How to connect a height probe

[psychoul]

Hi guys.

So I am looking into connecting a simple height probe on Mach3 for auto zero the Z axis.

How do you physically connect the wire on the parallel port's pin?

I have a female socket on my PC and a female socket on my CNC box. There is a male/male parallel port cable connecting the two. I don't have access anywhere to solder any pin.

Thanks!

[doorknob]

What is inside of your "CNC box"?

Is there a breakout board that has connections to your stepper motor drivers?

Could there be a terminal on that breakout board that is intended to be used for the connection to a probe?

[psychoul]

Hi doorknob and thank you for the reply. I am back in the lab now...
I see what you are saying. The problem is that I don't want to interfere with the box too much to avoid any finger pointing if something goes wrong in the future. Does mach3 only has parallel port inputs? Or I could input the signal in a different way into the PC?

Thanks.

[doorknob]

One option that you might consider is building or buying a DB-25 "signal tap" that you could insert between the cable and your "cnc box", which would allow you to access any of the pins of the connector without modifying the circuitry.

See Data Tap, RS-232, (3) DB25 Connectors, MFF - FA142A - Shop now - Black Box for an example.