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General Mach Discussion / Re: Parallel port for PCI bus that works with Mach3 - just passing along info
« on: February 24, 2015, 06:52:04 AM »
Hey all.
I was smacking my head against a brick wall for 2 days trying to get mach3 working.
I got it working and so will place my input of how.
My Setup:
- mach3 v2.0
- dual pci parallel port (no brand off ebay $37...NEW PCIe PCI-E PARALLEL 1284 DB25 2 PORT CARD WORK WINDOWS 8 / 7 / DOS / LINUX. seller:chunwai_1996)
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/111581764969?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT
- Automated Tec package with: Gecko G540, nema23's an a nema34 + psu
http://www.automationtechnologiesinc.com/products-page/g540-stepper-motor-kits/g540-3-axis-nema23-381ozin-nema34-906ozin-48v12-5a-psu
Process-Symptoms:
- followed installation instructions here: http://www.geckodrive.com/support/application-notes/step-drives/g540-initial-setup-guide.html
installed the xml file from here: http://www.geckodrive.com/support/application-notes/step-drives/g540-xml-file.html
- got to the stage with the charge pump switched off, green led and stepper motor was on/locked.
- no communication with mach3.
- did research and found out how to set the parallel ports: http://www.hobbycncaustralia.com/Instructions/iI20PinsandPorts.htm
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R3futACR6dM
- didnt know whether to set the onboard parallel as enabled or disabled etc.
- tried numerous things like changing through all the ltp's and i/o's, no result.
- found I had windows 7 x64. Mach seemed to be working fine, but I got fooled.
- installed windows 7 x32 with stored 'windows old'
- reinstalled mach3, still didnt work
- formatted and did clean sweep of OS and installed windows 7 x32
- installed mach3. came up with a warning popup to install driver, hit ok. waited a couple of mins and it was successfully installed (no popup with x64 bit)
- in bios set the onboard to enabled, epp, left the other settings (even though I dont have an onboard port and installed a pci dual port)
- in mach 3 used the g540 xml,
- went through controll panel, device drivers, looked at the parallel port. it was listed as epc, i/o DD00, LTP2 ( i knew this was the one I was connected to because with the gecko and motors plugged in without charge pump, changing the LTP number made the steppers twitch)
- entered in those details to #1 port mach3
- I went into config ports/pins and unticked the e-stop on inputs and unticked the outputs charge pump (just to temp limit other possible hiccups)
- hit reset button... a popup warning appeared to do with the e-stop, clicked apply/ok,
- used arrow keys and finally it worked.
MAIN PROBLEM- windows 7 64 bit install, seemed to install drivers, but they dont work.
RESOLUTION- install windows 7 32bit FRESH. I had re installed with 'windows old'. This somehow got in the way when trying to reinstall mach3 and getting that driver working!
Tomorrow I will try running with charge pump re-enabled.
Thanks guys for all the chat, took me a while, but I think im nearly there.
I was smacking my head against a brick wall for 2 days trying to get mach3 working.
I got it working and so will place my input of how.
My Setup:
- mach3 v2.0
- dual pci parallel port (no brand off ebay $37...NEW PCIe PCI-E PARALLEL 1284 DB25 2 PORT CARD WORK WINDOWS 8 / 7 / DOS / LINUX. seller:chunwai_1996)
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/111581764969?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT
- Automated Tec package with: Gecko G540, nema23's an a nema34 + psu
http://www.automationtechnologiesinc.com/products-page/g540-stepper-motor-kits/g540-3-axis-nema23-381ozin-nema34-906ozin-48v12-5a-psu
Process-Symptoms:
- followed installation instructions here: http://www.geckodrive.com/support/application-notes/step-drives/g540-initial-setup-guide.html
installed the xml file from here: http://www.geckodrive.com/support/application-notes/step-drives/g540-xml-file.html
- got to the stage with the charge pump switched off, green led and stepper motor was on/locked.
- no communication with mach3.
- did research and found out how to set the parallel ports: http://www.hobbycncaustralia.com/Instructions/iI20PinsandPorts.htm
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R3futACR6dM
- didnt know whether to set the onboard parallel as enabled or disabled etc.
- tried numerous things like changing through all the ltp's and i/o's, no result.
- found I had windows 7 x64. Mach seemed to be working fine, but I got fooled.
- installed windows 7 x32 with stored 'windows old'
- reinstalled mach3, still didnt work
- formatted and did clean sweep of OS and installed windows 7 x32
- installed mach3. came up with a warning popup to install driver, hit ok. waited a couple of mins and it was successfully installed (no popup with x64 bit)
- in bios set the onboard to enabled, epp, left the other settings (even though I dont have an onboard port and installed a pci dual port)
- in mach 3 used the g540 xml,
- went through controll panel, device drivers, looked at the parallel port. it was listed as epc, i/o DD00, LTP2 ( i knew this was the one I was connected to because with the gecko and motors plugged in without charge pump, changing the LTP number made the steppers twitch)
- entered in those details to #1 port mach3
- I went into config ports/pins and unticked the e-stop on inputs and unticked the outputs charge pump (just to temp limit other possible hiccups)
- hit reset button... a popup warning appeared to do with the e-stop, clicked apply/ok,
- used arrow keys and finally it worked.
MAIN PROBLEM- windows 7 64 bit install, seemed to install drivers, but they dont work.
RESOLUTION- install windows 7 32bit FRESH. I had re installed with 'windows old'. This somehow got in the way when trying to reinstall mach3 and getting that driver working!
Tomorrow I will try running with charge pump re-enabled.
Thanks guys for all the chat, took me a while, but I think im nearly there.