Re: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] checking parallel port

Hugo,

Your problem is most likely that you do not have a complete circuit from the
drive to the computer. If you use an external power source for the +5V to
the Gecko you have to connect that power sources ground to the computer
ground to have it work. This issue comes up regularly and people are
perplexed by using the +5v as the common in connecting a Gecko. All I can
say it just use the computer as the source (straight from a drive connector
or a game port) and life will be good. Same goes for the CMD-260 drives I am
selling. Can't for the life of me understand why some many people are
determined to use an external source as it is not isolated due to the need
to tie the grounds together.

To answer your question you can check the port with a logic probe, a multi
meter, or an LED. This works great of you can issue a single pulse at a
time. The logic probe is the best if you can not do a single pulse.

Tim
[Denver, CO]
Stepper motors, drives, and encoders
http://www.KTMarketing.com/CNC.html

Hi all,

Is there a way to check if there coming a signal out of the parallel
port, with something like a voltage/amperage/resistance meter. I use
a geckodrive 201, a 1300 oz/in motor and 24V 2A power supply. The
power supply is just for testing, could it be that the power supply
is not powerful enough to move the motor at all. I use the same power
supply which also have a +5V terminal, to connect to the common
(terminal 10) of the geckodrive, the ground is connected to the
ground (terminal 1). I have tried different controllers Desknc,
Master5 and Cncpro, but the motor won't move.
I use a standard parallel cable but the numbering is a bit different
that what is described in DeskNC. If you look at the pins numbers,
pin one is upper left instead of upper right (the wide side above),
could this be part of the problem.
Thanks


Hugo