Machsupport Forum

Mach Discussion => General Mach Discussion => Topic started by: vcipriani on July 04, 2018, 08:24:25 PM

Title: X,Y, and Z axis not moving when using Mach3
Post by: vcipriani on July 04, 2018, 08:24:25 PM

Hi everyone. I was wondering if I can get some help. Let me give you some background on my problem. I built a 2 x4 cnc machine back in 2013 with the plans and hardware I purchased on the buildyourcnc.com website. So for 5 years I've been using the cnc machine with Mach 3 and windows xp with no issues. 2 weeks ago my computer harddrive blew. I had a newer computer running windows 7 32 bit. So I went to machsupport and downloaded Mach 3 R3.043. I copied and paste my licence in the root of Mach3 folder. I followed the set by set procedures to setup and calibrate Mach3 and my cnc machine. I also disabled the estop. Now when I try to move the x, y, or z axis my cnc machine will not move. when I plug in my parallel port and usb cable from my cnc box to my computer I hear a knock sound from all 3 motors telling me that the motors are starting up. However when I try to test my cnc to see if the axis move it does not. The only difference between when my cnc use to work and now is that I updated the operating system from windows xp to windows 7 32 bit and I changed the 3 leadscrews for the x,y and z axis to a acme 1/2" - 10 TPI 5 starts (2 turns per inch). Any ideas how to fix the issue.

Thx

Vince

Title: Re: X,Y, and Z axis not moving when using Mach3
Post by: joeaverage on July 04, 2018, 08:42:31 PM

Hi,
in recent times there has been an issue that MS updates to Windows7 have stopped Mach's
parallel port from running.

Try running DriverTest.exe to see if the parallel port is running.

You will probably have to remove three updates from Windows7 before the parallel port will work
and keep it off the Net to avoid future updates.

Another alternative is to buy an external motion controller like a SmoothStepper, external controllers have been
unaffected.

Craig

Title: Re: X,Y, and Z axis not moving when using Mach3
Post by: ger21 on July 04, 2018, 08:59:33 PM

Quote

when I plug in my parallel port and usb cable from my cnc box to my computer

What's the USB cable plugged into? If you have a motion controller, you may need to install a plugin for it.

Title: Re: X,Y, and Z axis not moving when using Mach3
Post by: vcipriani on July 04, 2018, 10:57:36 PM

Hi Craig,

Thanks for your help. Do you happen to know which update needs to be removed?


Hi Gerry

Thx for you input. Do you know which plugin I need to get?


Thx

Vince

Title: Re: X,Y, and Z axis not moving when using Mach3
Post by: ger21 on July 05, 2018, 02:30:32 AM

Not without knowing which controller you have.

Title: Re: X,Y, and Z axis not moving when using Mach3
Post by: joeaverage on July 06, 2018, 03:34:41 AM

Hi,
I can't find the list, a PM to Bryanna would do the trick.

Do you have a parallel port OR an external motion controller? You mention a parallel port in your post and then talk about a USB.....which is it?.

If its a parallel port then Machs parallel port driver IS THE plugin. If you have a USB connected external controller then the manufacturer of the board
provides the plugin.

Craig

Title: Re: X,Y, and Z axis not moving when using Mach3
Post by: bryannab on July 06, 2018, 08:19:25 AM

The Win7 updates that have caused issues most recently are listed below. However, these cause a system restart when Mach3 starts (and the parallel port "takes over") or when the DriverTest is run.

April: KB4093118
May: KB4103718
June: KB4284826

-Bryanna