Re: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] BDI : Parallel Port Setup

Deon Styger wrote:

> Hi all,
>
> Yes, I guess it is time for another EMC "can't get out of e-stop" question.
>
> I have installed EMC on my Dell PII (350MHz), using the BDI 2.04 disk. After
> modifying the .ini file as been described in various past messages, I still
> can't get out of e-stop. Next, I went to settings > information > IO-ports
> to look at my parallel port addresses and found that no serial- or parallel
> ports were listed.
>
> Before doing the BDI install I have added a PCI card with two extra parallel
> ports to my hardware. My first assumption was that it is this card that is
> causing the problems. I therefore removed the card and reinstalled the BDI.
> Same problem, no serial- or parallel ports listed.
>
> The instructions that came with the PCI parallel port card mentioned an
> "insmod parport.o" code and "insmod parport.pc" code that needs to be
> executed to get the parallel ports going. Needless to say, I only get "No
> such file or directory" messages when trying to run this from a konsole
> window.
>
> Please bear in mind that I am only starting to venture out in Linux and my
> knowledge and experience at this stage can only be classified as
> "dangerous". Any suggestions on how to proceed from here?

First thing is to see what the BIOS finds on the motherboard. Go to
the BIOS setup at boot time, and check in the peripherals section.
You want the on-board port set for 378 to start with. It is often set to
a different address by default.

The parallel port used for stepper output is not subject to BIOS or
standard drivers like parport.o, as it uses direct hardware instructions
in the real-time section of EMC.

Depending on which auxilliary I/O program you are selecting in the .ini
file, the setup for the e-stop, limit and home switch sensing and spindle,
coolant, etc. control is somewhat different. But, it is probably best for
the stepper output to be the motherboard port, and the auxilliary I/O
to be on the plug-in port. There, a driver might be of use in at least
configuring the port at boot time. Drivers are usually in
/lib/modules/<your kernel version number here>/<something>

so /lib/modules/2.0.36-0.7/misc/joystick.o is the joystick driver on my system.

I don't find a parport.o there, however.

I DO find one in EMC, itself, in /usr/local/BDI/plat/linux_2_2_18/lib/parport.o

(Your directory path may be different)

Jon