585,708 active members*
3,899 visitors online*
Register for free
Login
Results 1 to 12 of 12
  1. #1
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Posts
    9

    Exclamation Printer port problems

    I've got my controller on and can hear that the motors on. But in mach3 when i attempt to jog it doesn't move. I've got the motor outputs set up right, all are going through port 1, steps per inch are set on all the axis' and set on active low as specified. when I go into the diagnostics window there is no printer port activity (no leds light up) when I attempt to jog. Also my enable1 led stays lit even though it is disabled. Any ideas? What settings for the pirinter port do i need to have on in the bios?Any suggestions are appreciated. thanks a lot.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Dec 2005
    Posts
    3319
    What kind of PC? Some laptops have 3.3 volt parallel ports and don't work well or at all with some BOB's that want 5 vdc signals.

    This whole laptop vs regular computer topic has been discussed AT GREAT LENGTH on the CNC ZOne.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Posts
    9
    I have a homebuilt desktop with a Asus motherboard.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    May 2006
    Posts
    1469
    Control panel / system / hardware / device manager, look at the resources on the LPT

    Mach defaults to 275 where as it is often 375.

    This can be changed in BIOS but if you don't have to....

    As to the old chestnut about laptops 3.3v, most desktops are also.

    I have five desktops running here and all but one is 3.3v (that one is 10 years old)

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Posts
    9
    is there a way to check and see what voltage it is? And i've tried messing with the port numbers in both the bios and in mach and i can't seem to get it to work. Thanks for the help.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Mar 2003
    Posts
    35538
    Are the DRO's in Mach changing when you attempt to jog?
    Gerry

    UCCNC 2017 Screenset
    http://www.thecncwoodworker.com/2017.html

    Mach3 2010 Screenset
    http://www.thecncwoodworker.com/2010.html

    JointCAM - CNC Dovetails & Box Joints
    http://www.g-forcecnc.com/jointcam.html

    (Note: The opinions expressed in this post are my own and are not necessarily those of CNCzone and its management)

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Mar 2003
    Posts
    35538
    Have you watched the Mach3 setup video at www.machsupport.com? It explains how to get the proper port address. Can you post a screenshot of your motor pin setup screen?
    Gerry

    UCCNC 2017 Screenset
    http://www.thecncwoodworker.com/2017.html

    Mach3 2010 Screenset
    http://www.thecncwoodworker.com/2010.html

    JointCAM - CNC Dovetails & Box Joints
    http://www.g-forcecnc.com/jointcam.html

    (Note: The opinions expressed in this post are my own and are not necessarily those of CNCzone and its management)

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Posts
    9
    Ya i watched the whole mach video as well. And the DRO are changing too.
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails Mach 3.jpg  

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Mar 2003
    Posts
    35538
    You didn't install the driver, or it didn't take. On your diagnostics page, under pulse frequency, it says simulate. It should say something close to 25000 . Run drivertest.exe in the mach3 folder. If it doesn't work, uninstall, reboot, and reinstall.
    Gerry

    UCCNC 2017 Screenset
    http://www.thecncwoodworker.com/2017.html

    Mach3 2010 Screenset
    http://www.thecncwoodworker.com/2010.html

    JointCAM - CNC Dovetails & Box Joints
    http://www.g-forcecnc.com/jointcam.html

    (Note: The opinions expressed in this post are my own and are not necessarily those of CNCzone and its management)

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Posts
    9
    I unistalled rebooted and installed. It never asked to install driver. And I went to the mach 3 folder and tried opening orignialdriver. And that didn't work. Any ideas on how to get driver to install. Running winxp 64-bit

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Mar 2003
    Posts
    35538
    Yeah, don't use Xp 64 bit, it won't work. Must be standard 32bit XP, Vista or Win2K. The install should have a checkbox at the end that says "install driver".
    Gerry

    UCCNC 2017 Screenset
    http://www.thecncwoodworker.com/2017.html

    Mach3 2010 Screenset
    http://www.thecncwoodworker.com/2010.html

    JointCAM - CNC Dovetails & Box Joints
    http://www.g-forcecnc.com/jointcam.html

    (Note: The opinions expressed in this post are my own and are not necessarily those of CNCzone and its management)

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Posts
    9
    thanks a lot for your help. Getting another computer set up for it.

Similar Threads

  1. USB to Printer port compatability
    By CbrViking in forum Mach Mill
    Replies: 7
    Last Post: 02-28-2007, 12:05 AM
  2. printer port tester
    By smarbaga in forum CNC Machine Related Electronics
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 12-10-2005, 06:57 PM
  3. Communications output to Printer Port
    By kheri in forum Post Processors for MC
    Replies: 0
    Last Post: 03-26-2005, 07:40 AM
  4. printer port?
    By replicapro in forum Uncategorised CAM Discussion
    Replies: 2
    Last Post: 11-26-2004, 10:37 PM
  5. Have problems with G201 and printer port
    By Christian in forum Gecko Drives
    Replies: 2
    Last Post: 09-26-2004, 08:44 PM

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •