I have a Xylotex 3 axis control board and a Campbel Designs Torch Height Control.I need to have Limit Switches, Home, and 3 Relays.I also bought the Campbel Designs Breakout Board. At the moment it would take 3 Parrallel Ports to run this setup .Mach2 only supports 2 ports.

My question to you guys is. Could I run the Xylotex step and direction signal wires to the Campbell Design Breakout Board step and direction terminals to elliminate one parrallel port hook up?This way it could all be interfaced through MACH2.

Will this work or is there a better way to do all of this?

I know I would need a 25 pin D-Sub crimp or solder type connector to go from the Xylotex to the breakout board. 6 wires: 3step and 3 direction

You might consider our Mini-IO breakout for port 1. It has a Xylotex direct connection port (26 pin header). The home switches are brought in to the screw terminals on the Mini-IO (5 opto isolated inputs). We sell a 26 pin ribbon cable and connectors to interconnect the mini-IO with the either 3 or 4 axis xylotex cards. CB-25-25 if you order.

It can still be done with the Campbell Breakout and the Xylotex. You will have to build a special cable that goes from the screw terminals for each Step & Dir over to the Xylotex driver card DB25. You need more than 6 wires since you need to get the PC GND over to the xylotex (any one of pins 18-25). The normal setup of the Campbell Breakout is that the "Common" pin on each axis screw terminal goes to +5 (PC +5). That setup is for Gecko's. I think there is a jumper on on the card that swtiches that common pin to PC GND. That is what you have to have on the Xylotex. You just need to change that jumper and connect one of the Common terminals to one of the Xylotex ground pins.

While the xylotex has input signal buffering it doesn't hurt that it gets buffered and cleaned up through the Mini-IO or the Campbell Card.

you can also get a simple breakout board from Hubbard cnc on ebay. It is a simple Db25 to screw terminals pc board. I think they are 10 bucks or so. I have his plasma relay board, parrallel port protector, the breakout board, and a hobby cnc 3 axis PRO board. The relay board is also a breakout board, which is wired to the small breakout board, terminal to terminal. I guess you could call it a reverse breakout board. from the reverse board, it goes db25 to db25 of the hobby board.

Where can I get the mini-io breakout board Torchhead? How much does it cost. Thanks

What web site is it on?

Bob Campbell Designs. (http://www.campbelldesigns.com/)

http://www.candcnc.com/Mini_IO.htm

Widgitmaster I allready have the Campbel Designs breakout board and I cannot get it to work with my Xylotex control board. Could it have somthing to do with Xylotex active high on the inputs maybe Campbels is acticve low?

Widgitmaster I allready have the Campbel Designs breakout board and I cannot get it to work with my Xylotex control board. Could it have somthing to do with Xylotex active high on the inputs maybe Campbels is acticve low?

Why not ask Bob Campbel?
He is a really nice guy, and will surely be able to help!
He has answered every email I have ever sent him, and has help resolve all my questions/problems!

bob@campbelldesigns.com

You have to pickup the PC ground (Not normally at the three terminals for each axis on the Campbell Card) to use common ground for th Xylotex. It has nothing to do with the polarity of the signal and everthing to do with the Common. As I said in a previous post there may be a jumper to switch from Common +5 for Gecko's to common ground.

The Mini-IO is a CandCNC product and has a direct connect Xylotex feature connector. It's a full powered card with 4 buffered axis outputs, two double buffered (open collector) outputs for relays, and 5 opto isolated inputs. The base unit is 57.00 including dual power supply, and you can get a plug-in Charge Pump for MACH3 use, plug-in Step & Dir monitor, add-on remote Relay and e-stop card and even a 2nd port input card and a 12 function handwheel/pendant.

The Xylotex card does not normally need a breakout card for the step & dir. Only if you want isolated inputs (with a power source to drive the separate input supply). We still buffer and clean the step and dir signals as it passes through the card so they are just that much cleaner and stronger to the XYlotex affording for longer cables if needed.

The website was listed by ger21 correctly

www.Candcnc.com

The Mini-io base unit and the port 1 options are at http://www.candcnc.com/Mini_IO.htm

the added options are at:
http://www.candcnc.com/Mini-IOProductsChart.htm

Tom Caudle

I allready changed the jumper from 5v to ground by changing the jumper before I did any thing else.And actually just so you know the torch height control they sent me does not work either. The display and led's do not have voltage to power them from the board.I have to send it back to get it fixed and I havn't even got to use it. I just pluged it in and got nothing.

I am forwarding this thread to Jim who is the engineer responsible for the THC300 (and the Campbell Breakout) I am sure he will get you running.

You have to pickup the PC ground (Not normally at the three terminals for each axis on the Campbell Card) to use common ground for th Xylotex. It has nothing to do with the polarity of the signal and everthing to do with the Common. As I said in a previous post there may be a jumper to switch from Common +5 for Gecko's to common ground.


The Mini-IO is a CandCNC product and has a direct connect Xylotex feature connector. It's a full powered card with 4 buffered axis outputs, two double buffered (open collector) outputs for relays, and 5 opto isolated inputs. The base unit is 57.00 including dual power supply, and you can get a plug-in Charge Pump for MACH3 use, plug-in Step & Dir monitor, add-on remote Relay and e-stop card and even a 2nd port input card and a 12 function handwheel/pendant.

The Xylotex card does not normally need a breakout card for the step & dir. Only if you want isolated inputs (with a power source to drive the separate input supply). We still buffer and clean the step and dir signals as it passes through the card so they are just that much cleaner and stronger to the XYlotex affording for longer cables if needed.

The website was listed by ger21 correctly

www.Candcnc.com

The Mini-io base unit and the port 1 options are at http://www.candcnc.com/Mini_IO.htm

the added options are at:
http://www.candcnc.com/Mini-IOProductsChart.htm

Tom Caudle

Yes there is a jumper on the Campbell board to switch the com terminal ot a PC ground. It is J24 Jim Cullins Sound Logic[/COLOR]

It is in the process of being taken care of.He is sending me another THC to replace the one that is not working.They are realy good guys to deal with.So far I am realy happy with there support and fast response to my e-mails.

Jim, We will get you going sorry for the delay.
I do test the THC300 with actual tip voltage levels before shipping. Not sure what happened to this one.
Jim Cullins
Sound Logic