help needed with my set up

[amxen]

I really need help befor I go crazy . iv been working on this solid for a week and cant find what the problem is .

I have this bob https://www.amazon.co.uk/XCSOURCE-Interface-Breakout-Adapter-TE421/dp/B01DRT4QKK/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1531302812&sr=8-2&keywords=5+axis+breakout+board
and I cang get the steppers working on it.
here is what i have or know at the moment. The computer im using was used on another cnc machine i owned about 4 months ago. so im sure the parallel port is working. but still i have followed a parallel port checking video. On pin 2 through to pin 7 i get 3.7vdc when i jog left then 0vdc when i jog right. up and down and side to side correspond accordingly to the voltage i get on each pin on the parallel port giving 3.7v output

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i have connected the bob to the parallel port with the pp cable and im supplying 5v to the bob using a usb cable

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when i jog left i can read 3.7vdc input from the computer to the bob but the output of the bob stays at 5.1v dc,when i jog right i can read a change to 0vdc imput from the computer to the bob but there is no change in the output it stays at 5.1vdc

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the output on the dod never changes it stays at 5.1vcd . in fact i think all the out put pins may have 5.1 v dc on the all the time . This is the second BoB i have tried as the same thing was happening on the other one, So i guessing its not the bob


i have disconnected everything now and have just one motor and one driver connected. just the basic set up but its still the same. its almost like the bob has to be turned on to initialise the output side of the board..

I really don't know what to do next . if any one could help I would be so gratful

[Clive S]

How exactly have you wired the drives to the bob.

Have you connected 5v to the bob

[amxen]

im running the 5v needed to power it from the usb port as every one iv talked to say that's how they run it. so im not sure if the 2 end pins need connecting as its getting its 5v from the usb. from my understanding pin14 is en- and en+ goes to 5v on the end . only from what iv seen on other videos. so this is how I have it. some one has told me I don't need to wire in the en- for now just for testing but I have tried it both ways and it still the same. To be honest im going round and round in circles with this now

[amxen]

none of the videos I watch show the 2 end pins connected .

I am grateful for the input though as it really is stressing me just now

[A_Camera]

none of the videos I watch show the 2 end pins connected .

I am grateful for the input though as it really is stressing me just now

What do you mean by "end" pins?

You should make a simple drawing showing your connections. I have two similar BOBs and they work flawless since several years. You should also check the voltage (logic levels) on the inputs of the BOB. When you change direction the DIR signal should change polarity from high to low or low to high. If that does not happen no direction change will take place. Also, eStop must be configured right, as well as the limit switches. You should also know that just because something worked before does not meat it works today as well... :joyous:

It is also not a good idea to use the USB cable as power supply for the BOB, even if everyone you talked to does it. Again, just because it works for them, it does not mean it works for you. Not all USB are created the same, and by definition USB can supply maximum 500mA, which normally should be enough for your BOB, but if something is wrong with your PC then you may not get the needed current, or maybe THAT specific USB is not able for it. Anyway, external 5V supply is better.

Is it Mach3 you are using? Are you sure nothing wrong with the configuration of ports and pins?

[routercnc]

I’m no expert but I have never connected the enable pins to anything as my understanding is that giving them 5V tells the driver to halt (reverse of what you migh expect).
If this is the case then remove the 5V cable to en+ and any cable on en-
Hopefully someone more knowledgeable can confirm this

[amxen]

24521
I don't have any limit switches or e stops attached at the moment . I have taken it all apart to try and work out what is going on . all I have is 1 driver 1 stepper the powersuply and the bob. I get 3.7v on the input side of the bob on pins 2 when I jog left I get 0v on pin 2 when I jog right . but all the output pins read 5.1v dc . nothing changes on any of the out put pins . if I connect the stepper there is no movement. I can feel it get hard to move and a small buzzing but no movement when I jog.

