Messages

3881

General Mach Discussion / Re: Adding PCI Parallel Port

« on: February 21, 2015, 10:54:58 AM »

Not sure why your parallel port is not working as it should - certainly DXF0 is the correct address to use if that's what it reports in device manager.

- Is it possible to hard wire the Slave Axis (A) with X?  This could free up a stepper port on the Gecko G540?

Not a good idea. It sort of works but the modern driver controller chips sense back emf in order to circumvent mid-band resonance stalling and they get confused when given the info from two motors. If you want to try it then check with Gecko first, I am sure they will give you a similar answer.

Tweakie.

3882

Show"N"Tell ( What you have made with your CNC machine.) / Re: I'm in Hog Heaven

« on: February 14, 2015, 11:59:14 AM »

Very neat work Craig ( it makes it a better length to fit onto the 'old faithful' you keep under your pillow  )

Tweakie.

3883

FAQs / Re: Setting Mach 3 Port to PCI parallel port address

« on: February 10, 2015, 07:37:09 AM »

Hey guy's I have a PCI LPT card problem of my own to.
Somehow two inputs 11 and 13 stopped working on my MACH 3 machine. So I thought I would insert a PCI LPT card in to the computer and change the configuration of the Port in Mach3 and that it would solve my problem. Well partly it did all my inputs are now working, but unfortunatley the outputs that drive the motors don't work. When I try to move the an axis nothing happens. The DRO number increse and decreas.

This is the LPT confugiraton of the new LPT card.
I/O range BC00-BC07
I/O range B880-B887
Mem range: FEAFF000 - FEAFFFFFF

Any ideas? Not the correct driver for the PCI card perhaps?

Best regards
Aleix

The most common problem is that some PCI cards output the (later) 3.3volt TTL signals as opposed to the (older) 5volt TTL signals and some controller's opto isolators require the full 5volts.
Use a voltmeter and check the voltage on one of your direction signals and see what you get (app. 0v/5v or 0v/3.3v ??)

Tweakie.

3884

General Mach Discussion / Re: M3 and Dwell doesn't alway work

« on: February 09, 2015, 02:06:22 AM »

Hi Pete,

Just a shot in the dark but I had a similar problem with the M3 last year. It turned out to be a corrupt .xml (although comparing the printouts of the old and new did not show any differences there was definitely something). Creating a new .xml from scratch solved the problem and everything has been fine since.

Tweakie.

3885

General Mach Discussion / Re: Single pulse capacitance sensor selection

« on: February 08, 2015, 05:26:00 AM »

Hi Rob,

Just a thought but check your Debounce setting (Config / General Config) - anything greater than zero here may add to your pulse detection time.

Tweakie.

3886

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: USB Smooth Stepper & Mach 4

« on: February 04, 2015, 07:17:19 AM »

Hi Bill,

It is my understanding that both Andy and Greg are working on the USB  SS / Mach4 plugin (when they can) but progress is painfully slow. My best advice is patience - it will be done some day.
But if you can't wait there are current alternatives, such as the PMDX http://www.machsupport.com/forum/index.php/topic,28294.0.html or even the EthernetSS etc. etc.

Tweakie.

3887

Tangent Corner / Re: 3d Printing - Multiphoton Lithography

« on: February 03, 2015, 11:53:50 AM »

Absolutely amazing.

Tweakie.

3888

Mach Screens / Re: Mach 3 wont run

« on: February 03, 2015, 11:32:21 AM »

I trust you Win7 OS is 32bit not 64 ??

Tweakie.

3889

Mach3 under Vista / Re: Windows 7 BSOD after exit Mach3

« on: February 03, 2015, 11:18:45 AM »

Excellent piece of detective work tracking down those which work and those that do not. 

I think the problem relates to the combination of your particular OS and later Mach3 versions rather than just a mach3 issue.

It is doubtful if a later version of Mach3 (assuming one is released) will solve your particular problem so my best advice is to use a Mach3 version which works for you.
In my case I use 3.043.056 and I have absolutely no need to update that to any later version.

Hope this helps.

Tweakie.

3890

Show"N"Tell ( What you have made with your CNC machine.) / Re: I'm in Hog Heaven

« on: January 29, 2015, 05:51:23 AM »

Excellent work Craig, this adds a whole new dimension to those curved signs of yours. 

Tweakie.