The parallel (printer cable) port is uses the computer as its main source of pulse trains to operate the motor driver directly. Parallel ports are a direct connection from the processor commonly referred to as GPIO pins (General Purpose I/O pins) and provides a convenient and powerful way to interface with the computer. The parallel breakout board is included in those kits only to condition those signals for use with the drivers.

The USB serves at the actual controller, sending the pulse trains, but the computer sends simple human readable instructions to the USB controller to tell the controller how to send pulses.

The non-technical differences that may serve as the most important information to you is that the parallel configurations allow for a wider variety of industry standard software that can be used to control the cnc machine. The USB that we offer requires the operator to use a software called Planet-CNC software which is a very well made and feature full cnc control software.

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USB Motion controller breakout board work with planet cnc software?

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WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN PARALLEL BREAKOUT BOARD AND USB ITERFACE?

Hi, this BBB comes with a USB port and its cable to power it up. Once connected to the computer a led in the BBB will light up to show it has power.

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Breakout board I have does not have USB port for the 5v power. Does the parallel port supply the 5V power?

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Hi, I need assistance, the parallel breakout board I received looks different from the one on the video, does this one need a 5V supply? If so, where do I connect the positive and where do I connect the ground? Thanks for your help.

If your computer does not have a parallel port, all you will need is a low cost PCI parallel adapter card (these can be found on amazon for $15-$20). If you plan on using a laptop (not recommended) you can try to find a PCMCIA parallel adapter, but many people have frequent issues with this setup. A more expensive solution would be to purchase a USB smooth stepper board. Unfortunately, we do not supply any of these adapters and cannot attest to their reliability.

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ur gay

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MY COMPUTER DOES NOT HAVE A PARALLEL PORT. HOW DO I INTERFACE WITH THE BREAKOUT BOARD?

The datasheet for the parallel breakout board is here:
https://www.buildyourcnc.com/item/electronicsAndMotors-parallel-breakout-relay#prettyPhoto/2/

The datasheet for the USB interface is here:
https://www.buildyourcnc.com/item/electronicsAndMotors-electronic-component-USB-Controller-Breakout#prettyPhoto/2/


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I need wiring instructions for the breakout board you sent yesterday. It is not like the one in the videos and I don't know where to connect the 5V. No data sheet or anything.

You can connect either way. If the LED doesn't light when you are moving the x or y axis, then simply flip the two pin connector. The brown wire will connect to the wiper (middle pin) of the potentiometer. The brown/white wire will connect to the gnd connector of the potentiometer. See step 17 here: https://www.buildyourcnc.com/blackToothLaserCutterAndEngraver.aspx

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Left, on the potentiometer is the wire that will also connect to the gnd on the laser power supply signal side.

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Could you further clarify (on the Blacktooth) which of the LED wires (solid colour or stripe)goes to the positive 5V terminals on the breakout board? Also where exactly is the brown wire with the white stripe connected on the pot? It looks as though both brown wires are soldered to the centre terminal. Is "left" the terminal on the left in the illustration?

The instructions on how to do this are found here, in these two videos, http://buildyourcnc.com/PrimeronHomingandLimitSwitches.aspx

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HOW DO I CONNECT A TOUCH PLATE TO THE BREAKOUT BOARD?

CP+ to COM
CP- to STEP
CP+ to CW+ (small jumper wire)
CW- to DIR

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If the driver does not have CP or CW labels, the CP is Step and the CW is Direction or DIR. If you connect the 5v to CP+ (or Step+) and CW+ (or DIR+) and the pin to CP- (or Step-) and another pin to CW- (or DIR-), then in software, the configuration for the step on that axis must be active low. Otherwise, if you connect the GND to CP- (or Step-) and CW- (or DIR-) and the pin to CP+ (or Step+) and another pin to CW+ (or DIR+), then in software, the configuration for the step on that axis must be active high.

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If you have a driver that is labeled pul, dir and ena: Pul+ is the Step+ and Pul- is the Step-. Pul is short for pulse. A pulse will create a step. Don't worry about the enable terminals.

On the x-axis, pin #2 can go to pul- and pin #3 can go to dir-. The 5v will go to pul+ and dir+. The configuration for each axis for step will be active low and toggle active low for the dir on each axis to make it go in the direction desired.

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HOW DO I WIRE FROM THE BREAKOUT BOARD TO DRIVER?

When wiring the limit switches to our BoB(breakout board), depending in the older model or our revised version (https://www.buildyourcnc.com/item/electronicsAndMotors-parallel-breakout-relay#prettyPhoto/0/), the older version will need the COM (limit switch) connected to 5V and the NO/NC to your input pin, but with our newer version you will use GND(ground instead of 5V) to common and the same for NO/NC but the setup in the mach3/confi/ports&pins/ is still the same.

