Messages

1

General Mach Discussion / Re: Testing parallel port output with a multimeter

« on: January 29, 2007, 04:43:22 PM »

Bingo!  I'm psyched.  Thank you.  I needed to set the step/dir pins to port 1.  That's all.  It even works on my other port at CEE8 which is great.  Thanks for all your help.  Don't worry though, you haven't seen the last of me and my stupid questions!

2

General Mach Discussion / Re: Testing parallel port output with a multimeter

« on: January 29, 2007, 01:25:16 PM »

I changed the active low on my estop but now it gives me "external estop requested" and I can't do anything.

3

General Mach Discussion / Re: Testing parallel port output with a multimeter

« on: January 29, 2007, 01:12:12 PM »

Ok here's a question-  I go to my device manager and click on the port I want to use.  Under the "port settings" tab it gives three choices- 1) try not to use an interrupt
2) Never use an interrupt and 3) Use any interrupt assigned to the port.  Which one do I want?  Any ideas?  BTW Thanks for all your help (or at least encouragement) so far.  It is appreciated.

4

General Mach Discussion / Re: Testing parallel port output with a multimeter

« on: January 29, 2007, 12:38:19 PM »

Trying to post the xml again

5

General Mach Discussion / Re: Testing parallel port output with a multimeter

« on: January 29, 2007, 12:22:57 PM »

I was working with another program before and the voltage would change between 0v and 5v as I changed directions.  I assumed that would be the same here.  Maybe not.  If not I'll stop worrying about it.

6

General Mach Discussion / Re: Testing parallel port output with a multimeter

« on: January 29, 2007, 12:14:14 PM »

Yeah still getting nothing.  Just a constant 5V. 

7

General Mach Discussion / Re: Testing parallel port output with a multimeter

« on: January 29, 2007, 11:51:39 AM »

Here's my xml

8

General Mach Discussion / Re: Testing parallel port output with a multimeter

« on: January 29, 2007, 11:39:09 AM »

Am I setting up a mill?  Well I'm many steps away from that.  I'm just trying to set up my stepper driver.  I'm just trying to get to the point where I can turn my motors by clicking on the arrows in Mach3.  That's it.  I'm just making sure the signals are passing from Mach3 to my parallel cable.  Can I test this with a multimeter?

9

General Mach Discussion / Re: Testing parallel port output with a multimeter

« on: January 29, 2007, 10:51:18 AM »

Yes it is a straight thru DB 25 cable.  The breakout board couldn't be much simpler- it just has a 18 (+ gnd) places corresponding to the pins where you can shove in a wire and hold it in place by tightening a screw.  I thought I could put my ground multimeter probe on one of the ground pins, my red multimeter probe on say pin3 and then watch the voltage change as I fiddle with the x axis.

You ask me to post my xml.  I don't know what that means.  Sorry.

10

General Mach Discussion / Testing parallel port output with a multimeter

« on: January 29, 2007, 10:29:14 AM »

Hello,

I'm new to CNC and desparately trying to set up my motors etc. I downloaded Mach3 and have been playing around with it. I have a db25 cable hooked up to my parallel port with a breakout on the end. I have no motors hooked up yet. In manual mode in Mach 3 I can "move" the x,y,and z with the arrow keys for example. Shouldn't I see fluctuations in the voltage on the various pins on my breakout? If not why not? If I should be seeing this but am not, what am I doing wrong? Thanks.

Cristobal