How do I control a relay?

[amccoy]

I am building a 2-d pattern cutter and need to control a relay to fire the blade. How do I output from the parallel port to the relay and what g-code software will generate coding for this? Please help.

[WayneHill]

Originally Posted by amccoy I am building a 2-d pattern cutter and need to control a relay to fire the blade. How do I output from the parallel port to the relay and what g-code software will generate coding for this? Please help.

Amccoy,

The best thing would be to use a solid state relay to connect the parallel port to control the relay.

There are many sources for them. I just happen to know of this source.

http://www.cadcamcadcam.com/index.as...PROD&ProdID=56
http://www.cadcamcadcam.com/index.as...ROD&ProdID=125

What control software are you using? Or are you still researching this?

Most all control softwares are able to do this.

Mach, TurboCNC, DeskCNC, KCam, CNCPro Etc...

The software settings use two M codes to generate a signal on and off to the solid-state relay.

Example :
M55 = Turn on
M56 = Turn Off

Wayne

[amccoy]

I have the relay, was just wondering how they were controlled in the g-code. I am using either kcam or mach. Thanks.

[NC Cams]

YOU CAN"T DRIVE THE RELAY DIRECT FROM PARALLEL PORT - YOU NEED A BUFFER!!!

Check out "Real World Interfacing of Parallel Port" book from Sams.

Do a "parallel port interfacing" search on this site and it will show up. I"m not where I can put my hands on the ISBN right this instant.

[CNCgr]

Originally Posted by amccoy How do I output from the parallel port to the relay

Control a relay from the parallel port

Originally Posted by amccoy what g-code software will generate coding for this? Please help.

What WayneHill said, you can also set M3, M5 to do that.

Nikolas

[ez-cnc.com]

Im also searching for the same answer. How to do an ON/OFF control (cut or no cut)
I know its possible to do it using the auxiliary code M, but that should be donde manually.
Ive been searchong how to do it with visual mill but no answer yet.
Well ill keep searching.

[LeoNaftoli]

M03 or M04 = spindel onn
M05 = spindel off

[Al_The_Man]

For the hardware side, Do a search here for 2n7000 very cheap and versatile little component, when you just want one or two buffers.
http://cnczone.com/forums/showthread...ghlight=2n7000