Machsupport Forum
Mach Discussion => General Mach Discussion => Topic started by: ffulmer on October 06, 2007, 05:16:39 PM
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About a month back I installed a second printer board in my computer, the test says it is there and working fine. I installed a second breakout board from CNC in Florida. I then wired my Manual Pulse Generator into the board as per the diagram from CNC. I got nothing! I moved the MPG “A and B” wires to my first breakout board and it worked perfectly. I checked the RS-232 pins and got nothing!
It appeared that I was not getting the signal through the breakout board so I contacted CNC and he was kind enough to replace it with a new one. After replacing this board with a new one I still got nothing!!! Why is it not working? Oh yeah, I also changed the address for the second printer board to 400 in the “Ports and Pins” settings in Mach3. Although I must admit I don’t fully understand if that is correct or not but it comes from the LPT2 manager. Any computer people out there have any ideas what I missed or how I can test to locate the problem.
Fred
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Have a look in device manager at the LPT2 and on the resources tab you want the first 4 numbers or letters that are in the I/O Range. I have circled them in the screenshot of my LPT1. If the first digit is a 0 you dont have to enter this although doing so will not make any difference. If its a Letter or another digit you will need to enter it, eg if its A400 then you need the A.
Hood
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That was a good lead and may still be related to my problem, but I changed it to read: Oxd400 and a few other versions with no change. One other thing is on my second port I have two lines, the first one is I/O Range D400-D407 and the second is I/O D800-D807. The box with "Use Automatic is light and not active, but the "No conflicts is clear. Oh, yes, I also tried the d800 and I enter them a "D" but it changes them to "d".
Fred
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D400 is the correct one so if it still doesnt work with that then there is another problem. How about posting your xml and maybe we can see something there.
Hood
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Another few thoughts, make sure your cable is a straight through one, some can have crossover pins. Also if you have a voltmeter put it between an output pin and ground. Set that pin up in ports and pins as one of the outputs and activate it and see what the voltage shows.
Hood
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I sent you the XML file as an attachment, but I don't see it here yet. I had checked the cable with my meter by going from pin to pin. But I will chck it as you do. Thank you.
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You might have to rename the xml as if its been posted previously under that name it wont post. So if you are just using the standard Mach3Mill.xml copy it to your desktop and then rename it to something like ffulmer.xml, it should then attach fine.
Hood
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I hope you can get this. Thank you.
Fred
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I forgot: the pins are not correct on this XML file. They are really port 2 pin 2 and port 2 pin 3. Sorry for the confusion.
Fred
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That last note about the pins only means the file I sent did not have the correct pin numbers ( I had been changing it around so much). I still have the same problem.
If I put my meter on the 2 or 3 pin from the break out board and go to ground as I turn the MPG I should see 5 volts or some action. Is that correct?
Fred
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Fred the easiest thing to do is put the meter on the end of the cable that conects to the breakout (but disconected from it) put the meter to pin 2 and ground then set up Pin 2 on port 2 as Output 4 in the outputs page. Open the VB script editor from the Operator menu in Mach and put this into it and press the green arrow, you should see the voltage change for 2 seconds then back again.
ActivateSignal (OutPut4)
Code "G4P2"
While Ismoving
Wend
DeActivateSignal (OutPut4)
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Also I dont know about your breakout but it may be similar to the PMDX122 in that if you want to use Pins 2 to 9 as Inputs you need to set jumpers on the breakout.
Oh also if you use Pin 2 like I suggested above you will need to take the tick out of the Pins 2-9 as Inputs box. It might be easier just to set the pin for output 4 as pin 16 on port 2 and measure between it and ground.
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Hood
I have two break out boards in my machine and all my tests show I'm not getting the signal through this second board. Both of my break out boards are from CNC in Florida, the first being an older style and this second one is a newer design. My "MPG" works fine running on the old board on port 1 so after much testing I sent back the new board and he replaced without any problems but now I have the same results, nothing! I don't get the signal through the new board, because the pulses are so fast I wonder if this new board could be filtering them out?
