I'm trying to get Mach3 working with my Chinese 3040T-DQ with ball slides. Running windows 7 32 bit. The controller is shown in the photo below, it has both a USB port and a parallel port.
The CNC works great using the included CNC-MILL software which uses the USB port. But with Mach3 using the parallel port I'm not getting any communication to the MILL. I've followed all the instructions for setting up the software, pin settings, input settings, output settings, motor tuning, etc. The coordanate numbers change as I jog with the keyboard arrow keys but the MILL doesn't move.
At this point I feel like the problem is there is no communication to the controller from the PC rather than a software setting.
What type of parallel port is best? Output only, Bi-directional, ECP, or EPP?
Since the connectors on the PC and the CNC controller are both female I'm using a Belkin parallel DB25M to DB25M Switchbox Cable (f3d11106), is this a correct cable or should I use a common DB25M to DB25F parallel cable with a gender changer to make it a M-M?
Also does Mach4 use the USB port, perhaps I should be using Mach4?
Any help is appreceated.