parralell port voltage.

[crossleymarko]

hi im trying to check my dir voltage on eg:-pin 2 for mach3, im just getting a constant 3.26 volts.
ive check settings in pin n ports.. is it my port..

[Jonathan]

Are other pins the same? Is it a laptop?
Ideally you want 5V.

[crossleymarko]

yes its a laptop... does that matter.. i get the 3.26v even before mach3 starts up. also, when i remove the port in device manager it goes to 5v...

[Jonathan]

Laptops are well known for not running having substandard parallel ports and thus not running mach3 very well, if at all. Have you got a spare computer with a parallel port you could compare it to?

[crossleymarko]

Laptops are well known for not running having substandard parallel ports and thus not running mach3 very well, if at all. Have you got a spare computer with a parallel port you could compare it to?

yes a compaq, never used lol. mrs brought it from work. that will be the machine i will probably be using when the work shop is built, ill give it a try...

[russell]

It sounds as if you may have the port configured as inputs which gives a floating high impedance. Alternatively you may require a pull down reistor between the output and signal ground.

Russell

[crossleymarko]

mach3 dosnt seem to be communicating with the port... as i said before im getting a constant voltage reading, of 3.267.
when i uninstalll lpt drivers in device manager i get a constant 5v,,,

[crossleymarko]

when i press the curser keys to try and see voltage should i get a change in the on sceeen coordinates (are the called dro)
as i get nothing in mach 3.

[crossleymarko]

ok read i should have port as ecp in bios...
and something weired...
i start my laptop (with meter still connected) i get a steady 4.77 volts. then i start up mach3 and still the same. as soon as i shut mach3 down i get 25mv.. i went bach into mach and nothing 25mv.

[Jonathan]

when i press the curser keys to try and see voltage should i get a change in the on sceeen coordinates (are the called dro)
as i get nothing in mach 3.

Yes, when pressing the arrow keys, or pg up/down they should change. If not then it's probably in emergency stop mode. Have you (for now) disabled the emergency stop, or is it flashing? Go to config->ports and pins and look for e-stop, then change it from active high to active low (or vice versa, i.e. invert it). That should get it running...