Fred
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Hood
Sorry, I just saw your last two posts.
Yes this new board has a jumper which I have set for pins 2-9 to be inputs. In fact this board has a diagram showing the hook-up for a MPG in this manner. Should be simple, well maybe, but not in my case. Unfortunately I wasted most of the weekend with this problem and now I need to do such things as mow the lawn, but later today I will try your test. Although from previous testing everything indicates the second printer board and cable are now working fine. With nothing coming through the breakout board.
Fred
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Just another idea as a test, try using some of the normal inputs (10,11,12,13,15) on your breakout to hook up the MPG, this will let you know if they at least are working.
Hood
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Hood
I did as you suggested by putting my MPG on to pins 12 and 13 of this second break out board and now it works. Great!!!!! So much for the instruction sheet for this board and I’m not sure what I can do with these other pins.
There is one thing; when I use the MPG the “Y” axis is backwards from what I think it should be. I guess I’ll just have to get use to it or mark something on it so I don’t forget. Being an old Bridgeport man I crank before I think!
Well, anyway thank you for your patience and a job well done. I must say you didn’t give up, “you where like a dog on a bone” you kept up until the job was done. Again I “Thank you!”
Fred
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Glad you got it working.
Just for kicks put a voltmeter on one of the pins from 2-9 and connect the other end to ground, do you see a voltage?
Hood
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Hi, Fred
Reg: "When I use the MPG the “Y” axis is backwards from what I think it should be".
In your Ports and Pins, Motor Outputs, Are all your Axises set to the same Dir LowActive, ether X or Checked ? (thy should all be the same)
In Motor Home/Soft Limits, Reversed Box should be used to change Axis Direction?
If this doesn't fix it, You need to swap your stepper motor wires on the rev axis to solve this, (4 wire stepper, Swap A & A-), ( 5-6 wire stepper, Swap 1234
to 4321), Then un-check the Rev. Box.
I've sent you a PM (top of this page, User Info) or PM your Phone #.
Hope this Helps, Chip
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Hey guys ( HOOD) if u are out there I know it has been a while since this post has been active I am trying to add a mpg to my pc using a 2nd printer port. My 1st printer port is for controlling my cnc machines control box and the 2nd is for the mpg . After setting up the settings in mach 3 demo it will only let me use the dial on the mpg I have to use the selector switches on the tab menu if I want to changes axis or resolution can some one help please
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You will need some "brains".
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Great thanks for the reply ....yes I need some brains is right I will make this brain and see what I get ... I tried the brain that came from cnc4pc but it made things worse . It went from having control of the rotary dial to nothing using their brain.
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Is that input lobe, no operation greater than, less than , or equal to?
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You will need some "brains".
It seems that nothing happened after making this brain is there any other help that may work ? My problem is that I have to use the tab button and click on the axis wanted to jog or the resolution wanted the only thing that works from the mpg is the dial any clue what is causing this???
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First, you have to define OEM triggerrs in Settings/Ports and Pins, i.e. where your switches are connected.
Also you have to define where your encoder is connected
In the brain that I posted as image, I used to use el-cheapo encoder with integrated push button which was used to toggle Jog On/Off to be able to select and jog an axis at the predetermined distance-per-click.
That brain was used years ago, the pendant was sorta diy from acrylic and was made just for fun :)
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First, you have to define OEM triggerrs in Settings/Ports and Pins, i.e. where your switches are connected.
Also you have to define where your encoder is connected
In the brain that I posted as image, I used to use el-cheapo encoder with integrated push button which was used to toggle Jog On/Off to be able to select and jog an axis at the predetermined distance-per-click.
That brain was used years ago, the pendant was sorta diy from acrylic and was made just for fun :)
Haha el cheapo is kinda where I'm at right now and it is another reason y I thought that the brain I wrote ( very similar to the picture) would have worked I believe my printer port card is my problem. Do you have a sure fire way to test the port?