals are giving me a headache.

I am powering the BoB by USB and the power LED comes on.
I have wired a standard E Stop button up, with one cable to GND on the BoB and one cable to Pin 10 as described in the documents that came with the board. I tested the wiring with my multimeter and the switch works fine.
But in Mach, nothing is recognised. I tried the automatic input dialog, i set up the port number and triggered the E-stop multiple times, but no signal is recognised.
I tried the other pins, no difference.
I tried using another board of the same type, no difference.
Lastly i tried to power the board via the 5 volt input, and the board works, but not the inputs.

Something i noticed is that there seems to be no power to come out of the inputs which would power the circuits.
Do you need to power the inputs via a second power supply.


The board i am using is identical to this one:
https://m.ebay.com/itm/MACH3-5-Axis-CNC-Breakout-Interface-Board-for-Stepper-Motor-Driver-CNC-Mill-/271059157869#vi__app-cvip-panel

Anyone got any suggestions?

Thank you, a happy new year and best regards,

Jon

Title: Re: 5 Axis BoB no inputs
Post by: Davek0974 on December 31, 2017, 09:52:40 AM

I'm not sure but don't these boards need an external 12v supply to activate the inputs/relay???

Title: Re: 5 Axis BoB no inputs
Post by: Tweakie.CNC on December 31, 2017, 10:37:51 AM

Quote

I'm not sure but don't these boards need an external 12v supply to activate the inputs/relay???

As Dave has said you need a 12V to 24V power source connected to the board to enable the Inputs and non-step/direction Outputs to work correctly.

Tweakie.

Title: Re: 5 Axis BoB no inputs
Post by: wmgeorge on January 01, 2018, 01:27:58 PM

Just wondering and maybe all the BoB's are the different.  Why the USB port on the board (and Parallel port also) to supply voltage or what?

Title: Re: 5 Axis BoB no inputs
Post by: JonOfArc on January 01, 2018, 02:07:25 PM

Quote from: Tweakie.CNC on December 31, 2017, 10:37:51 AM

Quote

I'm not sure but don't these boards need an external 12v supply to activate the inputs/relay???

As Dave has said you need a 12V to 24V power source connected to the board to enable the Inputs and non-step/direction Outputs to work correctly.

Tweakie.

That's right, it turned out to need a 24 Volt input in order for the optocouplers to work!

Thanks a lot :)