Can I hook up a 3-axis board to a 1-axis board ?

[Redline]

I allready have my Xylotex 3-axis system up and running.It works great! Now I would like to put another motor on my X-axis.What I need to do is slave them together,but I will need another drive for the A-axis (slave axis for the X).Is it possible to hook up a single axis drive to a 3-axis drive.This would make it 4-Axis.If so, How should I go about this?


Thanks Jim

[joecnc2006]

Originally Posted by Redline I allready have my Xylotex 3-axis system up and running.It works great! Now I would like to put another motor on my X-axis.What I need to do is slave them together,but I will need another drive for the A-axis (slave axis for the X).Is it possible to hook up a single axis drive to a 3-axis drive.This would make it 4-Axis.If so, How should I go about this? Thanks Jim

you will need another axis driver seperate from the "X" brand. look and see if it has pinouts for 8 and 9 pins if so then you can hook step and direction to those, is not then you will need to use a pass through "B.O.B." card, or another printer port and configure the 4th axis to lpt2 and then in your software, (i.e. Mach3) to slave the axis.

Joe

[Redline]

When you say

Originally Posted by joe2000che you will need another axis driver seperate from the "X" brand

Does that mean I cannot use the Xylotex single axis board? What board should or could I use. Send me a PM it you don't want to say it here.

[joecnc2006]

Originally Posted by Redline When you say Does that mean I cannot use the Xylotex single axis board? What board should or could I use. Send me a PM it you don't want to say it here.

I would send them a message and ask how to install it in conjunction with their 3-axis board, I guess that is what you are trying to do.

Joe

[Redline]

Yes that is what I would like to do,but Jeff is slow to respond.

[massajamesb]

You can modify your DB25 cable, which is messy and a pain,
get a nice breakout board, and spend quite a bit of money
or get a smaller breakout board like this
http://cgi.ebay.com/CNC-DB25-BREAKOU...QQcmdZViewItem

[ger21]

Looking at the datasheet, you can get the 5V, ground, and A axis step and direction from the small red connector on the front right side of the 3 axis board. Just run those 4 wires to the single axis board. I have an older single axis board that plugs directly into my older 3 axis board.

[Redline]

That was the answer I was looking for ,Thanks