Help please on physical setup between 6040 and PC

[cropwell]

It wouldn't matter as it would still be unsupported ;-)

Yep Nick, but I was just wondering how much the vendor actually cared about whether his stuff worked.

[Palletlad]

very quick question, after installing the software that was supplied by the seller (USB CNC controller) and using the USB to LPT cable I was able to move the motors abet very slowly however I weren't too happy with the software and cable (it does seem to be a cheap clone and pirated software especially when I have an activation code that does not work and so stuck with a trial version) also it did not allow Mach3 to work either or register as an add-on (I may have not set this up right though...)

So to simplify things for me I am looking at using the old fashioned way of parallel port to parallel port connection between the pc and cnc machine for now then later invest in a UC100 and purchase the legit software.
My question is this - both my pc (main board) and cnc machine are 25pin female connections, do I simply buy a 25pin male to male cable? or would I need a different setup as I found a parallel port 6040 on ebay and the cable supplied was a male to female connector?

It seemed so simple but when I researched this on the internet it seems everyone just forgets about this part and talk about setting up the pins or jumping straight from packaging to milling...

[magicniner]

Buy a parallel port cable which fits your socket configuration, unless it happens to be cheaper to buy male to female and a gender changer, sometimes it is, sometimes it isn't.

Planet CNC USB Controllers have never worked with Mach3, according to Planet CNC Support -

http://forum.planet-cnc.com/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=2246

I can't see it being different with clone hardware, unless the manufacturer has written a working Plug-In Mach 3 was only ever going to work with your current hardware using a parallel cable, fingers crossed ;-)

- Nick

[Clive S]

My question is this - both my pc (main board) and cnc machine are 25pin female connections, do I simply buy a 25pin male to male cable? or would I need a different setup as I found a parallel port 6040 on ebay and the cable supplied was a male to female connector?

A picture would help. Is this 25 pin (D25) on the back of the PC as quite often there is a D25 that is a serial port and not parallel. Or is it on the mother board? ie headers

[magicniner]

If it's a serial port on the PC it will have visible pins (male), parallel ports on the PC have holes (female) ;-)

[Palletlad]

Success I have finally made my PC talk to my CNC machine, I have brought a male to male LPT 25pin cable and the response is smooth.
I will eventually invest in the USB converter devices that you mentioned but that's for another day when I have some spare cash.
I've done a Youtube video as well for you all to laugh at as not done a Youtube video in years, showing my inexperience on the topic. https://youtu.be/KoGgAq6H0Ww
now to buy mach3 and trial Vcarve.
cheers all for your help I will pick your brains on other subjects sooner probably than later.

[magicniner]

That's excellent to hear, I'm really pleased to hear you have it working!

- Nick

[magicniner]

"The Old Fashioned Printer Connector" is a Centronics connector, sadly I didn't have to look that up ;-)
Centronics connectors were also used for SCSI I connections and lots of other interesting stuff.
The other connector you wanted is a DB 25 Pin D-Sub connector.