Machsupport Forum

Mach Discussion => General Mach Discussion => Topic started by: Fusco96 on February 07, 2019, 08:15:28 AM

Title: Mach3 Breakout Board Inputs
Post by: Fusco96 on February 07, 2019, 08:15:28 AM

I have a Mach3 PCI breakout board. Am trying to configure my limit switches to 3 of the 5 input pins available(10,11,12,13,15).
So my configuration is as follows:
X Axis Limit switch: port 1 pin 15
Y Axis Limit switch: port 1 pin 13
Z Axis Limit switch: port 1 pin 12

The x and y axis limit switches do trigger the interrupt on the software but the z axis does not. Have verified that the limit switch works fine. In fact when I put the z axis signal into the x axis pin, it does trigger the interrupt. I feel that there is some error in the port and pin configuration for the z axis. Any help in this regard is much appreciated.

Thank You

Title: Re: Mach3 Breakout Board Inputs
Post by: Tweakie.CNC on February 07, 2019, 10:07:36 AM

Quote from: Fusco96 on February 07, 2019, 08:15:28 AM

I have a Mach3 PCI breakout board.

Can you give us some more details about this breakout board ?

Title: Re: Mach3 Breakout Board Inputs
Post by: TPS on February 07, 2019, 10:38:48 AM

have you tryed to connect to an other pin (10/11)?

Title: Re: Mach3 Breakout Board Inputs
Post by: Fusco96 on February 08, 2019, 12:55:29 AM

Hi

PFA the link to the user manual for the board

https://warp9td.com/images/BOB_Vendors/StepperOnline/ST-V2.pdf

@TPS Yeah we did try that. the same problem for pins 10, 11, 12 but 13 and 15 work fine

Title: Re: Mach3 Breakout Board Inputs
Post by: Tweakie.CNC on February 08, 2019, 01:37:45 AM

Do you have the 12 - 24V power supply connected to the breakout board ?

Title: Re: Mach3 Breakout Board Inputs
Post by: Fusco96 on February 08, 2019, 01:54:11 AM

Yes

Title: Re: Mach3 Breakout Board Inputs
Post by: Tweakie.CNC on February 08, 2019, 02:09:17 AM

Bin that breakout board and replace with one of better quality.

Title: Re: Mach3 Breakout Board Inputs
Post by: Fusco96 on February 08, 2019, 02:15:31 AM

Would have done that, but tested 2 such boards out. Both have the same problem, which seems highly inconvenient

Title: Re: Mach3 Breakout Board Inputs
Post by: joeaverage on February 08, 2019, 02:39:59 AM

Hi,
when I was still using Mach3 (now on Mach4) I used two breakout boards from Homann Designs in Auatrailia:

https://www.homanndesigns.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=54_22&products_id=59&zenid=d57t79b1cg7ac4l2676v12okd5 (https://www.homanndesigns.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=54_22&products_id=59&zenid=d57t79b1cg7ac4l2676v12okd5)

Of course I live in New Zealand so close to local for me. Been great. I still use them now that I have a Smoothstepper.

Really that's your choice....just get a breakout board and stick with a parallel port (and its limitations) or get yourself
an external motion controller like a SmoothStepper or a UC300 or similar.

DONT BUY CHINESE JUNK!
Cheap is about the only thing you'll like about them.....and really, are they that cheap when you have to throw them out
because they don't work?

Craig