CNC_0074

OTHER: CNC Work Station - Controller - Breakout Board

Electrics:

Definitions & Algorithms

Symbols

Notes on Purchased CNC4PC Bi-directional Breakout Board:

The documentation says that the inputs and outputs are buffered. However, the red led comes on when the board is ONLY connected to the 'On' computer and the light comes on when the board is ONLY connected to the 'On' CNC4PC Mini Power Supply. Is this a concern?

It appears that the wires in the parallel port cable go 'straight across'. In other words, the parallel port female connector on the breakout board has the pin numbers flipped about a vertical axis from those shown in Figure 4.1 in Mach3 for the parallel port female connector on the computer. This can be seen by looking at the 8 grounded pins (18-25) on the bottom of the breakout board.

I cannot get a logic tone when connecting pins at the opposite ends of the parallel port cable, for some unknown reason.

Parallel Port Interface Board:

Am using: http://cnc4pc.com/Parallel_Port_Interface_Card.htm

http://www.campbelldesigns.com/

Includes Opto-isolated inputs. Isolates input connections to protect your computer from short circuits.

The computer pull the DB-25 input pins up to 5VDC. Since this parallel port interface board has opto-isolated inputs, I assume that the pull-up resistors on the schematic are to make the controller's default voltages match those of the computer. I also assume that these resistors are on the parallel port interface card and do not have to be added by me.

Another one is http://www.rogersmachine.net/encoderinterface.html

General Information:

Main purpose of breakout board is to allow easy wiring. As shown in picture below (simplest breakout board with no ic) the breakout board 'change' the normal 25-pins connectors into an easy-to-connect terminals. Makes life easier of course. BTW, the picture is from www.winfordeng.com

Website that I could get that cnc4pc breakout board from. http://cnc4pc.com/ they also sell on ebay.

If you are using gecko, IT IS opto-isolated; thus, ANY breakout board will do. No breakout board also fine.

I wonder about the above statement. Is there a safety benefit in isolating ALL wires to the PC, not just the ones from the servodrivers? An example will be the spindle drive, which does not go through a Gecko servodrive. See Mach3Mill section 4.4.3.

An expensive $130.00 US Breakout Board specifically for Mach2 and Gecko; http://www.campbelldesigns.com/breakout_board_plus.htm. However, the literature says "stepper motor drives".

See; http://www.camtronics-cnc.com/

http://members.shaw.ca/axxus/db1v20info.htm

http://members.shaw.ca/axxus/320_340small.jpg

http://www.campbelldesigns.com/breakout-board.php

For pinout see; OTHER: CNC Workstation - Controller - Parallel Port #1 Pinout

Breakout Board Comparison from: http://cnczone.com/forums/showthread.php?t=5905

_______________

I am also looking for suppliers of parallel output (DB-25) interfaces. I use the word interface because it is specifically designed for use with CNC interpeter programs and has terminals for the power supply voltages, step and direction, and home and limit switches.

So far, I have found 1 manufacturer (which is in Canada). The name of the company is Axxus Technologies. I contacted them this week, and they will not have any more boards for at least 4 or more weeks. The US price for the interface board is $60.00.
The axxus board is NOT opto-isolated.

_______________

To XKBAL

There is a separate discussion thread "Parallel Breakout Board" which gives some info on about 3 different units. Axxus e-mail link is also there. Thought you might want to see it.

Jerry

Myself im waiting for gecko to come up with that new usb controller said to be around 150 bucks :P i will put my money in it other then a breakout. but never know could be another year away. hehe

here are some links

Axxus Technologies
http://members.shaw.ca/axxus/db1v20info.htm

Break Out Boards Schematics
Simple Compatable & Opto Isoloated Break Out Boards Schematics
http://webpages.charter.net/pminmo/cncelectronics.htm

DB25 junction board breakout box
DB25 junction board breakout box,basic board 35.00$
http://www.seanet.com/~dmauch/

Embeddedtronics
PCB only. 5 bucks
http://www.embeddedtronics.com/breakout.html

PMDX-Steve Stallings
Check out the PMDX-120 AND the new PMDX-121. High quality brerakouts with charge pump and mach2 specific features.
http://www.pmdx.com/

Sound Logic
Specially designed for Mach2. Includes Charge pump circuitry.
http://www.campbelldesigns.com/breakout_board_plus.htm

Winford
20 bucks, Very basic.
http://www.winfordeng.com/products/cat_brk.php

_______________

Does Axxus still sell their $60 breakout boards

I have been emailing Axxus for the past couple of weeks and have gotten no reply. Does anyone know if they still sell their breakout board?

Thanks

_______________

I have both an Axxus breakout board which I am currently using on my mill, and a CNC4PC breakoutboard.
I like the axxus becuase it has 2 outputs for 12v relays and all, I havent hooked up my cnc4pc breakoutboard yet, I might do that this weekend if I feel that I have the time, I also bought a couple spindle encoders from cnc4pc, they all look pretty good.
The cnc4pc breakoutboard is a little bigger and not labled so thouroughly as the axxus breakout board, but still looks quite good.

Also, the price difference is pretty large, axxus is $60 and cnc4pc is like $25

I tried e-mailing axxus without success, Im guessing they arent

Jon

Back to top | UniCopter Home Page | SynchroLite Home Page

Last Revised: May 22, 2007