I have my 2ND parallel port  ,and I need more input in MACH3

in MACH3 in ( Port Setup and Axis Selection ) Port#2 ( Pins 2-9 as inputs) .
I installed 2ND parallel port ,to have more inputs and in my installation I tag ( Pins 2-9 as inputs )
the board works fine only as an outputs.

Please Can any one help me to get more inputs as second parallel port.

Saleh,

I do not know what "port" you have bought. Can it be used with pins 2 - 9 as inputs.

If it is just a "printer" port, pins 2 - 0 are outputs only, 10 - 13 and 15 are inputs, and 1,14,16 and 17 are outputs. 18 to 25 are signal gnd (0v).

What you need is a general purpose port, where all the pins can function as inputs or outputs.

Where do I find general purpose port ? so I can buy

Saleh

I have had this problem in the past as it was not possible to set the PCI card up as EPP or whatever, anyway the way I got round it was to use my motherboards port as port 2 and use the PCI card as port 1. Obviously you will have to swap the cables but its easy enough to do that
Hood

What card, with which chipset are you using?

Hi

Having built a nice MPG pendant, I have fallen foul of this inability to set pins 2-9 as inputs on a second par port card issue.
This is despite being able to ensure ECP is set etc. All wiring tested perfect and if I assign signals to pins 10-13 or 15 all works perfectly ( other than being 6 inputs short)

The chipset of the card is MosChip, which one thread on CNCzone said worked and later I saw another which said it didn't, even though the card data says it supports ECP EPP etc.

I cannot simply swap plugs and reassign port numbers, using the card for my control box, and motherboard par port for the pendant.
I tried it and found that the card would not drive my Z axis properly.
There is some issue with voltages I think, plus the pendant is unbuffered and I don't really want it attached directly to my computer par port.

I have rewired a temporary fix using the 5 pins available to get X,Y,Z selection plus A and B MPG channels.

The computer is a 2.4MHz Pentium 4 with Phoenix BIOS running XP SP2.  The card is recognised fully by XP and shown as working in ECP mode.

So my question is, does anyone know of a specific make and model of PCI parallel port card, available in the UK, which works using pins 2-9 as inputs with Mach?

A specific supplier who stocks them would be good too.

thanks

Melee

I use PCI Pport cards too, I have found that some work good and others don't, The problem seems to be that some change the output voltages. The most highly recommended PCI card that I have found is from "SIIG" CyberPro, There are a number of part numbers but this is the one I am using, jj-p00112-S5
They are not cheap @ or near $50, but worth it. The only problem I have experienced is with a new bread of motherboard which uses a differant addressing than what MACH uses. I have not found the cure for this yet.

Hi Cruiser

Thanks for the steer, I can find the JJ-P21022-S6 model over here.

I does seem to be a high spec card, with a high price, same in GBP as you quote in USD!

I will have to check for best price and try one

regards

Melee

Hi All

Just so the information is searchable on the forum.

Cruiser was kind enough to sell me a spare card and ship it to me.

The "SIIG" CyberPro JJ-P00112-S5" PCI Parallel Port card WORKS FLAWLESSLY.

The main difference appears to be that it is a proper high end I/O card with full standards support and not just a card to allow an old printer to be used with a USB only newer computer.

I now have a fully functioning pendant utilising all 15 OEM triggers

regards

Melee

Hello to you all,
 I'm using the same SIIG card and can't get ports 2-9 to work as inputs. all signals go thru the breakout board correctly to the db25 connector. I know that by not connecting the PC to the BOB. When I connect the PC, Mach3 puts pins 2-9 at a high level killing the signal. it keeps the other inputs at a low level allowing those to function. Any help out there? PLEASE!
Johnv