if your not using the 4th axis
this is one possible way of using the "clock" signal from the printer port pin 2 assuming the BOB schematic is correct
Attachment 431266
looking at the schematic of the BOB showing the motor connector
Attachment 431268
if the schematic is correct
with your multimeter set to continuity / low ohm range
you should find one of the "moto " connector pins is connected to the BOB ground / - 24V supply
the second pin goes to Printer Port pin 1 and one of the 330 ohm resistors in the resistor network
Attachment 431270
if the moto connector is as shown
then you will have +5V connected via 330 ohm resistor on the BOB
to the LED within the opto-isolator on the relay board and it's 4700 ohm resistor ( if I have read the value off the photo correctly) then to ground / 0V
Attachment 431276
John
Yes
That BOB will be easier with the screw terminals to connect to
Attachment 431332
I would still use the larger 1XHCEL Board relay to keep the mains away from the BOB !!!!
Attachment 431334
PS
2nd BOB to 1XHCEL relay board
Attachment 431336
John
have you connected one axis to the BOB or all three?
the 6th photo in post 3 shows a 3 pin connector on your stepper driver
so you just step direction and common - not sure if its 0V or +5V *** update see PS its +5V
do you have a cable with the original 5 pin connector that plug into the original BOB ?
if the 3 wires connected to the centre 3 connections the common was the BOB's 0V
assuming the diagram in post 18 is correct
have you re assigned the printer port pins 2 to 9 in mach3's pins and ports ?
the step & direction pin assignment is different for the 2 BOB's !!!!
John
PS
TX14207 step & direction connections
Attachment 431476
TX14207
Attachment 431478
" what do I need for a manual pulse generator to work with this setup ? "
If your talking about a MPG like this
Attachment 431736
which contains a rotory quadrature encoder
and switches to select
1 of 6 axis
1 of 3 step size
E stop
for this type of simple MPG you need a second parallel printerport or a USB / Ethernet control board emulating a second printer port
John
PS
circuit of MPG
Attachment 431740
Hey john I know this is a stupid question but I dont know enough about electronics to know I have a firewire(ieee1394) port on the back of my hp desktop that mach3 and my cnc controller box is running from . My question is can I use the firewire port for the manual pulse generator like the one in the picture you posted or is this port for something else
with a breakout board like this that has a USB connection for a 5V supply connection - not data !!!!
Attachment 431836
you either need a PC with 2 parallel printer ports
or a motion controller like a smooth stepper connected via a USB port or ethernet port
that emulates 2 printerports
I can't think of a control using a fire wire
As I am off to Portugal early tomorrow (sunday)
to see Postmodern Jukebox
Attachment 431838
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EV3NZUY_dr8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UngXu2zwF9E
Its going to be friday before I can reply again as I'm only taking a dumb phone
John
I can understand the satisfaction that will be a part of completing this process and achieving a goal.On the other hand it does seem like a lot of work to avoid the need to flip a switch and get cutting.If the anticipated projects include something like producing lithophanes and leaving the machine unattended for hours before it switches itself off,it will be totally justified.If the planned projects are limited to cutting out wing ribs for model aircraft and a cutting sequence that last maybe four minutes it gets harder to justify the time away from the activity that the machine was bought for unless machine modification is the new primary interest.
Hey John am I gonna have to download a plugin for mach3 for this manual pulse genarator ? https://www.ebay.com/itm/CNC-Handwhe...k/173086400502
Hi Michael82
A great time had by all
The show and to seeing Sara Niemietz singing live was great
going by the response of the Portugese audiance I expect PMJ will return to Portugal
youtube clip with Sara from august
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9sgrivF7keY
The parts of Portugal we visited was nice as was the Portugese people
Being the front seat passenger of a taxi being driven on the wrong side of the road was unnerving
( from my point of view the world is wrong driving on the right ! )
We all ready have tickets for PMJ in september 2020 at the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic , which is closer to home !
https://www.liverpoolphil.com/
How are you connecting the MPG via a second printerport ?
something likes this ?
https://cnc4pc.com/Tech_Docs/guide_f..._over_LPT2.htm
John
Well that helped alot john thanks I will get started on all this I have alot to do
As I don't know what instructions you are looking at
I suspect you wil have a wiring diagram for the MPG showing the Incremental encoder and the various switches connected to a 25 pin D-type connector
Attachment 432674
you will need either an adaptor cable or interface for the
connections between MPG and printer port
https://cnc4pc.com/Tech_Docs/guide_f..._over_LPT2.htm
the switches will connect an input to your printerport 2 to ground
the input functions being assigned in pins and ports
the Incremental encoder will need a +5V supply so not all MPG wires go to the 2nd printer port !
the ground and the A & B outputs go to the printer port input
I'll need to check but I think CNC4PC make an interface that will help to protect the incremental encoder
John
PS
GUIDE FOR SETTING UP MPG2/3/4 OVER LPT2 USING MACH3 makes ref to C22
https://cnc4pc.com/Tech_Docs/guide_f..._over_LPT2.htm
C22 - Pendant Interface Card
https://www.cnc4pc.com/c22-pendant-interface-card.html
https://www.cnc4pc.com/pub/media/pro...ser_manual.pdf