RE: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] Weird parallel port issue

All good advice. I also just noticed that my "enable" relay hung off
parallel port pin #14 chatters when Win XP starts, but that has nothing to
do with the Y axis (it is connected to the Bridgeport control circuit,
however which makes it a little scary).

OK. There is no printer driver loaded. I can throw another relay in to
disable the drives. Which connection should be switched? (5V, Step, or
Motor voltage?)

I'm not familiar with pull down resistors which Lucas mentioned. I have no
problem putting them in, but would like advice where to stick them (no jokes
now). I'm using CMD-260 drives (which wire the same as Gecko 210's). Am I
right in assuming that the pull down resistors go to ground? Any
requirement to how many watts they should be able to handle?

If I add the pull down resistors in the wrong place, do I run the risk of
damaging the parallel breakout box, the steppers, or the drives?

Thanks again for all the advice.

Regards,
Jeff


-----Original Message-----
From: Tim Goldstein [mailto:timg@...]
Sent: Thursday, March 06, 2003 10:42 PM
To: CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com
Subject: RE: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] Weird parallel port issue


You should never have your drives powered when you boot the computer or
until you launch the controller program. You should also have them turned
off when you shut the system down. The reason is that you can get pulses
sent out the parallel port during the start up and shut down phase and other
programs can also send pulses out the port. All of this will cause
potentially dangerous moves. Having the drives turned on when you launch
Visual Mill with it's dongle is a bad thing as the motors jump around.

Tim
[Denver, CO]
Sherline products at Deep Discount
Mach1 & DeskCNC with credit card ordering www.KTMarketing.com/Sherline Now
selling Visual Mill

> -----Original Message-----
>
>
> I've just powered up my new CNC setup and can't explain a bizzare
> event. I'm running Windows XP. My X and Z axis have no problem. I
> have the step line of my Y axis drive connected (through a breakout
> card) to parallel port pin 4 (and the Y direction is pin 5). When XP
> boots to its welcome screen, my Y axis stepper turns at a slow rate
> of speed. It continues to turn until I launch MACH2 (alpha) at which
> point it stops turning (and works as expected with the software). It
> will stay stopped even when I exit MACH2. I have a fourth axis on
> the breakout board that I can try, but I'd really like to know if
> anyone has a clue as to what is happening as I'd hate to waste the
> potential of the other axis.
>
> Thanks for all your previous input.
>
> Regards,
> Jeff
>
>
> Addresses:
> FAQ: http://www.ktmarketing.com/faq.html