Need Help getting my CNC running

[squeegie]

I just finished building my CNC based on the "Build Your Own CNC Machine" book design by Patrick Hood-Daniel and James Floyd Kelly. I went to setup Mach3 and enter in some manual g-code and nothing happened. None of the motors tried to engage, but when every I restart my laptop all of the motors jog on and slightly engage. Or if I change the port from LPT1 to LPT2 they jog again. but nothing else. I checked the port address and its the standard port address. I'm not sure if its because I'm using a laptop or not, but I'm going to try a desktop tomorrow, I'm just confused why they would engage on start up, but nothing in mach3. If anyone has any advise I would REALLY appreciate it, thanks.

C.J.

[crane550]

Had the exact same problem. Go to your ports and pins and verify those are set up with your controller. The documentation that came with your gear should have that info. Also, there are a couple other check boxes in the ports and pins table, for me my problem was I had to check or uncheck the other setting, I think it was called "active low" or something.

[squeegie]

they didn't give me any documentation really, but its all the kelings stuff from http://www.kelinginc.net/ straight out of the book, I'll try looking though the ports and pins, and see what I can do. Thanks alot for the reply.

[PaulRowntree]

Mach3 does not recommend the use of portables because of timing and power-management conflicts. To be honest, I didn't think that they still made portables with parallel ports ... what type is it?

Does Mach3's DRO indicators adjust during the g-code execution? Can you get to the pinouts and watch them with a 'scope? My Gecko drivers have protection circuits that prevent operation if the EStop is not connected or the charge-pump has indicated problems.

[Dorsal]

The parallel ports on laptops suck.
Within the main directory of Mach you will find a file called "drivertest.exe". Run that file and it will give you a visual representation of the condition of your parallel port, which you will see is horrible.
Then, either get a small desktop machine to run your CNC , or
Go buy a SmoothStepper (like I did).
Those cheapass converter cards on eBay won't work, despite what your "friends" may tell you.

[squeegie]

Thanks guys for all the good information, the laptop was an old toshiba satellite that I got for a few bucks from a friend, but I ended up getting a spare sony desktop, hooked everything else up, and it worked like a dream. just need to get the motors tuned in so it doesn't hitch. heres a video from my phone: YouTube- My cncs first movement . If I use the arrow keys there is no hitching at all, just smooth spinning. Any idea on that?