[flashgordon]

I'm looking for an simple circuit example for connecting a PICAXE chip output pin to a parallel ports data output pin (to be used as input).
It is for my home built Pendant for my cncmill.

Is it the same as connecting a simple switch?

Gordon

[mechatronicsman]

Simply connect the picaxe output directly to one of the INPUT pins of the parallel port (this is pins 10,11,12,13 and 15. DO not connect it to any of the parallel port OUTPUTS. Also the ground/0 pin of picaxe must be connected to ground of the parallel port (pins 18,19,20,21,22,23,24,25 are all ground)

[flashgordon]

Thanks for the reply Mechatronicsman,

I'm using a Sunix Golden I/O PCI Card/ 4018A (PCI).

http://www.sunix.com.tw/it/en/Produc...id=303&sid=479

I read that the Mach3 software can allow the 8 output pins on the second Parallel port to be inputs. Is there a way I can test this?

I read here about Bi-directional ports

http://www.beyondlogic.org/spp/parallel.htm#6

If my port can do this, what is the best way to connect?

I need to use all 8 pins to send signals from the CNC's pendant, eg XYZA, 0.1 0.01 etc.

My other option is to use the serial, but don't now how the picaxe would communicate with Mach3. I need an example to help me understand if going down that road.

[mechatronicsman]

in EPP and ECP mode paralell ports can communicate bidirectionally, i.e. data pins can be both inputs and outputs. But you have to make sure that the data pins are set to input before the picaxe drives its output. I do not know the PICAXE or Mach3 software (I use EMC) well enough to describe how you can do this.

I always only use parallel ports in standard mode (output only) to ensure compatibility with old machines not supporting ECP/EPP. But then you only have five input signals available as mentioned above.

-bjorn