[will gilmore]

Just starting the electronics for the lathe I am building. (http://cnczone.com/forums/showthread.php?t=92337)

G540, Mach3

G540 fault LED is lit. If I switch charge pump switch to off fault LED goes out and power LED is lit.

I switched the charge pump switch off and hooked up a motor and got it to spin by jogging in Mach3 so I'm assuming (uh oh) that the computer/parallel port is configured correctly.

In Mach3 I went into config >> ports and pins >> output signals and enabled the charge pump on port 1, pin 16. The active low is off (X) but I tried it both ways.

Where do I go from here? Should this be in the Mach3 area instead?

[will gilmore]

update: I tested from Pin 16 to Pin 25 on the Gecko end of the parallel cable and got 2.1V (http://www.machsupport.com/forum/ind...ic,7563.0.html) I clicked the reset button in Mach3 and tested again and got 0V. Seems like Mach3 and computer are working.

[Crevice Reamer]

Hi Will.

Have you downloaded the G540 XML file and installed it in mach?

http://geckodrive.com/upload/540B.xml

CR.

[will gilmore]

just downloaded it. how do I install it into mach?

[will gilmore]

put 540B.xml into mach folder and opened it with mach. brings me to machmill and problem still persists.

went into bios and parallel port is set to EPP / ECP

this is a motherboard parallel port. is this a problem with my computer?

[Mariss Freimanis]

OK.

Really important. You must go into your BIOS and set the parallel port from STANDARD to EPP. Otherwise nothing except for the motors will work properly.

Mariss

[will gilmore]

wow attention from the man.

I don't have a ton of computer experience so this may be something simple I am overlooking.

I start the computer. When I see the HP logo and menu at the bottom I push F10 for "Set up"


I can choose between a bunch of these options.

My options for printer mode are: "EPP+ECP","Output-Only",and "Bi-Directional"

Am I doing something wrong?

[jalessi]

Will,

Try the Bi-Directional option in the BIOS.

Jeff...

[will gilmore]

Will,

Try the Bi-Directional option in the BIOS.

Jeff...

Tried it. No luck.

[jalessi]

Will,

Did you test the cable with a ohm meter to make sure all pins where connected end to end?

Some cables do not have all 25 wires.

Jeff...

[will gilmore]

I had tested pin 16 before and just went through all pins and everything is good.

I also tested the voltage on pin 16 on the gecko end of the cable with charge pump on and off and got 2.1V and 0V

edit: BTW thanks for your time to trouble shoot

[jalessi]

Will,

Try configuring the Charge Pump to pin 9

Make sure pin 9 is not one of your step or direction pins for any of the drive axis.

Jeff...

[Crevice Reamer]

put 540B.xml into mach folder and opened it with mach. brings me to machmill and problem still persists.

Don't use Mach Mill. Use Mach Loader, then select 540B.

CR.

[jalessi]

Walt,

That is a good call if he is not loading the g540 xml all troubleshooting will be for naught.

Jeff...

[will gilmore]

Jeff,

No luck. Doesn't the G540 need the charge pump on pin 16?
I changed it to pin 9. Doesn't work.
I tested from Pin 9 to one of the ground pins. With the charge pump on i get 1.7V. charge pump off 0V.

Will

[jalessi]

Will,

Sorry for giving you bad direction, on the G540 it is hard wired so you cant change the pin.

One of the advantages of having a breakout board is that you can connect any pin to any connection.

Jeff...

[will gilmore]

Don't use Mach Mill. Use Mach Loader, then select 540B.

CR.

Right. I did exactly that. It looks like the Mach Mill screen. Still doesnt work.

Is this a computer issue? configuration issue? gecko issue? wiring issue?

[jalessi]

Will,

Most likely it is a computer issue, unfortunately not all parallel ports work the same on pin 16.

You can run the G540 without the charge pump however you should not apply power to the G540 until after Mach3 is running.

When you boot your machine it polls the parallel port, that in turn will cause the axis to move possibly causing a crash.

The other purpose of the charge pump is to disable the stepper drives if the computer locks up.

Jeff...

[Crevice Reamer]

It could still be a faulty Pll cable. That's the culprit most of the time and is cheapest & easiest to replace--try one sold especially for CNC, like from Keling or CNC4PC.

It might well be a problem with your computer's rendition of the Pll port. Can you try it with a different one?

CR.

[Mariss Freimanis]

Pick the "EPP+ECP" option, then save and exit BIOS. Update: Sorry, I didn't read post #4 where you say the port is set to EPP. With EPP set, the pin voltages must be 0V / 3.3V so seeing 2.1V says there is something wrong with your parallel port hardware.

Mariss