[amxen]

im going to do a video when I get home

[Clive S]

im running the 5v needed to power it from the usb port as every one iv talked to say that's how they run it. so im not sure if the 2 end pins need connecting as its getting its 5v from the usb. from my understanding pin14 is en- and en+ goes to 5v on the end . only from what iv seen on other videos. so this is how I have it. some one has told me I don't need to wire in the en- for now just for testing but I have tried it both ways and it still the same. To be honest im going round and round in circles with this now

You should not need anything connected to the enable pin on the bob. Can you draw a simple sketch to show exactly how you have connected the drive to the bob.. I have used many of these bobs and they work fine

[amxen]

You should not need anything connected to the enable pin on the bob. Can you draw a simple sketch to show exactly how you have connected the drive to the bob.. I have used many of these bobs and they work fine

as soon as I get home ill draw something . but im sure its correct but yes I can do that . I think I read some where that it may be that the input from the parallel port is only 3.7v dc saying it need to be 4.5v dc to activate something on the bob . Now im really clutching at straws but any hope is hope just now

[Clive S]

I think I read some where that it may be that the input from the parallel port is only 3.7v dc saying it need to be 4.5v dc to activate something on the bob .
The bob will convert the 3.7v to the required output so that will not be the problem.

[cropwell]

Have you got the 12-24v power connected ? - there is no mention of it so far ! That is needed to drive the electronics of the BoB. The 5v USB connection only powers the input opto-isolators.

[amxen]

it is my understanding that connecting the 12 24v to the bob is only to enable the use of the limit and estop on the other side of the bob.

[Clive S]

Have you got the 12-24v power connected ? - there is no mention of it so far ! That is needed to drive the electronics of the BoB. The 5v USB connection only powers the input opto-isolators.

Rob you are getting old like me:sorrow: It is the other way round, it needs the 12-24v for the inputs to work

[cropwell]

Rob you are getting old like me:sorrow: It is the other way round, it needs the 12-24v for the inputs to work

So why bother with a 5v USB connection from the PC ? Either way you need the 12-24v and the OP from his latest post indicates he has not deemed it necessary.

Somewhere in the deep brainfog of age I have a memory of a simple BOB circuit. I must look it out on t'Interweb and try and understand it better.

http://www.embeddedtronics.com (Several points of interest in this site !)

Aha! there it is - looking at the schematic pdf, now I understand the 5v from the PC is used to lift the output of the optos which feed homes, limits and Estop info back to the PC and power the input opto LEDs.

[amxen]

Yay did a little victory dance around the workshop. its working its WORKING. I ordered a new parallel port cable when i ordered a new breakout board and other bit to replace the parts i thought did not work. The cable was the last thing to turn up today, So i thought what the hell ill fit it befor i do the video then moved everything in to position to do the video. I Turned on the computer and the system and CLUNK, i turned around and thought NO WAY fired up mach3 and pressed the right jog button beeeerrrrrzzzzz went the stepper YESSSSsss

[Doddy]

This particular BoB (and I have three of them), uses the 12-24V supply to drive the 10V regulator (LM317) for the 0-10V spindle control, as well as the opto-isolator inputs.

The 5V supply (either via terminals or USB) is used for the logic devices (and therefore the drives to the stepper controllers).

To the OP - if you need to use the E-Stop/limit inputs, as Clive-S says you'll need that 12-24V supply - or that'll be your next problem.

[amxen]

would i need the 12v input and the 5v input or just 12v when i need to add this

[Doddy]

Both, unfortunately.

[amxen]

Both, unfortunately.

no thats fine as long as i know. then im not trying to find a fault i dont have if i remove the usb

[A_Camera]

Yay did a little victory dance around the workshop. its working its WORKING. I ordered a new parallel port cable when i ordered a new breakout board and other bit to replace the parts i thought did not work. The cable was the last thing to turn up today, So i thought what the hell ill fit it befor i do the video then moved everything in to position to do the video. I Turned on the computer and the system and CLUNK, i turned around and thought NO WAY fired up mach3 and pressed the right jog button beeeerrrrrzzzzz went the stepper YESSSSsss

Very good. That's why I said that just because it worked before it does not mean it should work today as well...:whistle: