T&L Publications

Thanks to your excellent instructions and easy to assemble hardware, my MF70 cnc project has been a success. New to CNC, I now face the software workflow issues. I understand the theory well enough: CAD --> CAM --> GCODE (Mach3). Unfortunately practical recipes are scarce. People post videos, equipm...

Good news!
With my multimeter, I found that the Parallel port cable had a defective pin
With a fresh cable and the EPP setting the Jog test now works on all 3 axis

I checked the BIOS. I changed the setting from "PS2 mode" to "EPP mode".

The symptoms remain the same.
Could I have a defective Sainsmart board? How would I check it?

Joe

I went to the Mach3 Jog screen. The Y-axis LED blinks on Y+- The Z-axis LED blinks on Z+- The X-axis does not blink. It cannot be a simple port driver issue.

I'll checkout CNCZone. Has there been any discussion of this project over there?

Joe

1. You have to be using a true parallel port. It can not be a usb to parallel port converter. I am using a true parallel port. I even installed a 2nd PCI port which has a different address. 2. You have to make sure the parallel port settings in XP matches those in the drivers and config (Ports and ...

I've set everthing up as descibed in the Servo articles. I tested all connections for continuity. The 24v is present and the red LED's are lit on the Sainsmart3 board. I'm running Mach3 on a Dell running Windows XP with parallel port. The port driver is installed. I checked the devices screen. Mach3...

After reading your series, I bought an MF70. A very useful little machine. I'm eager to follow up with your CNC conversion but I have a few questions. Parallel ports went extinct with the Dodo birds but apparently the CNC crowd never got the memo :smile: I assume the Smooth Stepper USB goes between ...