my new 3 axis driver wont work

[shattadem]

Hey guys,

I just purchased a new 3 axis 2 phase driver and when i hook it up it doesnt work. I used the correct voltage for the driver.

I installed mach3 using windows XP and the installed driver correctly but still cant get it to work.

is there anyway i can test the printer port pins from to computer for a signal?
or anything else i can do?

Any thoughts?

Thanks

[Gir]

is there anyway i can test the printer port pins from to computer for a signal? or anything else i can do?

Take a DMM/voltmeter to the pins on your computer that determine direction since they won't be changing as quick. I believe it's a 5V signal. Just hook the red lead to the pin that does direction and the black lead to a ground pin.

On the board you could measure if there's voltage going to the motor (this is probably the first thing you should do). If you're not getting any (which seems likely), and you feel comfortable opening up the driver, try testing different points on the board, namely the output of the driver's main chip.

Also, do you smell anything burning? A weird stench of sorts? If so, say good bye to your driver, that means something fried a chip.

[jdell42]

are you using a break out board or are you wired directly to the driver from the parallel port?

[pminmo]

Give us some details on your 3 axis board, then maybe we can help....

[shattadem]

I am wired directly to the parallel port, also when i check the voltage going to the motor its constant voltage, it doesn't change when i have mach3 running. this weekend i will check the pins on the pc.

also here are some specs on the 3 axis driver:
* Resolution: Full Step,1/2,1/4,1/8.
* Support two phase 4wire, 6wire 8wire stepping motor.
* Compatible with many CNC software such as Mach, KCAM, TouboCNC, etc
* Max 2.5A@36V 90W per axis.
* Built in Manual Control Function for position adjustment.
* Built in Restriction Bit interface for X-Y-Z axis.
* Built in 1/2 current control interface for long time running, protect motor from overheating, enable via jumper.

i am using motors from an old panasonic dot matrix printer. from my testing i found them to be 2 phase unipolar motors.

thanks.

[pminmo]

So it's a bipolar driver, what other informaion? If your unipolar motors are 5 wire motors it won't work for them.