[john-100]

Hi MAG45

I guess the error message is either because a limit switch or its wiring is faulty
or more likely the printer port input has been damaged (the part connected to pin 10)

does the breakout board connect to the computer printer port or some other hardware ?

not using Linux I don't know how you use Linux to display the status of the input port
(I expect there is software you can use to test the pointer port if that's what you're system uses )

John

[MAG45]

It connects directly to the printer port. I know nothing about using Linux other then the CNC software. I am only using Linux because its free and the guy who set this up for me swore its the best. Found out later he has never used it or any other to compare it to. Also that he had never completed a CNC conversion before, just collects parts and reads about it.

[john-100]

Hi MAG45

the Linux users forum should be able to recommend a printer port adaptor that works -
I understand different versions of Linux come with different levels of driver support

I did try a printer port adaptor a while back when I looked at using Mach3 but it never worked ! - not all adaptors are equal

I have solved the problem with an old IBM PC running XP , the printer port works !


John

[MAG45]

Im not sure if mine has a port adapter, or if its a on board port. Will have to look.

I wonder if i could disconnect the limits and see if it will run without them, they need rewired anyway.

[MAG45]

I just got done disconnecting all the limits from the BOB,, which i checked and were set up as normally open switches. I figure that means not connected at all is the same so it would tell me something is shortiing. Nope, same error. Jog an axis and get joint 0,1 and 2 errors. I am also posting this on the Linux forum to see if they have ideas. Maybe still the parallel port, im lost.

[john-100]

Hi MAG45

a Linux user should be able to tell you how to switch off the limit switches and
prove you have a signal due to a damaged printer port

John

[MAG45]

Not getting much response there ;-( or any response.

[MAG45]

Now getting some help there, Saying first off my limits need to be normally closed. But also to test port function using something called Halmeter, gonna try to figure that out.

[alan_3301]

post up your machine .hal and .ini file
then you can find out where to look in halmeter for the limit switches.

you may want to read as much of the documentation as you can handle, there are a lot of things to learn

in the mean time, click machine, then hal meter.
then look through the pins and signals list for your limit switches, it will be true of false, and you can activate the switches to see what happens.

The joint errors will probably be a config problem.

[MAG45]

So the Halmeter should already be on the computer? I am not finding it anywhere yet.

[alan_3301]

Do you use axis interface? It's under the machine menu, labeled "Hal Meter"

[MAG45]

Oh, okay, I wasnt looking within the program. I was going through the desktop menus....see, I know nothing about Linux ! I did manage to get it back online and downloading a couple years worth of updates.

[MAG45]

I found Halmeter and ran it, but i honestly dont know yet what im looking for :-(

[MAG45]

Progress ! So i hooked up one limit switch on my Z axis thinking i could use it so see changes with halmeter. When i started AXIS i didnt get any errors, but the controller still wouldnt 'power up' BUT if i held the switch in the on position it would. So I went into the step config wizard, unchecked the invert box on the limits. The machine would then let me jog it all around without error-ing out !! Now Im going to go change the connections on my switches to normally on, probably re-invert the setting in step config, and try to figure out how to wire the limits again.

[MAG45]

Okay, so i rewired the E-stops, but dont think i got them right, but i did get it to run. My limit switches are also my homes, luckily the 3 on the home ends are working. So I was able to home it and actually run a warmup program. But theres a new issue that strted when I reconnected the limits. I ended up connecting them all to the same pin on the BOB, But now the computer wont boot linux if the parellel port is plugged in, it just freezes up. If anyone can give me a clear diagram of how to properly wire my limits to the BOB that would be a big help.

[john-100]

Hi MAG45

I see your slowly making progress even if its two steps forward and one step back !

how are the 3 working home/ limit switches connected -
all 3 on one printer port input pin or using 3 pins so each limit switch goes to its own printer port input pin ?

if your machine worked with the home / limit switches connected to 3 pins and the E-stop on a 4th pin
but now fails with the 5th pin connected to the 3 limit switches

what happens if you go back a step and disconnect the limit switches ?

what is connected to pin 10 ?


to connect multiple switches to one printer port pin

you can either connect them as normally closed switches and wire them in series
or normally open switches and wire them in parallel



the normally closed switches has the advantage a broken wire will cause the machine to stop

the control system will only be able to detect the operation of the first limit switch


connecting each home/limit switch to its own printer port input makes it possible to home more than one axis at a time
but for 4 or more axis you will need to have two printer ports !

John

[MAG45]

I am unsure how to tell on the BOB which connection goes to which pin. I have 5 switches, 1 for Z, 2 for X, and 2 for Y. If yo look at the pic of my BOB wit the 6 terminal connector on the left they were originally connected to 2,4,5 and 6 common. I didnt pay attention to which went where when I pulled it out. I tried to connect it back that way not paying knowing if there was a proper sequence. AXIS didnt recognize them, when you press a limit there is a visual sign on the "DRO" of axis and only Z limit was recognized. So I connected all of them to terminal 5 but now only 3 work and the PC wont boot unless I unplug the parallel port cable, plugging it back in after linux starts.

[john-100]

Hi MAG45

the Linux version of mach3's pins and ports should be the biggest clue as to what function the printer port input pins have


the photos are not quite clear enough but this could of been your original set up :-



John

[MAG45]

Ah, okay....i should have looked at my own photo, that actually helps a lot.

[john-100]

adjusting the gamma to stretch the blacks makes the detail in the dark areas of the picture more visible !