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FAQs / Re: Migrating Machine - Parallel Port Will Not Run
« on: September 12, 2010, 03:55:12 PM »
Another weekend and some more clues. In fact, I think I know what is causing my
problem but I am uncertain how to fix it.
I brought my production system to the custmers location and plugged it in. After
moving over the customers profile, I found that two of the axis step (marginally) and
one axis does not.
I opened up the controller and started looking at some voltages off the parallel cable.
The installation has a 30 foot cable. The system that was working produces signals
that are +5 Volts and .6 Volts respectively. This is not the best but it works. The system(s)
that do not work only produce 3.5 Volts and .72 Volts.
Clearly this is an interface problem and I suspect that the newer systems don't drive the
parallel port as well as the customers old system did.
Does anybody have suggestions on how to accommodate a 30 foot run of cable? Before you
ask, yes the cable is 1284 IEEE certified. It is not the high end quality but it is supposed to
meet spec.
The current controller is made from Geckos and the interface is not optical breakout. I have
to wonder if that woul help.
problem but I am uncertain how to fix it.
I brought my production system to the custmers location and plugged it in. After
moving over the customers profile, I found that two of the axis step (marginally) and
one axis does not.
I opened up the controller and started looking at some voltages off the parallel cable.
The installation has a 30 foot cable. The system that was working produces signals
that are +5 Volts and .6 Volts respectively. This is not the best but it works. The system(s)
that do not work only produce 3.5 Volts and .72 Volts.
Clearly this is an interface problem and I suspect that the newer systems don't drive the
parallel port as well as the customers old system did.
Does anybody have suggestions on how to accommodate a 30 foot run of cable? Before you
ask, yes the cable is 1284 IEEE certified. It is not the high end quality but it is supposed to
meet spec.
The current controller is made from Geckos and the interface is not optical breakout. I have
to wonder if that woul help.