Steps getting lost - poor quality parallel port cable

javeria · #1 Wed 03 December 2008, 02:53

Folks,

for the first time builders - if you intend to buy a ready made PP cable then be aware - chk the resistance between individual pins in between the two ends.

The reason being that - I had bought a ready made PP cable and my router was missing steps (the one with servos) For almost 2 weeks I was not able to trouble shoot the problem.

Finally one of my friends suggested replacing the PP cable to a hand made one.

Resistance on the readymade one was 3 ohm and I made one with a 20 core 0.25mm dia which had a resistance of only 0.03 ohm,

and then voila the machine worked perfect!

SO folks again chk the resistance of the PP cable if you are buying a readymade one.

RGDS
Irfan

Gerald D · #2 Wed 03 December 2008, 03:23

Irfan, did you have a bob, like the PMDX-122, on the end of that cable?

As I understand it, a good bob takes care of cable problems.

javeria · #3 Wed 03 December 2008, 03:41

Yes G' I had the Mini IO from Tom(www.candcnc.com), but if the steps are lost before reaching the BOB then what the BOB can do

so its always better to chk and buy the PP cable.

RGDS
Irfan

J.R. Hatcher · #4 Wed 03 December 2008, 04:29

This needs to find it's way to the trouble shoot thread.

Greg J · #5 Wed 03 December 2008, 06:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by javeria

For almost 2 weeks I was not able to trouble shoot the problem.

That would have taken me a month to figure out. Nice work Irfan.

Are you using Mach ? If you are, what was your diagnostics page showing ?

javeria · #6 Wed 03 December 2008, 06:35

is there a diagnostic page

I use mach day in and day out - but since everything was working fine I have never gone to the length of exploring mach - its just plain load the program and run the cuts - that too I have my boy who does this for me after I program the cut

I will try to explore mach soon - after I finish my Mechmate build though.

RGDS
Irfan