Hi all,

I got a 5vdc psu to run my gecko 201's, step and direction signals, but unsure where to connect them up at.

I believe the positive goes on the common screw terminal, but, where would I connect the ground contact?

I have had the mach 3 run one axis ok, but the other one on my lathe seems to need motion from the other
 
axis (some weird voltage- sharing happening,maybe) to complete the step-direction circuit before it will move.

I thought the step and direction would run off of the 5vdc coming out of the printer port, but I just can't make this happen!

Any suggestions would really improve the current situation I'm in!

Thanks,

Glenn

P.S.  I'm using a 35vdc psu unit to run 2 steppers..seems like plenty of power on that end of the issue.

what do you have for a breakout board?

Hi Brian,

I use a cnc DB25 breakout board for stepper motor drivers.

It uses only the first 17 pins as normal and the 18th pin is ground. By the way,

should I be using that ground pin?..It is unused right now.

I only use pins:  2+3+7(step,direction,common) x axis

                       4+5+8(step, direction,common)z axis

Thanks,

Glenn

5 volt dc ground should be connected to the PC ground had some problems lattle got help from gecko at is what day told me and it works

Hey Markkl,

Now I'll show you my ignorance,  could you please tell me where the PC ground is?

I'm being cautious to prevent ANY chance of ruining my components.

Thanks,

Glenn

I used the printer port ground pin and the gecko guy told me I could use the game port to supply the 5 volts to the drivers another ground to the pc take a meter put one end to the 5 volt ground and the other end any were on the PC were you can fasten a ground if your meter reads a dead short that is a good place for the ground

Markkl,

 Thanks for the much needed guidance!
I will attempt these connections and see if she floats!

Cheers!
Glenn

Just a note to let you know that sometimes aren't as they seem..

It wasn't a grounding problem,but rather the breakout board (thanks Brian),the pins all check out with a continuity tester, but still the signals got all twisted before reaching the geckos.

 Now the pinout is: 2+3+7 (step,direction,common) x axis
                    and  16+5+8(step,direction,common) z axis!

It works! I still don't know why, but I am not changing it.

Thanks to all you guys,Markkl,Brian, Hood and Brett!

Glenn