Hi all!
I've started assembling DIY Cnc mill, and I'm stuck with making my stepper motors to run. I'm using mach3 interface board, TB6600 4A drivers, mach 3 software on windows 7 x86.
Board and drivers are wired like this
https://ibb.co/Lv1QQzd
step and direction pins are set as 2,3;4,5;6,7; e-stop is set active low on pin 15 (if matters).
For power supply I'm trying to use 12v from PC power supply.
In device manager I have some Mach3 pulseing engine driver with question mark, but I'm unable to find the right driver to install.
First time I connected mach3 board I heard relay clicked and 2 leds were lighted. and now only lights one, and other lights only when I disconnect LPT cable.
I have tryed with other PCI card and changing address, and I'm getting green led on driver when pressing arrows, but motor just don't want to move.
Is there any idea for helping me?
Thanks.

Hi,
just to be absolutely clear.....you are using Windows 7 32bit? Double check Control Panel/System.

The parallel port WILL NOT OPERATE wit a 64 bit OS.

Try running DriverTest.exe and post a screen shot of the result. Until you get a decent DriverTest.exe result nothing else will happen....you can fiddle
to your hearts content but without a good DriverTest.exe its all a waste of time.

Craig

Windows 7 32bit is 100%. I have no PC configuration to install 64bit. Is there any log file of DriverTest that I can attach, or just a screenshot? When I was running it yesterday, on the graph was very little movement. I will post screenshot tonight

And just to add...a have noticed that steppers are getting very warm after a couple of minutes power supply is being turned ON. And they don't even work!!!... Is there a powering problem maybe? As I sad, I'm trying to use 12V from ATX power supply.

Hi,

And just to add...a have noticed that steppers are getting very warm after a couple of minutes power supply is being turned ON

No, this is normal, steppers draw current even at idle and do get warm.

As I sad, I'm trying to use 12V from ATX power supply.

This is a joke, at 12V your steppers will stall even at very low speeds. You need a power supply to produce the maximum voltage your stepper drivers can
handle, the TB6600 driver ICs probably only 24V. A gecko 540 will handle 50V. A srandalone Gecko like a G203 or a Leadhshine AM822 can handle 72V and
80V respectively.

Craig

Solved.
I have run again through pin and port settings. Removed all pin settings, restart and set all over again, and it worked. I don't know what was the problem, all setting are the same.
12V are just for testing, setting pins.... while I wait 24V to be delivered.
Thanks joeaverage

Hi, JoeAverage,
Could you please post a list of the various port and pin settings you have found to work?
I'm using the same setup as you and I've just ordered some TX 6600 drivers so a list of settings would be really appreciated. I have spent countless hours debugging my machine's settings and I'm nearly at the end of my patience trying different combinations.
Just some screen shots of the various menus would do the trick 
Thanks in advance,
Scintilla.

Hi Scintilla,
I migrated to Mach4 and an Ethernet SmoothStepper about for years ago. As it turns out the port and pin settings
are similar. Note also that I use Homann Desgins MB02 breakout boards. They are bidirectional and so don't
have any relays, opto isolators nor does it have a PWM to analogue circuit. I add these as and where I find necessary.
These boards are very similar to C10's which you may be familiar with.

I take advantage of the bidirectional ability of the board to make the second port pins 2-9 as inputs.
Thus one port one I have 12 outputs and 5 inputs and the second port offers an additional 4 outputs and 13 inputs.

They are arranged like this:
Port 1:
 Outputs
  pin 1 spare
  pin 2 X direction
  pin 3  X step
  pin 4 Y direction
  pin 5 Y step
  pin 6 Z direction
  pin 7 Z step
  pin 8 spare
  pin 9 spare
  pin 14 spare
  pin 16 Forward
  pin 17 PWM output
 Inputs
  pin 10 Estop
  pin 11 X Home
  pin 12 Y Home
  pin 13 Z Home
  pin 15 Probe

Port 2
 Outputs
  pin 1 C axis direction
  pin 14 C axis step
  pin 16 C axis multiplex
  pin 17 spare

 Inputs
  pin 2 X-- limit
  pin 3 X++ limit
  pin 4 Y-- limit
  pin 5 Y++ limit
  pin 6 Z-- limit
  pin 7 Z++ limit
  pin 8 spare
  pin 9 spare
  pin 10 spare
  pin 11 spare
  pin 12 spare
  pin 13 spare
  pin 15 spare

As you can see having a second port, particularly when you define pins 2-9 of the second port as inputs
means you have plenty of spares. You can have just one limit switch per input and separate home switches
and still have plenty left over.

Note also that I have a second spindle based on an Allen Bradley 1.8kW servo. I can run it as a C axis for rigid tapping,
For that I require two outputs, C axis direction and C axis step and a third output to multiplex between position mode
for rigid tapping and free running mode, called C axis multiplex

Note also that I sometimes (temporarily) assign three spare inputs in port 2 (pins 8-10) to a rotary encoder I have attached to my
coil winder spindle. I don't use if often but is a labour saver when I do.

Craig

Hi again JoeAverage,
Many thanks for your kind and speedy reply.
The setting up of Mach 3 is my starting point for learning to run code and I hope to move to Mach 4 when I'm less vague about the operation protocols.
I will work through my settings accordingly and see if I can optimise the operation of my machine.

It's pretty obvious that you are really experienced in CNC machines so we (old) newbies are doubly grateful for your assistance. I learn new stuff every day by trawling through hundreds of posts and YouTubes in order to bring myself up to speed, but it sure is a slow process for a 74 year old brain. One way of fighting off the dreaded Altzheimer's disease, so I'm told...

Cheers,
Scintilla. ( in deepest Australia )

Hi Scintilla,
what motion controller are you using?

If you are using a parallel port then I would recommend that you have two ports in operation, the second port with pins 2-9
as inputs as I posted earlier. It gives you so many extra inputs you can do as you please as opposed to 'squezzing' all the
home and limit switches down to a few inputs. This is a common error that many users make.

If you want a second parallel port you'll probably have to get PCI card that has a parallel port on it. Not all, in fact not
many, work as they need to for Mach. I'd recommend getting one from PMDX in the US if you need one. They have experimented
and got one that works as its meant to. A few extra bucks but well worth it.

The result of 'economizing' of inputs is that Mach gets confused between a limit event (which should automatically an instantly
Estop the machine) and a home event. If you have used one input for a limit AND  a home how is Mach supposed to know
what behavior you want? If you think it confuses Mach just wait until you have to diagnose a fault.....it seems that every
single switch is faulty.....its not....its just that you have them all combined.

Note that you will require two breakout boards, normally they have one ports worth of IO on each. I would recommend Peter
Homann in Melbourne....a real clever bugger for an Aussie!!

An alternative to  a parallel port (or two) is an external motion controller like an Ethernet SmoothStepper. Peter Homan will
get one in from the US for you if you want one. Its by no means the only external motion controller, the UC300 and 57CNC
are also worthy contenders and competeitively priced. Don't be tempted to buy any Chinese rubbish.....their controllers
seldom work properly, almost never enact Mach the way its supposed to...so they sell you a modified pirate copy of
Mach....don't go there.

Those TB6600 are pretty modest performer and they tend to blow up. Just as well they are cheap. If you get sick of replacing
them get yourself some Geckos, Peter Homann has them. Way more expensive but they last and the top models
are 80V capable, that will make your steppers sing!!!

Craig