Here is a tutorial where you can see how to set up the limit switches correctly (with our older parallel BoB): Part 1:(

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I am attempting to set up limit switches on the 5 axis parallel breakout board that came with my BlackFoot kit. The output pins are driving the motors perfectly, but I can't figure out the input pins. With one lead in the 5V pin and one lead testing the input pins, my multimeter reads 0V for all of the input pins. Shouldn't those circuits be +5V? Where am I going wrong?

If you select the Settings Page and select or tick Auto Limit Override - this will allow you to back off the switch.

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limit and home switch

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IS THERE A WAY TO GET RID OF THE PARALLEL CABLE AND SOMEHOW USE USB ?

Sure, the USB interface has a place for 4 axes of limit switches.

Each axis can have two limit switches: one for the ++ (positive) end and one for the -- (negative) end. The positive end would be the limit switch at the end of the machine that, say the machine has a 4'x8' area, reaches a bit after the 8 foot mark. The negative end would be the limit switch behind the 0 foot location behind the origin. If the origin is in the middle, the negative would be at a little more than the -4 foot end and the positive would be at a bit more than the +4 foot end. Note that you can have more than one switch on each pin where the NC is connected in serial fashion and the NO is connected in parallel fashion (this can be seen on the diagram in the multiple limits switch section). The software configurations for the limits switches are under File -> Settings -> Limit.

A typical limit switch has three connections on it. These connections consist of COM (common), NC (normally closed) and NO (normally open). The COM would generally go to GND and the NC or the NO would go to the pin. If the NC is used, then the the switch is constantly connected until the switch is pushed (engaged) then the connection from the pin to gnd is broken (open). Use the settings in software to set whether in NC or NO configuration.

Let me know if this information was helpful (or not) by adding information to this question. Thanks.

User response:
Thank you very much for this helpful information. I'm still a little fuzzy on how the 6 limit switches physically connect to each other and to the USB breakout board. You've stated one switch (home) goes to positive and another switch (limit) goes to negative. Are all the GND prongs from all 6 switches connected to each other and going to GND on the breakout board, or no? And the NC prongs, how exactly are they connected to each other? And to the board? There has to be a diagram somewhere shows this visually, no? I don't know how to wire the switches in series or in parallel. I have already physically installed all the switches on the machine and ran the wires to where the board is. Now I just need to know where to plug these wires into the board. Also, taking into consideration that I'm using the Planet CNC software, the only settings I have pertaining to limit switches is "Enable/Disable" for each axis, and the actual limit for each axis. Nothing about NC or NO. Is that only in Mach3?
Thank you.

buildyourcnc response:
On the USB interface, the COM on the switch connects to GND and the NC or NO connects to the input pin (i.e. x++, y--, etc.)

Limit switch configuration is rather difficult to understand, especially with series and parallel. You can think of series as a single wire going from GND to the axis letter input terminal (i.e. X++ or X--). If the wire is broken, then the circuit is open (or the switch is engaged in a normally closed scenario). Normally closed is like an actual wire, and when engaged, the switch "opens" (breaks the wire). This is why we recommend in some systems that you can put many switches in series on a single pin. When one of the switches is engaged (breaking the connection) then the entire circuit of switches is broken and the machine stops.

In a parallel scenario, the state of the circuit is always broken until the one of the switches is engaged and the circuit is then closed or connected. The topology looks like a ladder. All the switches connect to both sides of the ladder and the switches are like the runs of the ladder (the horizontal bars that the feet are placed while climbing). Imagine all of the switches broken in this scenario (normally open). It would be like the ladder could be split in two, but if one of the ladder runs (switches) is closed by engaging it, then that run would connect both sides of the ladder and the two sides of the ladder would have a connection.

There is a diagram on the USB page of the various limit switch configurations. If you need more information (visual and/or otherwise), please let us know and we will immediately add that information to benefit everyone.

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WILL THE USB BREAKOUT BOARD WORK WITH MACH3?

No, you should not have received two parallel breakout boards in your CNC kit. You can return the extra item using standard shipping with COD. Our apologies for the confusion and the inconvenience.

I will answer the other question as another FAQ. Please check the Customer Service page to see the answer to that question.

If you have difficulty finding the answer, here is a link:
https://www.buildyourcnc.com/FAQ/13636

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I HAVE A 2000 WK 11–3 Z LIMIT SWITCHES GOING TO C10R10 BREAKOUT BOARD . CAN ALSO USE THEM AS MY HOME POSITION WELL. NEED THE WIRING CONFIGURATION

The parallel (printer cable) port is uses the computer as its main source of pulse trains to operate the motor driver directly. Parallel ports are a direct connection from the processor commonly referred to as GPIO pins (General Purpose I/O pins) and provides a convenient and powerful way to interface with the computer. The parallel breakout board is included in those kits only to condition those signals for use with the drivers.

