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Author Topic: Help Please: Computer upgrade causes no communication with controller  (Read 5713 times)

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Offline rcaffin

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Re: Help Please: Computer upgrade causes no communication with controller
« Reply #10 on: September 25, 2016, 04:51:19 AM »
This is probably an old problem sadly known to many of us. Some history will explain it.

The original LPT chip was designed as a general purpose IO chip. It was adopted by IBM to drive a parallel port printer. But the chip had many other features, including a bidirectional archirtecture. This was used by more than just Mach, to do many things.

The chip was discontinued, so the LPT was lost. Some IO card mfrs saw an opportuntiy here, and made some PCI boards to drive a printer. But read my lips: to drive a printer. These PCI cards do not have the full bi-directional features as used by Mach and other specialist 'things'.

Sad, but I do not know of any PCI cards for LPT which will work properly. Hence we go to the Ethernet and an external engine.

Cheers
Roger

Offline Tweakie.CNC

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Re: Help Please: Computer upgrade causes no communication with controller
« Reply #11 on: September 25, 2016, 05:25:31 AM »
I hear what you say Roger but I think there are quite a few EPP compatible PCI Parallel Port cards available on-line which operate perfectly with Mach3.

If anyone is in doubt or unsure which one to purchase then perhaps go to one of the CNC equipment suppliers (just for example CNC4PC) who can sell you a PCI Parallel Port card which is guaranteed to work with Mach3.

Tweakie.
PEACE

Offline rcaffin

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Re: Help Please: Computer upgrade causes no communication with controller
« Reply #12 on: September 25, 2016, 06:12:54 AM »
This may be the case today - which is good.
When I upgraded my PC (years ago) I lost the use of my Pico ADC-11 data logger, which was a right pain! At that time Pico did not know of any PCI-LPT add-ons which would work. I may have a jaundiced view of the matter :)
Cheers
Roger
Re: Help Please: Computer upgrade causes no communication with controller
« Reply #13 on: September 26, 2016, 02:01:46 AM »
Hi guys,
the explanation makes sense, some chips can't match the functionality required.

I know at least one of the current MOSCHIP IC's work as I bought one and got it to work
I seem to recall amongst the different posts I've read at least one ROCKWELL chip also
works.
In the advertising for PCI cards few state what chip their product is based on and it seems
a few CNC'ers have been caught with nonoperable cards. Tweakies advice of buying from
a known CNC supplier makes good sense.

If I can retrieve the info for the card I bought and perhaps more importantly the chip it uses
I will post it. As I said above I think I just lucked into a usable card.

Craig
'I enjoy sex at 73.....I live at 71 so its not too far to walk.'
Re: Help Please: Computer upgrade causes no communication with controller
« Reply #14 on: September 26, 2016, 07:05:51 AM »
Hi All,
I think this is the identical unit:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/One-Port-Parallel-IEEE-1284-PCI-Host-Controller-Card-Chipset-MCS9865-for-Moschip-/142065138484?hash=item2113bdfb34

Certainly the chip is the same. I seem to recall having to go to the MOSCHIP site and experiment with the different
drivers until I found one that played nice.

Craig
'I enjoy sex at 73.....I live at 71 so its not too far to walk.'
Re: Help Please: Computer upgrade causes no communication with controller
« Reply #15 on: December 21, 2019, 12:15:18 AM »
I realize this is a very old topic, but I have the same controller.

My pc disk died, and my backup is corrupt.

Any chance I could get a copy of your XML file to help me get back on the air quicker?

Otherwise I guess it will be lots of trial and error!

Rob.
Rob
Sydney, Australia
Re: Help Please: Computer upgrade causes no communication with controller
« Reply #16 on: December 21, 2019, 02:22:15 AM »
Hi,
I've been using an ESS and Mach4 for five years....I don't think I've even got an .xml anymore.

Craig
'I enjoy sex at 73.....I live at 71 so its not too far to walk.'