Ok, I'm stumped. Question for Gary (ZAPP)

**Smiler** · 13-12-2008

Hi all,

Ok, I'm hoping that Gary from Zapp will be able to answer this question......

As part of Zapp's driver kit1 you get a very simple breakout board. I never used it as I had an Optoport from DIYCNC. Now, I'd like to use it to build a control panel with various switches etc. but no matter how hard I try, the only pins I can get to be detected as inputs are pins 10,11,12,13,15. I've set Mach up to use pins 2-9 as input but they are not detected at all. Is there something special I have to do on this board to get the outputs to be inputs?

Regards, Jeff.

**lateAtNight** · 14-12-2008

I haven't even used Mach yet, but I have done a little programming with the parallel port and unless anyone feels the need to correct me the, the pins on the parallel port are fixed, i.e. only some are inputs and only some are outputs, and an an input pin cannot become an out and vise versa.

This might be a little of interest...

http://www.codeproject.com/KB/cs/csppleds.aspx

Thats what you were asking right?

Dave.

**Gary** · 14-12-2008

I think as been mentioned pins are assigned as inputs or outputs.
I also think this is in hardware? so i dont think it can be changed.
There is nothing that can be done with the BOB.

Sorry

Originally Posted by Smiler

Hi all,

Ok, I'm hoping that Gary from Zapp will be able to answer this question......

As part of Zapp's driver kit1 you get a very simple breakout board. I never used it as I had an Optoport from DIYCNC. Now, I'd like to use it to build a control panel with various switches etc. but no matter how hard I try, the only pins I can get to be detected as inputs are pins 10,11,12,13,15. I've set Mach up to use pins 2-9 as input but they are not detected at all. Is there something special I have to do on this board to get the outputs to be inputs?

Regards, Jeff.

**Smiler** · 14-12-2008

Thanks chaps,

I've worked around it by using some inputs on the Smoothstepper and some on the BOB.

Both Mach and the Smoothstepper have settings to use pins 2-9 as input and you set the PP to bidirectional mode. That way you get a total of 34 inputs from two PP's (42 if you use the Smoothsteppers).

Most probably I need a "smart PP BOB":D

Regards to all and thanks for the help.

**Robin Hewitt** · 14-12-2008

Originally Posted by Gary

i dont think it can be changed.

Hi Gary

While you're on the subject of changing things :D

These here ballscrews you do, can you machine the ends to my pattern rather than just cutting your standard ends? Nothing dramatic, just want to hold the screw in tension rather than leave one end floating...

...and, do they come with seals fitted to prevent ingress?...

...and can I specify a non-standard length?...

...and could you fit the nuts for me if I told you which way round they go? I've never actually had a problem fitting ballnuts, I just find it a bit nerve wracking

Much ta

Robin

**Gary** · 14-12-2008

The simple answer is Yes to all you questions :)
As long as the machining is not something exotic the price will be the same, but bearing in mind most of the machining costs are to do with the fixed end, so if you want machining like the fixed end at both ends i will need to get a quote from the engineering company i use.
If you want a dimension that is in between the 100mm i offer, this is not a problem, infact i do this a lot, you just need to round it up to the nearest 100mm and advise the length, but i will need a proper drawing, with tolerances
Some of the ball nuts come with plastic seals (5mm lead) and the other lead ball nuts come with a rubber seal that is much better.
The reason is that they come from different manufactures.
And fitting the ballnut is not a problem, you would be surprised how many people ask me to do this, and i an thinking of doing this as standard with machined screws.

Originally Posted by Robin Hewitt

Hi Gary

While you're on the subject of changing things :D

These here ballscrews you do, can you machine the ends to my pattern rather than just cutting your standard ends? Nothing dramatic, just want to hold the screw in tension rather than leave one end floating...

...and, do they come with seals fitted to prevent ingress?...

...and can I specify a non-standard length?...

...and could you fit the nuts for me if I told you which way round they go? I've never actually had a problem fitting ballnuts, I just find it a bit nerve wracking

Much ta

Robin

**Robin Hewitt** · 14-12-2008

Sounds promising, I'd probably only need to lengthen the ends a bit, maybe deepen the circlip groove a tadge. A couple of flat spots would be handy.

Can I find the dimensions and details for the double nuts on your website? They seem to be hidden under pre-machined screws, so when you click for info you get told about end machining rather than nuts :confused:

Last time I bought a "zero backlash nut" it was from that other bunch. Turned out I had to crush it sideways. A bit tricky when it's buried under a milling table

**Gary** · 17-12-2008

THe link to the double ball nuts is here
http://www.slidesandballscrews.com/pdf/35-36.pdf
the ball nuts i have in stock are pre loaded to give a max backlash of 20 micron.
If you want a zero backlash nut, this will need to matched to the ball screw at the factory.

Originally Posted by Robin Hewitt

Sounds promising, I'd probably only need to lengthen the ends a bit, maybe deepen the circlip groove a tadge. A couple of flat spots would be handy.

Can I find the dimensions and details for the double nuts on your website? They seem to be hidden under pre-machined screws, so when you click for info you get told about end machining rather than nuts :confused:

Last time I bought a "zero backlash nut" it was from that other bunch. Turned out I had to crush it sideways. A bit tricky when it's buried under a milling table

**Gary** · 17-12-2008

And the ball nut is the FDU type

Originally Posted by Gary

THe link to the double ball nuts is here
http://www.slidesandballscrews.com/pdf/35-36.pdf
the ball nuts i have in stock are pre loaded to give a max backlash of 20 micron.
If you want a zero backlash nut, this will need to matched to the ball screw at the factory.

**Robin Hewitt** · 06-03-2009

Originally Posted by Gary

The simple answer is Yes to all you questions

Took a while but here it is, can you make 'em?

16mmx5 screws with your anti backlash double nuts.

Threads are your usual M12x1, flats are 1mm deep.

I'd like 12mm ball races to slide on by hand, not tight. Other tolearances are fairly slack, shall we say .25mm

best regards

Robin