The USB serves at the actual controller, sending the pulse trains, but the computer sends simple human readable instructions to the USB controller to tell the controller how to send pulses.

The non-technical differences that may serve as the most important information to you is that the parallel configurations allow for a wider variety of industry standard software that can be used to control the cnc machine. The USB that we offer requires the operator to use a software called Planet-CNC software which is a very well made and feature full cnc control software.

Additional Information:


Additional Information:


Additional Information:
USB Motion controller breakout board work with planet cnc software?

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WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN PARALLEL AND USB ELECTRONICS COMBOS MOTOR KITS

Our breakout board, does require 5v to operate the correct voltages coming in from the drivers and also coming in from your computer, now the 5V will be supplied by the USB connection, so no external power supply is needed, for either our USB/Parallel breakout board.

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Just for general knowledge. If a spindle gets i.e. 240VAC, and the drivers 36-50VDC for power, why do you need 5VDC for the Breakout Board (BlueBrew)? Is it only for the relay? I think I've seen other BoB's working without power supply, or am I wrong?

The board layout is different and the terminals have slightly different names, but the two boards function the same. The wiring diagram is the same for both boards. The plug-in driver for Mach3 is also the same, so you should not have a problem. If you do run into an issue, please let me know here and I will help you determine the problem.

Thanks

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Thank you for the assurance that the boards will function the same. You did not answer the primary question of wiring. The diagram shows a board with a 5V for each axis, the new boards have only 1 5V point on the axis side. In retrospect since this controller receives information and most possibly the 5V signal directly from the computer leading to the drivers. I will wire the X, Y and Z axis to the single 5V point and see what happens.

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received my mach 3 USB breakout board today. The layout of the board is different from your diagram which shows a 5V power slot for each axis. Do I wire the 5V slot with only one 5V wire from one of the drivers or perhaps wire all three 5V wires into the one 5 V slot. Please advise.

Here is the wiring diagram for the MAch3 USB breakout board:
https://www.buildyourcnc.com/Documents/Electric%20Wiring%20Diagram.pdf

You will need 24 volt relays for the output on that board since that side of the board requires 24 volt power at the V+ and V-

Customer Response:
My inquiry is for the Planet CNC USB and 5v relays.
I am 99% finished with my 2 axis lathe build and this is the last item for me to conquer.
I want to control power to router, and vacuum with the BOB going through the 5V relays purchased on this site.
Thanks again.

Using the Mist, spindle or flood pins...

Buildyourcnc response:
There is an IN, GND and 5V for the digital side to engage the relay. There is an S, O and P for the power line of the device to be controlled.

The 5V and GND must be connected to the 5V and GND from the USB board. The IN is the wire from the output terminal (i.e. mist, flood, spindle).

For the power side, here are the scenarios:
- P to O connection is normally open
- P to S connection is normally closed

So, if you have the power wire that would plug into the wall, the L "black" wire from the power cord will pass through this part of the circuit (cutting the wire and one end in the P terminal and the other end in the O or S terminal). Generally, the P to O is used as this connection is normally open and when the relay is engaged, the circuit will close allowing the current to flow through that wire.

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SIGNAL AND 5V POWER WIRING DIAGRAM FOR RELAY USB BR ABOUT BOARD.

The blackTooth build instructions explain how to hook the four LED control panel to the USB breakout but not the Parallel BOB. Turns out it's very easy. Simply wire the corresponding LED cathodes (top pins on the display) to the matching CP- for the X, Y, and Z axises and wire the anodes (bottom pins) to the 5V terminals. For the on/off LED, wire the cathode to the G terminal on the laser power supply and the anode to the 5V laser supply terminal. Also, remove the 5V wire running from the Parallel BOB to the 5V terminal on the laser power supply. It is not needed and will cause the laser on/off light to always be on if the USB cable is connected.

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WIRING THE BLACKTOOTH LED PANEL TO PARALLEL BOB

This video will illustrate how to test for laser power:

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HOW TO KNOW IF THE POWER SUPPLY OF THE LASER TUBE IS DAMAGED

If you are located near Houston, Texas area you can stop by our shop. If you are not near us, you can check in our forums, and see if you can find someone in your area that has one of our machines, and would be willing to let you come see it in action.

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I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THERE IS A STORE OR SHOP WHERE CAN SEE THE PRODUCT AND BUY IT?

If your computer does not have a parallel port, all you will need is a low cost PCI parallel adapter card (these can be found on amazon for $15-$20). If you plan on using a laptop (not recommended) you can try to find a PCMCIA parallel adapter, but many people have frequent issues with this setup. A more expensive solution would be to purchase a USB smooth stepper board. Unfortunately, we do not supply any of these adapters and cannot attest to their reliability.

Additional Information:
ur gay

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IF MY COMPUTER DOESN'T HAVE A PARALLEL PORT, HOW DO I RUN THE MACHINE?