Originally Posted by
coherent
I have one of those same 5 axis import breakout boards. The 12-24v is for spindle control and the on board relay. The power required for the driver control side comes from the usb cable connection. I simply cut the end off of a usb cable and connected it to a 5v power supply and plugged it into the usb recepticle on the BOB. You can obviously just run it to your computer via a usb cable. My controller and computer are separated by 15 feet or so it was easier to do it the way I did. One way or another, that's where this breakout board gets it 5v for the drivers... not via the 12-14v volt connection. Also I wouldn't exceed the voltage, even by a little. Battery voltage can fluctuate, I'd use small regulated power supplies or the cheapest way is an old computer power supply and obtain your 5v and 12v from it.
If you are having issues with an axis spinning the same direction no matter which way you jog, it is one of the following and I personally would troubleshoot in the order listed. 1) the computer parallel port (low or inconsistant power at the dir pin) or bad parallel cable, 2) a loose or damaged wire connection to/from your brreakout board to the driver or a shorted wire between the driver to the motor. 3) a bad breakout board 4) bad driver
I suppose if you had the hot key the same for both directions, or incorrect pin assignments it would cause this issue, but I'm assuming that's the first things you'd check.