Hi Experts,

I am new to DIY CNC and need help on below:

Current Achievements:

1. have started with 1-axis slide to learn and prove the basic working concept.
2. Using parallel port controller through Mach3 in Windows XP, lead shine DM542 drive and 10kgf motor.
3. Able to control the X axis through pulse and direction for my stepper motor, is working fine.

Challenges:

1. Not able to control the limit switches, tried both NC and NO options, connected directly to the controller board.
2. Can limit switches be connected directly or need to use 5V supply with limiting resisters to make it work.
3. Some pictures attached for reference.

Please support me with open-heart.

You need the 12 to 24 Volt power connected to your breakout board before the limit switches will work.

Tweakie.

You need the 12 to 24 Volt power connected to your breakout board before the limit switches will work.

Tweakie.

Thanks Tweakie !!!

I will try and confirm back.

Have 1 more query, please clear my confusion:

As per my knowledge, only 5V signal input should be provided to parallel port.
Will the controller board convert 12/24V to 5V output before sending it out.

Is there any way to check it out without connecting actually to parallel port?

The 12/24V (connected to the 12/24V Power terminals) powers the opto-isolators the only voltage passed back to the Parallel Port is 5V.

Tweakie.

Thanks again Tweakie !!!!

Experimented per your suggestion, I checked on EStop, it is working fine.
Will be implementing X++, X-- limit switches also.

Now have got more confidence to build further developments.

Also, suggest some USB control boards which have been tested and proven.

Also, suggest some USB control boards which have been tested and proven.

Best to choose Ethernet (rather than USB) and a controller that supports Mach4 as well as Mach3. The actual make and model will depend on your machine and exactly what you want to be able to do with it.

(I currently have 5 different motion controllers and they each excel at a particular task).

Tweakie.

Please share me the details and technical data to look through and study.

I am planning to build CNC router with laser for cutting of aluminium foil foams and CR/GI sheets upto 2mm thickness.
Kindly suggest appropriately.

For laser, I would like to use Fiber laser only being OPEX effective.

I will move step by step, first priority is router table (3-axis) and then laser integration to it.

I am not able to provide details or comparisons between any motion controllers (that would be a job for the experts) but from the tales of woe, here on the forum, it would be best to avoid any of the cheap Chinese stuff and stick with EU or USA manufactured products.
For laser use there are some special Gcode commands which, for speed of operation, are linked to axis movement (M11Px, M10Px for Mach3 and M62Px, M63Px for Mach4) and only a motion controller that fully supports these commands should be selected.

Hope this helps,

Tweakie.

Noted !!!!

I was just thinking if some makes/models can be suggested on basis of experience. This will make my life better and will be helpful. I can do the comparison stuff myself.

Well...

As far as I am aware the Warp9 ESS is the only motion controller that supports both Mach3 and Mach4 with the M11Px/M10Px/M62Px/M63Px commands as well as a laser raster engraving facility for Mach4. You would have to decide if it meets your needs both now and for the future.

I do have and use a Warp9 ESS but I am currently testing a CNC Drive UC400ETH at the moment.

Tweakie.